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Zeta Tau Alpha was founded Oct. 15, 1898, by nine women at the State Female Normal School (now Longwood University) in Farmville, Va. Only 14-15 years of age, these young women desired permanence to their friendships and hoped to perpetuate their sisterhood long after college. Though dedicated to the formation of a Greek-letter group, the band of nine delayed selecting a formal name. A temporary name of “???” was taken when, as legend has it, a member of another group met with the Founders. Raising her eyebrows and forming her fingers in the shape of a question mark, she asked “Who are you?” In unison, the group answered “Yes, Who? Who? Who?” Thus, the group came to be known as “???” while they sought an appropriate Greek name and symbols. During this time, the group received valuable assistance from two of the members’ brothers -- Maud Jones Horner’s brother, Plummer Jones, and Frances Yancey Smith’s brother Giles Mebane Smith. Both were students at the college of William and Mary, members of men’s Greek-letter organizations and knowledgeable of Greek lore. After a year of careful contemplation, the group chose the formal name, the patron goddess and the badge.
The nine Founders and first three pledges pose for their first official photograph, the Mystifying Picture in 1899. Originally believed to be a photograph of some long forgotten ritual of the Fraternity, it was later discovered that this picture was instead intended to “Mystify the Normal” through its publication in The Normal Light (the school annual), and did not represent any ritual. Rather, it was created completely in good humor. The explanation of the famous “Mystifying Picture” as given by Odelle Warren Bonham, the first pledge:
Alice Coleman, whose brown eyes and irresistible manner are so often mentioned, was the Flirt. She is holding a handkerchief between her hands in an old time flirting signal. Della Lewis, the Judge, gazes at her in stern rebuke, while Maud Jones, the Angel, is lovingly pointing to higher aims. Fannie Smith, the Preacher, holds the Bible in her hand. Never would she have done it lightly, for even in those days she lived the life that could only come from an intimate acquaintance with the Book. Helen Crafford, the Teacher, was setting a “copy” on the slate. Ethel Coleman and Ruby Leigh were Lawyers. Alice Welsh, the Poet, was holding a quill pen and madly writing verse. Cammie Jones, the Light, held a burning candle. Grace Elcan was our Child of Nature; her hair was hanging and she was covered with wild flowers. Grace was one of the most perfectly natural people I ever knew – sweet to the core. I (Odelle Warren Bonham) was Grandma. I wore a black silk dress with a soft old lace shawl and brooch. My hair was parted in the middle and drawn down over my ears in a day when girls showed their ears. Ellen (Armstrong) was at my knee, wearing a high-waisted dress and playing with a toy monkey. She was the baby.
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