Delta Zeta (, also known as DZ) is an international college sorority founded on October 24, 1902, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Delta Zeta has 163 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada, and over 180 alumnae chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As of 2013, there are over 300,400 college and alumnae members, making it the third largest sorority in the nation (after Alpha Delta Pi and Chi Omega).

In 1954, the sorority adopted speech and hearing as its philanthropic cause, and is partnered with the Starkey Hearing Foundation and Gallaudet University. Throughout its history, it has absorbed several other smaller sororities and also opened its first Canadian chapter in 1992. Delta Zeta is one of 26 national sororities that are members under the umbrella organization of the National Panhellenic Conference; the sorority joined the Conference in 1910.

History

Delta Zeta Sorority was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1902, the same year that the university first allowed female students. Miami is dubbed the "Mother of Fraternities" because of the many prominent men's fraternities which were founded there. Having been a leader in the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, he was familiar with the processes of a Greek organization and helped the women establish Delta Zeta, the first sorority at the campus. Benton aided in the preparation of the sorority's ritual, badge, and colors. For his contributions, he was named its Grand Patron. thumb|Delta Zeta's founders

The Delta Zeta Sorority was officially incorporated on October 24, 1902. Its founding members were Julia Lawrence Bishop, Mary Jane Collins, Alfa Lloyd Hayes, Anna Louise Keen, Mabelle May Minton, and Anne Dial Simmons. In 1910, Delta Zeta published the first issue of its national magazine, The LAMP, now issued three times a year.

Throughout the middle of the century, Delta Zeta absorbed four other sororities: Beta Phi Alpha in 1941, Phi Omega Pi in 1946, Delta Sigma Epsilon in 1956, and Theta Upsilon in 1962; most of these sororities had previously absorbed other, smaller sororities as well. The Greek letters "" are inscribed on the lamp in black enamel. The original badge did not include pearls, which were added a few years later. Delta Zeta's flower is the pink Killarney rose.

The Delta Zeta Foundation is a not-for-profit entity within the organization that provides various scholarships for members of the sorority as well as funding leadership, philanthropy, and education programs. There is a national philanthropic organization for active members of Delta Zeta known as the 1902 Loyalty Society, and members join by donating $19.02.

Chapters

Delta Zeta has 165 collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada and over 200 alumnae chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

== Notable members ==<!-- Please do not add anyone to this list without a reliable source, or a preexisting article. Also, remember to alphabetize. Thanks. -->

  • Mercedes Allison Bates (Chi), first female corporate officer, General Mills Foods
  • Arlene Davis (Iota), American aviator and air racer
  • Tina Fey (Lambda Delta), actress, Primetime Emmy Award winner, Golden Globe Award winner
  • Lisa Franchetti (Alpha Alpha) former United States Navy admiral who served as the 33rd chief of naval operations from 2 November 2023 to 21 February 2025. First woman to be chief of naval operations, and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Mary Hill Fulstone (Mu) longest-practicing physician in the state of Nevada
  • Helen Johnston, physician
  • Princess Märtha of Sweden (Alumna Initiate, Upsilon), princess of Sweden and crown princess of Norway.
  • Miriam E. Mason (Epsilon), Notable children's author
  • Galadriel Stineman (Kappa Beta), actress
  • Marcia Wallace (Delta Nu), television and stage actress
  • Mary Jo West (Alpha Sigma), First primetime anchorwoman in Phoenix, member of the Arizona Women's Hall of Fame
  • Lynn Forney Young (Zeta Psi), 43rd president general, Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Kay Yow (Zeta Lambda), women's basketball coach, North Carolina State University The Delta Zeta national leadership was criticized after The New York Times published an article accusing the national office of moving certain members of the Delta chapter at DePauw University to alumnae status based on their perceived attractiveness. Founded in 1909, the Delta chapter was the sorority's second-oldest active chapter and its fourth-oldest chapter overall (a "single letter" chapter). Despite its long history at DePauw, the chapter struggled with declining membership and had acquired a negative reputation on campus. As a result, Delta chapter members voted to request Delta Zeta Sorority to close the chapter due to falling numbers and a lack of interest in recruitment. When notified of the chapter decision, Delta Zeta Sorority arranged a chapter membership review and chapter reorganization rather than closing the chapter completely. Several of the members who were moved to alumnae status, and therefore required to move out of the Delta Zeta house at DePauw, argued that they were moved to alumnae status due to their perceived unattractiveness, weight, or ethnicity and contacted the media.

See also

  • List of social sororities and women's fraternities

References