In 1923 the State of Tennessee is where a genre of music took place during the Tennessee ‘s Renaissance, including Blues, choirs, and Big Band music left their footprints. Blues singer, Bessie Smith, a native of Chattanooga released her top single “Downhearted Blues”. The Fisk Jubilee singers in Nashville recorded “I Know the Lord”, and W.C. Handy Orchestra published and performed “The St. Louis Blues” in Memphis during the year of 1923.

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In 1923 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated chartered the first two Zeta Chapters in Nashville, Tennessee.  The Kappa chapter was chartered on the campus of Roger Williams University (1866-1927). In 1927 Roger Williams University closed after two fires and the university community could no longer sustain; therefore, the Kappa chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated dissolved. During the same year, Lambda Chapter was chartered with both undergraduates and graduate members from Tennessee A & I College (Currently known as-Tennessee State University) and Fisk State College (Currently known as -Fisk University).  Lambda Chapter later dissolved and merged with the Graduate Chapter of Pi Zeta in 1936.

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(Location on Vanderbilt Campus) Tennessee Zetas are members of the South Central Region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated which also includes Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. The Tennessee chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated oversees the Sorority’s Auxiliary groups Zeta Youth, Zeta Amicae, and Zeta Male Network while serving the community through ZHOPE (Zetas Helping Other People Excel). Community partnerships and services include March of Dimes, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Autism, Domestic Violence and Mental Health Awareness, expressing community action-oriented services.

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has held only two Boules` in Tennessee; 1929 in
Nashville and 1980 in Memphis. In July 2019, Tennessee was the site for
the Zeta Organizational Leadership Conference (ZOL).

Tennessee has been host of many South Central Region Leadership
Conferences with the most recent being the 2017 conference in
Nashville. 

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In 2022 the Tennessee State Conference of Zetas elected her first State Director, Mrs. Joyce Murphy, a graduate of Tennessee State University. The State of Tennessee Zetas currently has a total of 31 active graduate and undergraduate chapters. Tennessee will host its Ninety-fourth (94th) South Central Regional Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition, the State of Tennessee Conference of Zetas awaits to host the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated National Convention in 2026.