Two young ladies, Alpha Hayes Moore and Mamie Lucille Horne Butler of Jacksonville, Florida were students during the late 20's on the campus of Howard University. On returning to their hometown of Jacksonville, FL after graduation, they brought back a wealth of knowledge and an immense desire to share with their community the many things that they learned in college about Zeta Phi Beta. The two were so impressed with the extracurricular activities they encountered as members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority - its principals of finer womanhood, service, scholarship and sisterly love: that they decided to secure permission from the national executive board to expand Zeta Phi Beta Sorority to the state of Florida. Soror Alpha H. Moore received permission and on December 12, 1936 The Iota Alpha Chapter was chartered in Jacksonville Florida. This was the first chapter in the state of Florida and the first mixed undergraduate and graduate chapter in the Southeastern Region.

In 1943 after its undergraduate members graduated from college, the graduate chapter, Beta Alpha Zeta was established. The chartered date was April 12, 1944.

The Chartered Leaders were:
* Soror Alpha Hayes Moore
* Soror Mamie Lucille Horne Butler
* Soror Waltee Mamie McRae
* Soror Arnolta Johnston Williams
* Soror Elinor B. Littlejohn
* Soror Blanche Gaines Jenkins

Since those humble beginnings, Beta Alpha Zeta has enjoyed many first. We were the first chapter in the state to own a sorority house, first in the area to open a Stork's Nest, first in the state to set up an Amicae chapter. We have also become an award-winning chapter on the State Regional and Nation levels for membership and ZHOPE programing.