Pleasant Plains in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins / Constitutionally Bound
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 6, 2021
1. The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins side of the marker
Inscription.
The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins, also, Constitutionally Bound. .
The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins. Charles Robert Samuel Taylor, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, which was founded on Howard University's campus on January 9, 1914, envisioned a sister organization that would give life and inspiration to his fraternity. He is quoted as finding the embodiment of that inspiration in his sweetheart, Arizona L. Cleaver, also a student at Howard. It was on one evening in 1919, that Charles took Arizona for a walk along the reservoir, sharing with her, his desire of a sister organization of "finer and stronger women that would make all men proud". Arizona, excited with the prospect, shared the vision , now also her vision , with her best friend, Pearl Anna Neal, and along with three more intelligent, enthusiastic and earnest women, built a legacy…a nation…a Sisterhood. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Founder A. Langston Taylor worked with Charles to solicit support among the men of Sigma throughout the country. On Friday, January 16, 1920, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority , Alpha Chapter , was officially organized on the campus of Howard University. The organizing members wrote the Sigma-Zeta link into the Zeta Constitution:,
"We a group of college women organized as a sister group to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, do hereby bind ourselves together for the purpose of…" making it the only constitutionally bound brother and sister Black Greek-Letter Organization.
After graduation, although Charles lived in Kentucky and Arizona returned to her hometown, Hannibal, Missouri for some years before settling down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they maintained a lifelong bond that had started with the founding of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated., Brother Charles Robert Samuel Taylor and Founder A. Langston Taylor of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. ignited an undeniable spark and Founders Arizona Cleaver, Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler and Fannie Pettie fueled a legacy of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood by their creation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.,
And it all began with… A lovers' stroll Written by Mary Breaux Wright 24th International President, Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, International Centennial President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Michael E. Cristal, International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.
Constitutionally Bound Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 1914 Founders. A. Langston Taylor . Leonard F. Morse . Charles I. Brown,
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 1920 Founders. Arizona Cleaver Stemons . Pearl Anna Neal . Myrtle Tyler Faithful . Viola Tyler Goings . Fannie Pettie Watts,
Dedicated on January 16th, 2020 Zeta Centennial Celebration, Jonathan Mason 34th International President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, Valerie Hollingsworth Baker International Centennial President Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Dr. Jylla Moore Tearte . 20th International President and Centennial Commission Chair Kim D. Sawyer . Centennial Commission Vice Chair.
The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins
Charles Robert Samuel Taylor, a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, which was founded on Howard University's campus on January 9, 1914, envisioned a sister organization that would give life and inspiration to his fraternity. He is quoted as finding the embodiment of that inspiration in his sweetheart, Arizona L. Cleaver, also a student at Howard. It was on one evening in 1919, that Charles took Arizona for a walk along the reservoir, sharing with her, his desire of a sister organization of "finer and stronger women that would make all men proud". Arizona, excited with the prospect, shared the vision — now also her vision — with her best friend, Pearl Anna Neal, and along with three more intelligent, enthusiastic and earnest women, built a legacy…a nation…a Sisterhood. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Founder A. Langston Taylor worked with Charles to solicit support among the men of Sigma throughout the country. On Friday, January 16, 1920, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority — Alpha Chapter — was officially organized on the campus of Howard University. The organizing members wrote the Sigma-Zeta link into the Zeta Constitution:
"We a group of college women organized as a sister group to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, do hereby bind ourselves together for
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the purpose of…" making it the only constitutionally bound brother and sister Black Greek-Letter Organization.
After graduation, although Charles lived in Kentucky and Arizona returned to her hometown, Hannibal, Missouri for some years before settling down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, they maintained a lifelong bond that had started with the founding of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
Brother Charles Robert Samuel Taylor and Founder A. Langston Taylor of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. ignited an undeniable spark and Founders Arizona Cleaver, Pearl Neal, Myrtle Tyler, Viola Tyler and Fannie Pettie fueled a legacy of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood by their creation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.
And it all began with… A lovers' stroll
Written by Mary Breaux Wright
24th International President
Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, International Centennial President, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Michael E. Cristal, International President, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated
Constitutionally Bound
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
1914 Founders
A. Langston Taylor • Leonard F. Morse • Charles I. Brown
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
1920 Founders
Arizona
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 6, 2021
2. Constitutionally Bound side of the marker
Cleaver Stemons • Pearl Anna Neal • Myrtle Tyler Faithful • Viola Tyler Goings • Fannie Pettie Watts
Dedicated on January 16th, 2020
Zeta Centennial Celebration
Jonathan Mason
34th International President
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated
Valerie Hollingsworth Baker
International Centennial President
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Dr. Jylla Moore Tearte • 20th International President & Centennial Commission Chair
Kim D. Sawyer • Centennial Commission Vice Chair
Erected 2020 by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Location. 38° 55.377′ N, 77° 1.093′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Pleasant Plains. Marker is at the intersection of 5th Street Northwest and McMillan Drive Northwest, on the right when traveling north on 5th Street Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 Howard Pl NW, Washington DC 20001, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 6, 2021
3. The Lovers' Stroll…A Legacy Begins side of the marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 6, 2021
4. Constitutionally Bound side of the marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 9,948 times since then and 3,876 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
