History of Zeta Gamma

From Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 1964, ZTA absorbed seven chapters of Beta Sigma Omicron and installed them as links in our Chain of Chapters.

The Executive Committees of both organizations met in the late summer of 1964 at ZTA headquarter in Evanston, IL, to finalize the absorption. These installations took place that fall: Howard College, Birmingham, AL, now known as Samford University, Delta Psi Chapter, Sept. 17, 1964, Millsaps College, Jackson, MS, Delta Phi Chapter, Sept. 20, 1964, William Jewell College, Liberty, MO, Delta Chi Chapter, Sept. 26, 1964, Evansville College (now University), Evansville, IN, Zeta Alpha Chapter, Sept. 27, 1964, Thiel College, Greenville, PA, Zeta Beta Chapter, Sept. 28, 1964, Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA, Delta Omega Chapter, Sept. 30, 1964, Youngstown University (now Youngstown State University), Youngstown, Ohio, Zeta Gamma Chapter, Oct. 3, 1964.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above: (From the winter 1965 issue of Themis.) Present for Initiation of Beta Sigma Omicron Grand Council are (left to right) Mrs. John Wozniak, Tuscaloosa Alumnae Association President; Mrs. Stanley Brooks, former Beta Sigma Omicron National President; Mrs. Harold W. Kerr, Zeta Tau Alpha National President; Mrs. T.W. Schuessler, National Alumnae Director; and Miss Joanne Powell, former Beta Sigma Omicron Grand Council Member.

 

 

The installations included Initiations for charter collegiate members as well as BSO alumnae who wished to become members of ZTA. Six of the seven chapters are still active; Delta Phi Chapter was closed in 1974. All six of the active chapters received Crown Chapter Awards at National Leadership Conference 2011. Another highlight of the absorption was the Initiation of the Grand Council members of Beta Sigma Omicron into Zeta Tau Alpha. This momentous event took place at the Nu Chapter House at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. At least one former national office of BSO attended all seven of the installations.

 

How were four chapters installed in five days? Actually, it was seven chapters installed in 17 days, from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, 1964, when ZTA absorbed seven chapters of Beta Sigma Omicron and installed them as links in our Chain of Chapters. The seventh decade section of The History of Zeta Tau Alpha records this about the absorption: Jane Shotwell Kerr said in her President’s Report to the 1964 Convention: “Beta Sigma Omicron is an old and well respected national sorority, but through a series of conditions beyond their control, they have regretfully decided to disband. They were founded in 1888, ten years before Zeta Tau Alpha, and much of their early extension was in private and exclusive girls’ schools. Their decision to affiliate with National Panhellenic Conference made it necessary to relinquish these fine chapters and their chapter roll remained rather limited after that. They have maintained the same high standards, have essentially the same ideals and have adhered to the same traditions of membership selection as Zeta Tau Alpha.National Council thoughtfully considered the absorption and selected just seven chapters believed to be “advantageous” to ZTA.