Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was organized at Howard University on January 16, 1920, as the result of encouragement given to our five founders by Charles Taylor and Langston Taylor, founding members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. These Sigma brothers felt the campus would benefit by the development of such an organization as sisters to the fraternity.  Thus, Zeta and Sigma became the first (and only) constitutionally bound Greek-letter sister and brother organizations.

Our five founders chose not to embrace the tenets of established sororities and chartered Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to encourage the highest standards of scholarship through scientific, literary, cultural and educational programs; promote service projects on college campuses and in the community; foster sisterhood; and exemplify the ideal of Finer Womanhood.

Our five founders (called our “Five Pearls”) of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. are:

It was the ideal of our founders that the sorority would reach college women in all parts of the country who were sorority minded and desired to follow the founding principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.  These founding principles are: Finer Womanhood, Scholarship, Service, and Sisterly Love. The first president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was Arizona Cleaver (Stemons).

Epsilon chapter, Zeta's fifth chapter, was formed in New York City in the late 1920's. Epsilon was inactive during the early 1940's and was reactivated during a major reclamation drive in 1945 with 19 members. Dorothy Payne was president during that time. On June 30, 1950, Delta Mu Zeta was chartered as the Manhattan graduate chapter. Evelyn Hunt, Regional Director, presided over the chartering ceremony. Delta Mu Zeta's charter members were:

Under the guidance of its first president, Isabelle Fleuranges Brown, Delta Mu Zeta began to grow and establish itself as one of the premier chapters in the sorority. Of the Zetas who charted Delta Mu Zeta, we are proud to have still active with us today Isabelle Brown, Blanche Jordan and Albertine Thomas Lancaster.

Early programs for Delta Mu Zeta included "Youth Conservation", a program designed to provide mentors and scholarships to Harlem youth. The Minisink Town House, an affiliate of the New York City Mission Society in Harlem, was also supported by DMZ, and the chapter provided funds to furnish a room at Camp Minisink in upstate New York. The chapter has participated with the American Council on Human Rights to lobby for civil rights legislation, supported a Stork's Nest, obtained life membership in the NAACP and promoted voter registration drives just to name a few.

Currently Delta Mu Zeta participates in local and national community service projects including supporting Zeta's national partner the March of Dimes campaigns WalkAmerica and Prematurity Awareness. DMZ also supports the American Diabetes Association, NYCares, and a variety of local community service events and activities. The chapter has organized and hosted projects of our own, including book signings, a career services workshop series and life planning workshops to name a few. DMZ sponsors a scholarship for graduating female seniors at Samuel Gompers Vocational and Technical High School in the Bronx, New York. Delta Mu Zeta is the advising graduate chapter of Epsilon, the undergraduate New York City Metropolitan chapter; which covers all the accredited four year colleges and universities in the borough of Manhattan and parts of the Bronx; as well as Upsilon Eta, Pace University, New York City campus.

Delta Mu Zeta has received numerous awards and recognition for our community service and participation in Zeta activities. The chapter hosted the 2004 New York State Conference, the 1995 Atlantic Regional Conference and the 1965 Boule conference. Delta Mu Zeta has given the sorority several national officers, most notably the 18th International Grand President Dr. Edith V. Francis; current National Third Vice President, Michele Greene; immediate past National Executive Board Chair and past Atlantic Regional Director, Valerie Hollingsworth; current National Protocol Chair G. Joanne Yarde; current National Election Chair Robin Hunter-Buskey; current New York State Director, Shernette Morrison and New York State Youth Coordinator Latasha Johnson.

In 2004, Delta Mu Zeta was incorporated in the state of New York and received our 501c3 non-profit status in 2005.