First off we were found at Miami University in Oxford, OH, with the Miami Triad!
Delta Zeta is turning 100 this year!!!!!!! October 24, 2002
This is from our New Member handbook:
Soon after college opened, these alert young women decided that they would organize a YWCA to offer them the kind of friendshio and activity whey the existing YMCA provided the men. The new organization announced itseld with an all-campus party, successful and kindly praised in the Miami Student. Talking it over afterward, several girls expressed a wish for continued enjoymeny of social affairs, and some with friends or relatives on the fraternities commented a bit envious of the advantages those societies could offer. Miami had not provided any dormitory living for its recruited women, and they in boarding houses ot with friends in town. Presently Alfa Lloyd, a coed whose home was in Oxford, entertained a small group of friends with a Welsh rarebit party, popular just then. Here some more seious talk too place, and led to a metting, three days later, in which their wishes crystallized into the decision to form into a sorority. (though obviously these girls did not know much of the women's Greek-letter groups on othese Ohio campuses, they DID know that the word "Sorority" which had been coined for the name of Gamma Phi Beta, when it was formed some years earlier at Syracuse University). "It shall be Alpha Delta Zeta", they decided, and went on to ponder flowers, colors, and suitable emblem, all the features they know the fraternities bethought themselves to keep! Their favored flowere was a new hybrid rose, becoming very popular, the Killarney rose. Logical colors would be those of rose, but in fairness, they did try a number of combinations with "baby ribbon" in the Oxford store. Rose and green won, however, and were adopted.
Early in their discussion they realized that they needed expert, friendly council, and had no hesitancy about going directly to President Benton about this. A member of Phi Delta Theta hiself, he was immediately sympathetic, full of wise inspriration and practical giudance. Wasting no time, the group of six congenial friends made a public debut by marching in the parade of Street Fair which was a traditional Fall event in Oxford. The University students were expected to participate, and this year the public had its first view of "the Miami women" when our little group, obviously enjoyed this experience, marched in the parade carrying not only the red, white, and blue canes where were standard Fair equipment, but long streamers of rose and green breezing from each one. Our founders day is on Alfa Lloyds B-day as a tribute to her, October 24, 1902. Her home was the scene of an elaborate "Rose Reception" which was the formal announcment to the student body and the town of the new organization.
The purpose for which said corporation is formed is as follows:
To build up the character and cultivate truest and seepest friendship among its members. To stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge and the attainment of high standard of morality; to inculcate elevated sentiments and noble principles and to afford each other every possible assistance and to incite all the attainment of a memorable fame.
Our founders: Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Simmons.
Dr Guy Potter Benton aided in the preparation of a ritual and was names Grand Parton, the ONLY man ever privileged to wear the Delta Zeta badge. Elizabeth Coulter was the first pledge to be initiated under the new ritual.
We are starting 3 NEW chapters this year! Pi Alpha, Pi Beta, and Pi Gamma!!!!!
At last count we have 165 awsome college chapters are distributed from coast to coast! !
FYI: I don't know when the Alpha was dropped and
just became Delta Zeta...
Nikki
Iota Iota Chapter
Middle Tennessee State University