Delta Zeta Sorority was founded at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio on October 24, 1902. Alpha Delta Zeta founders Julia Bishop, Anne Simmons, Mary Collins, Anna Keen, Mabelle Minton, and Alfa Lloyd were among the first women to enroll at Miami University as full-time students.  After adopting the Killarney rose as the sorority's flower, and rose and green as its colors, the founders applied for and received Articles of Incorporation from the Department of the State of Ohio.

The first year of institution brought much ridicule from the men's fraternities on campus.  One fraternity member stole the Delta Zeta constitution from Anna Keen's hand as she walked out of the university president's office.  Later that year, when a fraternity man attempted to steal the ritual from Anna's hands, she supposedly resorted to tears, melting the heart of the would-be-confiscator, and bringing him to return the papers, only to watch her walk off, laughing at his simplicity.  Soon, the men's fraternities, seeing that the members of Delta Zeta were indeed earnest, ceased harassing the girls, and rather looked upon them with pride.

In 1903, Delta Zeta added four new members to the roll: Elizabeth Coulter, Noble Miller, Lillian Minton, and Luella Cruger.  All four were members of the Miami girls' basketball team, and prominent in other college activities.  The sorority gave no formal social affairs that first year, besides a sleigh ride to the home of Mabelle Minton.  Yet, the sorority formed a solid financial basis and laid the plans for the future of Delta Zeta as a national organization. 

Today Delta Zeta is one of the largest international sororities for women. It has the highest numbers of active chapters on university and college campuses in the United States and Canada, and there are alumnae chapters across the United States and Canada. 

• Our 165 college chapters are distributed from coast to coast, while our 250 alumnae chapters offer continuing association in 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as Canada
  
• The sorority colors are old rose and Nile green; the flower is the pink Killarney rose
  
• The sorority emblem is the Roman lamp; its official jewel is the diamond
  
• The sorority mascot is the turtle
  
• Delta Zeta has a National loan fund and many scholarships to aid members who may need financial assistance to finish their education

• Florence Henderson - Actress and Spokesperson for the Hearing Impaired
  
• Edith Head - Oscar Winning Movie Costume Designer 
  
• Crown Princess Martha of Norway
  
• Joy Behar - Journalist
  
• Kay Yow - USA Olympic Women's Basketball Coach
  
• Maurine Brown Neuberger - Third woman in U.S. history elected to the Senate.