Kent Alumnae Memories

Our Founders. Back: Julia Bishop; Anne Simmons; Anna Keen; Alfa Lloyd.
Front: Mary Collins; Mabelle Minton.

Our six founders arrived on Miami University's campus in Oxford, Ohio as some of the first female students to be admitted. In the fall of 1902, they wished to form an organization similar to the men's fraternities. Three fraternities, in fact, had been founded at Miami: Beta Theta Pi in 1839; Phi Delta Theta in 1848; and Sigma Chi in 1855. Not knowing how to go about establishing their sorority, the women sought guidance from Miami's president, Dr. Guy Potter Benton, who was himself a member of Phi Delta Theta.

In the beginning our founders were not taken seriously by some of the fraternity members. They persecuted these women who dared emulate the men's fraternities. One fraternity member even snatched the Delta Zeta constitution from the secretary's hand as she exited Dr. Benton's office. A favorite Delta Zeta memory was created when Dr. Benton "pursued the villain" and rescued the document. Despite (or, more likely, in spite of) the harassment, the women formed and incorporated Delta Zeta Sorority in the State of Ohio on October 24, 1902. In time, the men saw that our founders were serious in their endeavor and came to respect the women of Delta Zeta and their new sorority. For all that he had done, Dr. Benton was awarded the privilege of wearing our badge—the only man ever to hold this honor.

Alpha Chapter's first pledge was Elizabeth Coulter. After her education at Miami, she went on to graduate school at Cornell University. There she worked to establish Beta Chapter of Delta Zeta in 1908. From there, Delta Zeta grew to over 200 collegiate chapters across the United States and Canada. Today there are also 250 alumnae chapters worldwide, which allow alumnae to continue to enjoy and strengthen the bonds of Delta Zeta after college.