THE FIVE FOUNDERS

The Five Founders of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

Arizona Cleaver (Stemons): Served as the first president of Alpha Chapter and the first national president of the Sorority. She completed her graduate and post-graduate studies in the field of social work at Howard University. Pearl Neal: After graduating from Howard University’s Conservatory of Music, continued her studies at the Juilliard School of Music. In 1938, she was the first black woman in New York to earn a master’s degree in music from Columbia University. Neal taught music in North Carolina public schools and served as a director of seniors majoring in music at Teachers College in Winston Salem, NC. Myrtle Tyler (Faithful): A graduate of Howard University and the second national president of the sorority. She was a high school mathematics and English teacher. Viola Tyler (Goings): Graduated from Howard University with a teaching degree and a major in math. She taught school in Ohio for many years and was always very active in community affairs. Fannie Pettie (Watts): Graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and taught at junior and senior high schools in Savannah, Georgia.