Zeta Phi Eta
ΖΦΗ
FoundedOctober 10, 1893 (October 10, 1893)
Northwestern University
TypeProfessional
AffiliationPFA (former)
EmphasisCommunication Arts and Sciences
ScopeNational
MottoAchieve! with Wisdom, Integrity and Love
Colors  Rose and   White
FlowerLa France Rose
PublicationThe Cameo
Chapters6
Headquartersc/o Valerie Glowinski
Foundation Executive Director
2349 North Windsor Dr.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
US
WebsiteOfficial website

Zeta Phi Eta (ΖΦΗ) is a national professional fraternity in Communication Arts and Sciences founded on October 10, 1893. It is recognized as the oldest professional fraternity for women, though membership is now co-ed.[1]

History

Zeta Phi Eta was founded in 1893 as the first professional Communications fraternity at Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois. The organization began in when Edith deVore conceived the idea of a club exclusively for students of the School of Oratory (later the School of Communication). DeVore was joined by Molly Connor, Laurine Wright, Maude Newell, and Leila Little, and the group called itself the "F.O.E. club", vowing to be a Friend of Each, Each Our Friend. The women held secret meetings before receiving formal approval for the Zeta Phi Eta sorority in 1894 from Dr. Cumnock, Dean of the School of Oratory.[2]

The founders of Zeta Phi Eta as photographed for the Northwestern University yearbook.

The Fraternity was incorporated on June 25, 1902 under the laws of the State of Illinois.[3] Reflecting the organization’s status as a professional, rather than an honorary or social, society, the charter proclaims, “This society is to promote a greater excellence in oratorical and dramatic art, and to develop a social interest and a stronger friendship toward each other.”

In 1908, the fraternity began to expand when a Zeta at Northwestern corresponded with a friend at Emerson College of Oratory in Boston, Massachusetts, who belonged to an organization with similar values and goals, Phi Eta Sigma. When the two chapters affiliated under the name of Zeta Phi Eta, Alpha chapter status was bestowed upon the Emerson organization.[2] The cameo and pearl pin of Alpha became the official badge, and the shield and torch of Beta, the coat of arms.[3]

During the 1910s and 1920s, campus and alumnae chapters grew quickly at institutions around the country. The fraternity first published CAMEO in 1913, a national magazine which continues to be published quarterly.[2]

In 1941, total membership of the fraternity was reported to be approximately 3,000 women across nineteen collegiate chapters and fifteen alumnae chapters.[4] Since 1950 the fraternity broadened its focus in the speech arts, to include communications arts and sciences.[5]

In 1955, the Zeta Phi Eta Foundation was established to contribute to "worthy speech and drama projects". One long-term project initiated by the Zeta alumnae in 1960 was a full-scale nationwide tape recording program for the Library of Congress, recording tapes of published works for access by blind patrons.[6][5] Another national project, Graduate Assistantship Opportunities, was designed to provide professional guidance to senior members of campus chapters upon entering graduate school.[2]

Affiliations over the years have included:

Purpose

The Fraternity identifies four mission statements which guide its operations:[3]

  1. To band together individuals committed to high standards in communication arts and sciences;
  2. To provide opportunities for sharing professional interests through participation in worthwhile activities in the fields of communication;
  3. To provide a climate in which members may develop sound professional philosophies; and
  4. To stimulate and encourage all worthy enterprises in the communication fields.

Membership

While originally established as a women-exclusive sorority, Zeta Phi Eta began extending its membership to male students in 1975.[2]

Since its founding, Zeta Phi Eta membership has expanded to welcome undergraduate and graduate students focusing on a wide range of communications-related fields. These include:[7]

Symbol and traditions

The Fraternity's colors are Rose and White.

The Fraternity flower is the "La France Rose."

The Fraternity badge is a rose-colored cameo upon which is carved the letter name of the Fraternity in white, surrounded by 23 pearls.

The Fraternity magazine is the Cameo, along with occasionally a Prospectus and Pledge Manual.[5]

Notable Members and Alumnae

  • Actress Ethel Waters being initiated as an honorary member of Zeta Phi Eta in May 1956
    Winifred Ward - founder of the Children’s Theatre of Evanston (Beta Chapter)[2]
  • Marcelline Hemingway Sanford - sister of author Ernest Hemingway (Beta Chapter)[2]
  • Louise Starkey, Isobel Carothers, and Helen King - creators and stars of the 1930’s WGN radio program, “Clara, Lu and Em” (Beta Chapter)[2]
  • Madge Evans - American stage and film actress (honorary member)[8]
  • Jessica Tandy - British-American actress (honorary member)[9]
  • Ethel Waters - American singer and actress (honorary member)[10]
  • Charlton Heston - American actor and political activist (honorary member)[11]

Active Chapters

There are currently six active campus chapters of Zeta Phi Eta. Listed by date of founding, campus chapters are located at the following schools.[5][12] Active chapters noted in bold, inactive chapters in italics:

ChapterChartered/RangeInstitutionLocation StatusReference
Beta1893-19xx ?Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois, IL Inactive[5]
Alpha1908Emerson CollegeBoston, MA Active[5][lower-alpha 1]
Delta1914-19xx ?Syracuse UniversitySyracuse, NY Active[5]
Epsilon1917-19xx ?Brenau UniversityGainesville, GA Inactive[5]
Zeta1919-19xx ?Southern Methodist UniversityUniversity Park, TX Inactive[5]
Eta1921-19xx ?University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA Inactive[5]
Gamma1921-19xx ?Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA Inactive[5]
Theta1924-1937Coe CollegeCedar Rapids, IA Inactive[5]
Iota1926-1942University of North DakotaGrand Forks, ND Inactive[5]
Kappa1928-1936Washington University in St. LouisSt. Louis County, MO Inactive[5]
Lambda1930-1968University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI Inactive[5]
Mu1930-1974University of WashingtonSeattle, WA Inactive[5]
Nu1930-19xx ?University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA Inactive[5]
Xi1931-1951University of AlabamaTuscaloosa, AL Inactive[5]
Omicron1932-19xxUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WI Inactive[5]
Pi1934-1969University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN Inactive[5]
Rho1934-1972Alabama State UniversityMontgomery, AL Inactive[5]
Sigma1936-19xx ?University of IowaIowa City, IA Inactive[5]
Tau1937-19xx ?University of IllinoisUrbana/Champaign, IL Inactive[5]
Upsilon1937-19xx ?Florida State UniversityTallahassee, FL Inactive[5]
Phi1939-19xx ?University of ArizonaTucson, AZ Inactive[5]
Chi1941-19xx ?Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH Inactive[5]
Psi1943-19xx ?University of GeorgiaAthens, GA Inactive[5]
Alpha Alpha1945-1974University of Science and ArtsChickasha, OK Inactive[5]
Alpha Beta1945-19xx ?University of DenverDenver, CO Inactive[5]
Alpha Gamma1945-19xx ?University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT Inactive[5]
Omega1945-19xx ?Texas Woman's UniversityDenton, TX Inactive[5]
Alpha Delta1947-19xx ?University of South DakotaVermillion, SD Inactive[5]
Alpha Epsilon1947-19xx ?Occidental UniversityLos Angeles, CA Inactive[5]
Alpha Zeta1950-19xx ?Wichita State UniversityWichita, KS Inactive[5]
Alpha Eta1951-19xx ?University of Mary WashingtonFredericksburg, VA Inactive[5]
Alpha Theta1952-19xx ?Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI Inactive[5]
Alpha Iota1956-19xx ?Southern Illinois UniversityCarbondale, IL Inactive[5]
Alpha Kappa1958-19xx ?University of MiamiCoral Gables, FL Inactive[5]
Alpha Lambda1958-19xx ?University of FloridaGainesville, FL Inactive[5]
Alpha Mu1959-19xx ?American UniversityWashington, D.C. Inactive[5]
Alpha Nu1959-19xx ?University of OklahomaNorman, OK Inactive[5]
Alpha Xi1962-19xx ?University of PortlandPortland, OR Inactive[5]
Alpha Omicron1966-1975 ?Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, IL Inactive[5]
Alpha Pi1967-19xx ?Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR Inactive[5]
Alpha Rho1968-19xx ?West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV Inactive[5]
Alpha Sigma1969-19xx ?Western Kentucky UniversityBowling Green, KY Inactive[5]
Alpha Tau1970-19xx ?Baylor UniversityWaco, TX Inactive[5]
Alpha Upsilon1972-1974University of Missouri–Kansas CityKansas City, MO Inactive[5]
Alpha Phi1974-19xx ?University of Wisconsin, WhitewaterWhitewater, WI Inactive[5]
Alpha Chi1975-19xx ?University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington, TX Inactive[5]
Alpha Psi1975-19xx ?Texas Southern UniversityHouston, TX Inactive[5]
Alpha Omega1978-19xx ?University of WyomingLaramie, WY Inactive[12]
Beta Alpha1980-19xx ?Monmouth CollegeWest Long Branch, NJ Inactive[12]
Beta Beta1981-19xx ?Rider UniversityLawrenceville, NJ Inactive[12]
Beta Gamma1992-19xx ?Edgewood CollegeMadison, WI Inactive[12]
Beta Delta1993-19xx ?Clarion UniversityClarion, PA Inactive[12]
Beta Epsilon2005Slippery Rock UniversitySlippery Rock, PA Active[12]
Beta Zeta2005-20xx ?University of TexasAustin, TX Inactive[12]
Beta Eta2013Hofstra UniversityHempstead, NY Active[12]
Beta Theta2014University of ToledoToledo, OH Active[12]
Beta Iota2015University of Central FloridaOrlando, FL Active[12]
Beta Kappa2015-201x ?Morehead State UniversityMorehead, KY Inactive[12]
Beta Lambda2017Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville, AL Active[12]

Notes

  1. ↑ Originated as Phi Eta Sigma (local)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Diary of Alpha Kappa Psi. United States: Alpha Kappa Psi Fraternity. 1975. p. 5.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Zeta Phi Eta | Archival and Manuscript Collections". findingaids.library.northwestern.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  3. 1 2 3 "About Us". Zeta Phi Eta. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  4. ↑ Streeter, Mildred (1941-03-01). "Zeta phi eta". The Southern Speech Journal. 6 (4): 95. doi:10.1080/10417944109370775. ISSN 0038-4585.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Anson, Jack L.; Marchenasi, Robert F., eds. (1991) [1879]. Baird's Manual of American Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. p. V-61–63. ISBN 978-0963715906.
  6. ↑ "Zeta Phi Eta Records for Library of Congress". Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness. 54 (8): 307. October 1960. doi:10.1177/0145482X6005400815. ISSN 0145-482X. S2CID 220536900.
  7. ↑ "Department News - Communication". www.jsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  8. ↑ "Actress Madge Evans & Zeta Phi Eta Members, May 1942 | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  9. ↑ Jessica Tandy receiving honorary membership to Zeta Phi Eta, 1955, retrieved 2023-02-14
  10. ↑ "Actress Ethel Waters made honorary member of Zeta Phi Eta, May 1956 | Ann Arbor District Library". aadl.org. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  11. ↑ Ascenso, Tony (Fall 2008). "A Trip to the Archives" (PDF). Cameo. 73 (2): 4 – via Zeta Phi Eta.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Zeta Phi Eta's List of Installed Campus Chapters, accessed 7 Nov 2021.
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