Delta Zetas Make History Every Day.
Our story is about Delta Zetas who change the world through their leadership. Delta Zeta is unique from the other 25 National Panhellenic Conference sororities in that our national headquarters and museum is in Oxford, Ohio, where we were founded at Miami University. Our home is the National Historical Museum, where each room of the expanded 19th century house and its furnishings have a story to tell and guests are anxious to hear each one. It has been designated by the Oxford City Council as a Historic Site.
The National Historical Museum's Archives Committee works to chronicle Delta Zeta's rich history and develop plans for exhibits (online, stationary and traveling) that bring to life not only the Sorority's story, but the stories of her members who promote Delta Zeta's values and enrich the world.
Dedication of the Museum Virtual Tour
The virtual tour is made possible through a generous donation to the Delta Zeta Foundation by Jean Baughman Templeton, Eastern Michigan - Gamma Sigma, 2005 Woman of the Year. Jean dedicates the tour in honor of Norma Minch Andrisek, Baldwin Wallace - Gamma Alpha, Past National President, and Ruth Weider Patterson, Wittenberg - Beta Chi, Past Foundation President and Past National Officer, for their steadfast devotion to the preservation and presentation of Delta Zeta's history.
Dedication of the Museum Virtual Tour
The virtual tour is made possible through a generous donation to the Delta Zeta Foundation by Jean Baughman Templeton, Eastern Michigan - Gamma Sigma, 2005 Woman of the Year. Jean dedicates the tour in honor of Norma Minch Andrisek, Baldwin Wallace - Gamma Alpha, Past National President, and Ruth Weider Patterson, Wittenberg - Beta Chi, Past Foundation President and Past National Officer, for their steadfast devotion to the preservation and presentation of Delta Zeta's history.
General Information
- Our home is more than 100 years old, built in 1884 by Frank McCord using some of the bricks and woodwork from Oxford's First Presbyterian Church which stood on the same site. The house is in the Historic District of Oxford, Ohio.
- Frank and his sister Lizzie sold the house for $1,550 to Bill and Avis Cullen. The Cullen family lived here for 30 years, and later purchased the house next door on Campus Avenue -- now owned by Delta Zeta and called the Cooks Conference Center.
- Delta Zeta Sorority purchased the house in 1981. Restoration was complete for occupancy in September, 1983. Most of the furnishings and the rooms have been made possible through the generous gifts of individual alumnae/friends of Delta Zeta; college and alumnae chapters; and provinces/regions.
- The original house had over 5,640 square feet. In 1996, a 10,000 square foot addition was dedicated. The house has four levels.
- The lower level was originally the crawl space in the house, and was excavated to house the operations of National Headquarters staff, computer servers and database, shipping/receiving, accounting, National Housing Corporation, member services, and communication services departments.
- The main floor houses the Museum, the Foundation office and the Executive Wing.
- The second floor houses conference guests (eight bedrooms, mini-kitchen, small dining room, lounge and library).
- The top floor is the National President's Suite and President's Walk.
- The Centennial Garden and Circle, dedicated in 2002, connects the Cooks Conference Center and National Headquarters. The Cooks Conference Center, named after Lucile Crowell Cooks, Miami (OH) - Alpha, 1973 Woman of the Year, is used for traveling staff temporary housing, archives storage, miscellaneous records and overflow rooms for large meetings at National Headquarters.
- There are five working fireplaces throughout the house; however, they are not used for safety reasons.
- Prior to Delta Zeta purchasing the property, the house served as student housing for 13 Miami University students.