Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded January 16, 1920, at Howard University, Washington, D.C. The Klan was very active during this period and the Harlem Renaissance was acknowledged as the first important movement of Black artists and writers in the U.S. This same year the Volstead Act became effective heralding the start of Prohibition and Tennessee delivered the crucial 36th ratification for
the final adoption of the 19th amendment giving women the right to vote. The worst and longest economic recession to hit the U.S. would define the end of the decade-The Great Depression. It was within this environment that five coeds envisioned a sorority which would directly affect positive change, chart a course of action for the 1920s and beyond, raise consciousness of their people, encourage the highest standards of scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members. These women believed that sorority elitism and socializing overshadowed the real mission for progressive organizations and failed to address fully the societal mores, ills, prejudices, and poverty affecting humanity in general and the black community in particular. Since its inception, Zeta has continued its steady climb into the national spotlight with programs designed to demonstrate concern for the human condition both nationally and internationally. The organization has been innovative in that it has chronicled a number of firsts. It was the first National Pan-Hellenic Council organization to centralize its operations in a national headquarters, first to charter a chapter in Africa, first to form auxiliary groups, and first to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. The sorority takes pride in its continued participation in transforming communities through volunteer services from members and its auxiliaries. Zeta Phi Beta has chartered hundreds of chapters worldwide and has a membership of 100,000+. Zeta‘s national and local programs include the endowment of its National Educational Foundation community outreach services and support of multiple affiliate organizations. Zeta chapters and auxiliaries have given untotaled hours of voluntary service to educate the public, assist youth, provide scholarships, support organized charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change. As the sorority moves toward its centennial, it retains its original zest for excellence. It espouses the highest academic ideals and that has resulted in its members serving in groundbreaking roles in all fields of endeavor. is poised for perpetual service to mankind into her second century and beyond. As early as 1940, graduate chapters of Zeta Phi Beta had begun to realize the importance of the prestige, good will, and cooperation of women who for various reasons were not members of any Greek-letter organization. The "Boosters"in Louisville, Kentucky, the "Zeta Court" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the "Zeta Mothers" in Los Angeles, California, etc., were among the successful active auxiliaries attached to Zeta chapters and the communities and served as incentives for other cities to attempt similar organizations. Early in 1948, there was such a group organized in Omaha, Nebraska, and they chose the Latin name, Amicae (Friends). The Grand Basileus (President), Lullelia Harrison, included in her report to the 1948 Boule' a recommendation that chapters be allowed to organize auxiliaries under direction of the national body and that all such auxiliaries be known as Zeta Amicae. The recommendation was adopted. In the first decade of their history, charters were granted to a number of chapters, and some have organized auxiliaries but have not yet requested charters for them. The first chapter to request a charter was Lambda Zeta in Houston, Texas, home to our current International Grand Basileus. It is hoped that the decades to follow will see every graduate chapter of Zeta with an active auxiliary of Zeta Amicae, and the Zeta Amicae of Middle and Southern Middlesex County, sponsored by the Omega Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., is proud to have 7 women that were inducted on May 31, 2014 and officially chartered by the Awesome Atlantic Region and the State of New Jersey on July 26, 2014.
