HISTORY IN THE MAKING: CHI ZETA THEN AND NOW
From a small acorn of an idea to the beginning of a mighty oak tree, on December 12, 1936 Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was born. The acorn was planted by E. Juanita Tate, Regional Director at the time. It sprouted under the interest of five ladies in Oklahoma City – Henrietta Beasley Wright, Lola Greer, Mattie Jeltz, Anna E. Moore and Clara McFall. E. Juanita Tate chartered Chi Zeta Chapter. The acorns took root, the tree sprouted and the oak grew strong sprouting over sixty branches as members from various professions joined and added their voices, aspirations and acts of service. Chi Zeta was the first female Divine Nine member to organize in Oklahoma City. And this mighty oak flourished!
Back then Little Theater Projects seemed an apt choice as the ladies produced plays, musicals and variety shows. Finer Womanhood, Prevention and Control of Juvenile Delinquency, National Council of Human Rights and National Council of Negro Women were among the projects they actively supported. As the years passed the chapter lent its support to NAACP, Urban League, YWCA, Chamber of Commerce, United Negro Fund, Pan Hellenic Council, Scholarship Awards, Voter Registration, Civil Rights Activities, Drug Abuse Awareness, Illiteracy Education and Aids Awareness. The Miss Merry Christmas Pageant was used to help teen girls develop social skills and earn scholarships. Elegance in Blue was also used for this purpose at the collegiate level.
In 1960 the oak produced a seedling, a sapling – Beta Gamma – a metropolitan undergraduate chapter serving Central State College, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma University, and other institutions of higher learning in the State of Oklahoma. In 1972 Chi Zeta held a baby shower to introduce its Stork’s Nest Project to the Oklahoma City community. Later, in 1983, another sapling sprouted – Theta Mu – an undergraduate chapter located on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. Then, over the years Chi Zeta worked to support the Sorority’s National Projects. ZHOPE, Zetas Helping Other People Excel, is a project that spawned a large number of activities for women, men, teens and children. Covering mind, body and spirit, it included Sexual Responsibility, Abstinence as a Choice, Bullying, Disaster Preparedness, Health Fairs, Sickle Cell Information and Reading for the Mind. Meeting Basic Needs also covers a variety of activities under this umbrella. Community Service as well as assuring the health and wellness of its members resulted in activities such as Zetas Have Heart, Zumba, Finer Women Don’t Haze and other projects.
December 12, 2016 Chi Zeta Chapter celebrated its 80th Anniversary. A community conscious, action-oriented entity of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Chi Zeta Chapter is still growing strong as she now remains actively involved with March of Dimes’ Walk for Babies, Susan G. Komen activities for the Cure, Elder Care, Lupus Walk, American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Regional Food Bank, St. Jude’s Research, Alzheimer’s Research, Juvenile Diabetes, Prematurity Awareness , and various other charitable organizations; sponsors its’ Stork’s Nest, Amicae group, and undergraduates; and works with NPHC and with other chapters at the Local, Regional and National levels. Also, 2016-2017, marked a stellar year as Chi Zeta Chapter members embark on a partnership with the third grade class of Thelma Parks Elementary as a part of their Adopt a School Project, a national Zeta initiative.
At the 76th Annual Regional Leadership Conference in 2018, the Chi Zeta Chapter earned an Excellence Award and was named Outstanding Graduatuate Chapter of the Year for the Midwestern Region. In October 2018, the Chi Zeta Chapter earned Chapter of the Year for the State of Oklahoma.
Still growing, still strong, the mighty oak continues to flourish as the influx of new and younger members keep the bark and branches in prime condition.
|Compiled by Marian Martin
Above - Left to Right: Henrietta Foster, Lola Greer, Annie E. Moore, Mattie Jeltz, and Clara McFall
Below - Left to Right: Clara McFall, Henrietta Foster, Annie E. Moore, Mattie Jeltz, Lola Greer
Below - Left to Right: Clara McFall, Henrietta Foster, Annie E. Moore, Mattie Jeltz, Lola Greer