Eta Phi Beta

Summary

Eta Phi Beta (ΗΦΒ) is an African American business sorority located in the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[1] It was founded in Detroit, Michigan at the historically black Lewis Business College in October 1942. In 1997, the organization had 91 chapters and over 5,000 members internationally.[2]

Eta Phi Beta
ΗΦΒ
FoundedOctober 1942; 81 years ago (1942-10)
Lewis Business College
TypeProfessional
AffiliationIndependent
EmphasisBusiness, African-American
ScopeNational
MottoNot For Ourselves, But For Others
Colors  Crimson,   Gold and   Black
PhilanthropyNAACP, UNCF
Chapters91
Members5,000 lifetime
NicknameBee-Ettes, Senords, Eta Kids
Affiliated menNational Council of SHADs
Headquarters19983 Livernois Avenue, Suite B
Detroit, Michigan 48221
United States
WebsiteOfficial website

History edit

Eta Phi Beta was established by students at the historically black Lewis Business College in Detroit, Michigan in October 1942.[1] Eta Phi Beta was founded to foster women to enter into the world of business.[2] Its founders were Ivy Burt Banks, Dorothy Sylvers Brown, Earline Carter, Mae Edwards Curry, Katherine Douglas, Atheline Shelton Graham, Merry Green Hubbard, Ethel Madison, Ann Porter, Mattie Rankin, and Lena Reed.[3]

The sorority was incorporated in 1943.[4] Additional chapters were chartered at schools such as St. Augestine's University as well as the city of Indianapolis.[5][6] In 1977, the Michigan state House of Representatives approved a resolution making May 14, 1977 the Eta Phi Beta Sorority Day.[7]

The sorority had over 80 chapters nationwide in 2002.[1] On June 13, 2009, the 81st Texas Legislature House of Representatives honored Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to commemorate its 2009 Founders Day.[8] Another resolution was made in the state of Georgia.[9]

Eta Phi Beta is an affiliate member of the National Council of Negro Women.[10][3]

Symbols edit

The sorority's colors are crimson, gold, and black. Its motto is "Not For Ourselves, But For Others."[11]

Activities edit

Chapters meet monthly from September to June.[12] The sorority hosts its national convention, The Grand Boule', biennially on even-numbered years.[12] Regional conferences are held biennially on odd-numbered years.[12]

Eta Phi Beta funds various charitable organizations including the March of Dimes, the NAACP, and the United Negro College Fund.[13][11] Its main national charitable project is services for citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities.[11] The biennial Gloria Chapman Walk-a-thon raises funds for community-based organizations that work in this area.[11] Nationally, the sorority also supports breast cancer awareness and domestic violence prevention.[11]

Chapters, regions, and the Grand chapter all award annual scholarships for high school graduates and college students.[11] Chapters also support programs and provide tutoring to teach young children life skills, reading, mathematics literary, and social etiquette.[11] Some chapters host an annual Cotillion Ball that introduces children into society.[11]

Established in 1949, the National Council of Shads is an auxiliary organization of Eta Phi Beta, consisting of the husbands of sorority members.[1][14] It provides conducts community service projects and provides scholarships.[14]

Membership edit

Membership is open to women who are college graduates or have completed at least two years of college; potential members may apply to join or are invited to join by members of the sorority.[15] Eta Phi Beta has a 3-month initiation process.[12] There are two also Youth Groups, Gamma and Lamba chapters, for children ages six to eleven.[14]

Honorary Members edit

  • R. Louise Grooms Founder of the Detroit Institute of Commerce with her own money, to train African American youths with skills to enter the workplace. Member of Michigan Women's Hall of Fame[16]

Chapters edit

Following is a list of Eta Phi Beta chapters. Most chapters are community-based. There are two Youth Chapters, Gamma and Lamba, which are for children ages six to eleven.[14] The Beta series chapters were chartered at colleges and universities but have all gone inactive. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are in italics.

Chapter Charter date Institution Location Region Status References
Alpha October 1942 Detroit, Michigan Northern Active [17]
Beta Battle Creek, Michigan Northern Inactive [17]
Gamma Cleveland, Ohio Northern Active [17][14][a]
Delta West Palm Beach, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Epsilon June 28, 1958 Dallas, Texas Southern Active [19][20]
Zeta  Columbus, Ohio Northern Inactive [17]
Eta Fort Worth, Texas Southern Active [19]
Theta  Ecorse, Michigan Northern Inactive [17]
Iota Fort Lauderdale, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Kappa Los Angeles, California Western Active [21]
Lambda Dayton, Ohio Northern Active [14][17][a]
Mu Shaker Heights, Ohio Northern Inactive [17]
Nu Jacksonville, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Xi April 28, 1962 Houston, Texas Southern Active [19][22]
Omicron New Orleans, Louisiana Southern Active [19]
Pi  Maywood, Illinois Northern Inactive [17]
Rho  Tulsa, Oklahoma Southern Inactive [19]
Grand Detroit, Michigan Northern Active [17]
Tau June 5, 1965 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Southern Active [19][23]
Upsilon  Pasadena, California Western Inactive [21]
Phi  Wichita, Kansas Southern Inactive [19]
Chi  New York, New York Eastern Inactive [24]
Psi  Newark, New Jersey Eastern Inactive [24]
Alpha Alpha  Seattle, Washington Western Inactive [21]
Alpha Beta  Oakland, California Western Inactive [21]
Alpha Gamma April 8, 1967 Miami, Florida Southeastern Active [18][25]
Alpha Delta Richmond, Virginia Eastern Active [24]
Alpha Epsilon First Sheffield, Alabama Southeastern Inactive [18]
Alpha Epsilon Raleigh, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Active [26]
Alpha Zeta Washington, D.C. Eastern Active [24]
Alpha Eta  Goldsboro, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Alpha Theta Durham, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Active [26]
Alpha Iota Gainesville, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Alpha Kappa   Williamson, West Virginia Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Alpha Lambda Chicago, Illinois Northern Active [17]
Alpha Mu  St. Louis, Missouri Southern Inactive [19]
Alpha Nu  Atlantic City, New Jersey Eastern Inactive [24]
Alpha Xi  Indianapolis, Indiana Northern Inactive [17]
Alpha Omicron Delray Beach, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Alpha Pi Milwaukee, Wisconsin Northern Active [17]
Alpha Rho 1973 Greensboro, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Active [26][27]
Alpha Sigma  Wilmington, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Alpha Tau  Willingboro, New Jersey Eastern Inactive [24]
Alpha Upsilon Unassigned ?
Alpha Phi  Albuquerque, New Mexico Western Inactive [21]
Alpha Chi Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Southeastern Active [18]
Alpha Psi Carson, California Western Active [21]
Alpha Omega Huntsville, Alabama Southeastern Active [18]
Beta Alpha Virginia Union University Richmond, Virginia Eastern Inactive [24]
Beta Beta  Virginia State University Ettrick, Virginia Eastern Inactive [24]
Beta Gamma  San Jose State University San Jose, California Western Inactive [21]
Beta Delta  St. Augustine's University Raleigh, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Beta Eta Central State University Wilberforce, Ohio Northern Inactive [17]
Beta Zeta Florida Memorial College Miami, Florida Southeastern Inactive [18]
Beta Epsilon University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Western Inactive [21]
Gamma Alpha   Lake Elsinore, California Western Inactive [21]
Gamma Beta  Nashville, Tennessee Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Gamma  Asbury Park, New Jersey Eastern Inactive [24]
Gamma Delta Fayetteville, Alabama Southeastern Inactive [18]
Gamma Epsilon Tuscaloosa, Alabama Southeastern Active [18]
Gamma Zeta  Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Southeastern Inactive [18]
Gamma Eta   Racine, Wisconsin Northern Inactive [17]
Gamma Theta  Atlanta, Georgia Southeastern Inactive [18]
Gamma Iota Greenville, Mississippi Southeastern Active [18]
Gamma Kappa   Baton Rouge, Louisiana Southern Inactive [19]
Gamma Lambda  Sedalia, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Mu Reform, Alabama Southeastern Active [18]
Gamma Nu Little Rock, Arkansas Southern Active [19]
Gamma Xi  Whiteville, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Pi Birmingham, Alabama Southeastern Inactive [18]
Gamma Omicron  Ramseur, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Rho Homestead, Florida Southeastern Active [18]
Gamma Sigma  Oxford, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Tau  Lima, Ohio Northern Inactive [17]
Gamma Upsilon  Burlington, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Phi  Bronx, New York Eastern Inactive [24]
Gamma Chi  San Jose, California Western Inactive [21]
Gamma Psi  Charleston, South Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Gamma Omega San Bernardino, California Western Active [21]
Delta Alpha Marshall, Texas Southern Inactive [19]
Delta Beta Albion, Michigan Northern Inactive [17]
Delta Gamma Belzoni, Mississippi Southeastern Active [18]
Delta Epsilon Las Vegas, Nevada Western Active [21]
Delta Zeta  Baltimore, Maryland Eastern Inactive [24]
Delta Eta  Tampa, Florida Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Theta   Jackson, Mississippi Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Iota White Plains, New York Eastern Inactive [24]
Delta Kappa San Antonio, Texas Southern Active [19]
Delta Lambda   Tehula, Mississippi Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Mu  Fernandina Beach, Florida Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Nu  Plano, Texas Southern Inactive [19]
Delta Xi Jackson, Michigan Northern Inactive [17]
Delta Omicron  Nashville, Tennessee Eastern Inactive [24]
Delta Pi Winston-Salem, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Delta Rho  St. Petersburg, Florida Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Sigma Fayetteville, North Carolina Mid-Eastern Inactive [26]
Delta Tau Grand Blanc, Michigan Northern Active [17]
Delta Upsilon  Tallahassee, Florida Southeastern Inactive [18]
Delta Phi  Monroe, Louisiana Southern Inactive [19]
Delta Chi Southfield, Michigan   Northern Inactive [17]
Delta Psi March 26, 2010 Georgia Southeastern Active [18][28]
Delta Omega Memphis, Tennessee Mid-Eastern Active [26]
Epsilon Alpha   Northern Virginia Eastern Inactive [24]
Epsilon Beta Columbia and Lugoff, South Carolina Mid-Eastern Active [26]
Epsilon Gamma Central Carolina Mid-Eastern Active [26]
Epsilon Delta Palmdale, California Western Active [21]
Epsilon Epsilon Maryland Eastern Active [24]
Epsilon Zeta Maryland Eastern Active [24]
Epsilon Eta Pearland, Texas Southern Active [19]
Epsilon Iota Northern Virginia Eastern Active [24]
Epsilon Theta Starke, Florida Southeastern [18]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b This is a Youth Chapter, serving children aged 6 to 11.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Eta Phi Beta, Inc. Celebrates 25th Biennal National Convention in North Carolina". Jet: 55–. October 28, 2002. ISSN 0021-5996.
  2. ^ a b Mjagkij, Nina (16 December 2003). Organizing Black America. Routledge. ISBN 1135581231.
  3. ^ a b "About Us". Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
  4. ^ "Legacy". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  5. ^ "Indianapolis Recorder 18 December 1971 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program".
  6. ^ Walter M. Kimbrough (2003). Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. pp. 105–. ISBN 978-0-8386-3977-1.
  7. ^ "Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Michigan". 1979.
  8. ^ House Resolution HR01800
  9. ^ Senate Resolution 558
  10. ^ Otis L. Hairston (2007). Picturing Greensboro: Four Decades of African American Community. The History Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-1-59629-284-0.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Programs". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  12. ^ a b c d "Jacksonville free press".
  13. ^ Michigan. Legislature. Senate (1984). Journal. J.S. Bagg.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Auxiliaries". Eta Phi Beta Northern Region. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  15. ^ "Membership". Eta Phi Beta Sorority Epilson Chapter. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  16. ^ Delegate Magazine 1978 p 235
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Northern Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Southeastern Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Southern Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  20. ^ "Chapter History". Eta Phi Beta Sorority Epsilon Chapter. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Western Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  22. ^ "Chapter History". Eta Phi Beta Sorority Xi Chapter. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  23. ^ "About". Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Oklahoma City, OK. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Eastern Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  25. ^ "Welcome". Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Alpha Gamma Chapter | Miami, FL. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Mid-Eastern Region". Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  27. ^ "History". Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Rho Chapter Greensboro, NC. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  28. ^ "About Us". Delta Psi Chapter Eta Phi Beta. Retrieved 2024-01-26.