From the Archives
The meaning and history of ZTA’s badge By Susan Beard, ΔΨ Patricia Cords Levitte, ΒΦ Archives Committee Co-Chairmen What is it about our fraternal jewelry, the visible sign of membership in ZTA, that is so special? Our Founders had a very specific vision of the emblems they wanted to represent Zeta Tau Alpha and today’s badge is very close to what they had envisioned 113 years ago. The Founders were familiar with men’s fraternity pins and those of the other sororities already organized at the State Female Normal School. Maud Jones Horner wanted something distinctive and representative of the ideals of her Fraternity. According to The History of Zeta Tau Alpha, Frances Yancey Smith’s brother, Giles Mebane Smith, suggested the design of the badge; Maud, Frances and Mary Campbell Jones Batte made the final selection. The first form of our badge is very similar to what members wear today. The black enamel shield is the same shape as the one on current badges, only larger in size and with a less dimensional surface. The size of this badge was easily seen from a distance, which was just the impact that Maud and Frances wanted it to have. Very few of these original badges were made and only the very earliest members of ZTA wore them. In the ZTA Archives, you can see the Founders badges of Frances, Helen Crafford and Alice Bland Coleman, plus other early, Founderssized badges From the start, members could personalize their badge with stones or pearls, just as Zetas can today. The earliest jeweled badge in the Archives is the beautiful opal pin of Grace Elcan Garnett, one of the first three Alpha Chapter new members. This badge, created in 1899, is the only remaining ZTA badge to have a three-pointed crown. This was not intentional; rather, it was a miscommunication with the
34 • Themis of Zeta Tau Alpha
jeweler, but several early badges had this historic oddity. Early jeweled badges were often made with opals. Pearls became a favorite choice for customization by World War I. ZTA has no restrictions on the type of jewels on a badge-only that it may contain no more than two types of stones. Maud believed that the badge should only be worn as intended, over the heart, to represent the beliefs on which ZTA was founded. All of the Founders thought that “fashionable” alterations to the badge devalued its meaning. Stickpins of the badge’s shield were popular in the early 1900’s, as were miniature versions of the badge, worn as dress pins. In 1906, Grand Council designated the badge could be worn only by initiated members (no fraternity men), and that it could not be altered into any other piece of jewelry, such as a necklace or ring. The size and usage of the badge was officially standardized at the 1908 Convention. ZTA did not have an official new member pin until 1910. In the earliest days, new members received ribbons only. In 1906, the second Constitution designated a five-pointed crown as the new member pin. The Archives contains a gold, diamond-shaped stickpin containing a red enameled shield with a five-pointed crown on top. This design never became an official new member pin, because its design fell short of what the Fraternity had expected. In 1910, the familiar carpenter’s square was chosen as the new member pin. These pins were significantly larger than what we use today. In 1912, the Convention body
declared that the new member pin would only be made of silver, and in 1928, the size was reduced to what we currently use today. The gradual evolution of our official jeweled emblems mirrored our growth. We kept the foundations and basic structure of our symbols, but refined them to meet the needs of an expanding organization. When you wear your badge over your heart, remember that you are wearing an outward symbol of what our Fraternity represents. Wear your badge with pride!
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1. Fances Yancey Smith’s Founders badge. 2. The opal badge worn by Grace Elcan Garnett, one of the first Alpha Chapter new members. 3. The first new member pledge pin—a design that was never officially approved but worn by a few early members.