Our Chapter History

The Eta Mu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was charted on March 4, 1972 in Tacoma, Washington at the Mount Tabor Baptist Church pastured by Reverend Leone Horne. The wife of Reverend Horne (the late Willie Mae Horne) was a Zeta.  The charter members were:

Sorors Rita Agard, Kathleen Carter, Ida Clark, Lois Bradford, Jean Grant, Lillian Jasper, Lola Johnson, Liz Manus, Gilda Oliver, Major Rutherford, Henrietta Stewart, and Ann Stewman.

The first elected Basileus of Eta Mu Zeta was Soror Kathleen Carter.  Soror Carter later became Washington State Director.  Graduate women who became Zetas during that first year were:  Soror Addie Brown, Soror Jacqueline Jefferson, and Soror Clara Cox.

Each year beginning in 1972, Eta Mu Zeta chapter observed Finer Womanhood Month during the last week of February through the month of March.  The observance was expressed through community services and support, workshops, religious services, teas, public meetings with a speaker, social events like the Blue Revue, presentation of awards and by youth programs with presentations of scholarships.

In 1974, Eta Mu Zeta held their first annual Blue Revue social dance on March 2, 1974 at the Sherwood Inn which is now a Best Western on South 74th Street in Tacoma, Washington.  Soror Kathleen Carter was named “Zeta Of The Year.”

New members inducted on February 23, 1974 were Sorors Thelma Glover, Soror Ann Jones, Soror Edith Smith, Soror Ruth Daniels, and Soror Yvonne Wilson.