Bringing Zeta’s History To Life

By Dr. Rhonda M. Lawson

National Director of Publications and Communications

When then-1st International Vice President Valerie Hollingsworth contacted me that fateful evening in 2015 and commissioned me to pen an audiobook detailing our sorority’s history, I was excited, but a little intimidated. This would be a groundbreaking project for Zeta Phi Beta, but it carried a lot of responsibility. I would not only be writing the Zeta story, educating current and future sorors, but I knew that many of our sorors had seen this history for themselves. I didn’t want to disappoint them.

Many know me as a fiction author, but at the time of this project, I was knee-deep in writing my dissertation. I knew what it was like to research. I immediately sat and got reacquainted with Zeta’s treasured Torchbearers of a Legacy by 12th International President Lullelia W. Harrison, which chronicles our history from 1920 to 1997. I also consulted numerous publications and various sorors, all of which helped me fill in some of the gaps as I built on our history decade by decade.

The further I delved into the history of our great sorority, the more fascinated I became with the strategy and tenacity of our Five Pearls and earliest members who set out to grow our sorority, knowing that Zeta was bigger than themselves. Past President Harrison sacrificing space in her own home in Houston, TX, giving Zeta our first central office. Past President Jylla Moore Foster, now Tearte, sharing her vision of World Class Service. The birth of our youth auxiliaries, Amicae, and Zeta Male Network. Zeta’s role in social action long before social action was a thing.

It was my goal to once again bring these achievements to life and help inspire a new generation of Zetas, so I was disappointed when the audiobook didn’t come to fruition. However, when Past President Tearte contacted me a few years later and asked me to work with Sorors Jorie Goins and Angellic Ross on a documentary, the excitement returned! The manuscript I had written would be used for the documentary, so the history I had chronicled would finally see light.

The documentary wasn’t an easy task, but the work Sorors Goins and Ross put in to help bring Zeta’s history to life was amazing! The photos, news articles, and interviews took what was to be an audiobook and made it so much more. I’m proud to have worked with these sorors.

Preserving Your History

How to Create a Digital Archive for Your Chapter

Angellic Ross and Jorie Goins Journey Through Time Producers

Sorors Angellic Ross and Jorie Goins join Dr. Rhonda Lawson to reflect on the creative process for their digital Centennial documentary “Journey Through Time” and share tips, tricks and best practices for recording your chapter’s history of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood online.

Journey Through Time, the centennial multimedia documentary, was a groundbreaking project for Zeta Phi Beta that carried a lot of responsibility. The members of the team were tasked not only with writing the Zeta story and educating current and future Sorors, but also with accurately and respectfully depicting a history many Sorors had seen for themselves.

The documentary wasn’t easy, but the work Sorors Lawson, Goins and Ross put in to help bring Zeta’s history to life was amazing! The best part is, you can create a similar archive for your own chapter using some of the Journey Through Time team’s best practices. Read on to learn how you can preserve and share your chapter’s history digitally.

Budget and Schedule Wisely

Within your schedule, allot time for multiple content reviews with key stakeholders, block out time to research materials, and set reasonable deadlines.

Always keep in mind that a project of this quality and magnitude will never be cheap. In addition to potentially purchasing intellectual property rights, the most important thing to remember is that you’re paying for people’s time and talent. Make sure your funds reflect the extensiveness of your project, and don’t hesitate to fundraise if you need to. Request Photographs From Outside Entities

Contact local museums, libraries and even schools to see if they have past documentation of work your chapter has done. It’s also a good idea to scope out newspapers, other hyperlocal news sources, and even larger media organizations for photos, video and audio you can include, in addition to articles and good press. Even if you aren’t doing a full-on digital archive, it can’t hurt to have a press page for your chapter website. Get Permission

A lot of popular documents and images may be easy to find online, but they still have owners. It’s important to get permission before grabbing something off of Google for your use. Doing so shows respect to the professionals who take the time to capture the sisterhood’s finest moments. Don’t forget to give them credit! Be Flexible

You may decide that the best format for you is a podcast, where you interview current and previous members. Or, your chapter may be full of talented writers who are ready to jump on a blog that highlights chapter history and accomplishments. Your project doesn’t have to live solely online either. Bring your history to life with an interactive museum that includes video and chapter artifacts. In the age of pop-up events and attractions, you’re sure to attract some buzz in your community. The possibilities are truly endless.

Last but not least… Don’t Wait

Even if you are a small chapter, your programming, initiatives and sisterly bond are part of history and need to be shown to the world. As Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., enters her second century of existence, there will be plenty of moments and milestones to capture. So don’t wait to start documenting your chapter’s place in history. Good luck!