When six young women came together in 1902 to form a social sorority at Miami University in Oxford, OH, they had a vision of a lifetime of sisterhood fostered by ideals that they cherished. These friends bonded quickly as they faced the challenges of starting a sorority on a campus already filled with male-dominated organizations.
Although fraternities were well-established by the time Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Simmons met with Dr. Guy Potter Benton, then president of the university, to make their idea a reality, they faced many challenges from the male students of the university. This adversity served to bond them even closer.
They applied for and received the Articles of Incorporation from the State of Ohio. The date of incorporation, October 24, is Alfa Lloyd’s birthday and that date is a tribute to her, for she quickly showed a leadership that was effective as the Sorority's first President.
Soon the men’s fraternities, seeing that the Delta Zeta Founders were in earnest, looked upon Delta Zeta with pride as another organization to establish one more Miami tradition. The Founders then went on to lay the foundation for the Sorority which would have a national reach.
Today, Delta Zeta has over 207,000 alumnae and collegiate members in the United States and Canada. The Delta Zeta Foundation, a non-profit organization, makes possible gifts and support for scholarships, leadership, philanthropy, and education.
Although fraternities were well-established by the time Alfa Lloyd, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Julia Bishop, Mabelle Minton, and Anne Simmons met with Dr. Guy Potter Benton, then president of the university, to make their idea a reality, they faced many challenges from the male students of the university. This adversity served to bond them even closer.
They applied for and received the Articles of Incorporation from the State of Ohio. The date of incorporation, October 24, is Alfa Lloyd’s birthday and that date is a tribute to her, for she quickly showed a leadership that was effective as the Sorority's first President.
Soon the men’s fraternities, seeing that the Delta Zeta Founders were in earnest, looked upon Delta Zeta with pride as another organization to establish one more Miami tradition. The Founders then went on to lay the foundation for the Sorority which would have a national reach.
Today, Delta Zeta has over 207,000 alumnae and collegiate members in the United States and Canada. The Delta Zeta Foundation, a non-profit organization, makes possible gifts and support for scholarships, leadership, philanthropy, and education.