The first chapter chartered in Colorado in 1960 was the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Zeta Zeta Chapter. The inception was a result of a backyard conversation near a clothesline between two sorors, Edythe Bryant and Celestine James. During their conversation they discovered they were both members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. In 1959, Edyth Bryant was interested in chartering a local chapter of Zeta Phi Beta after consulting with then Midwestern Regional Director, Jewell Livingston. In addition to the five Zetas, three additional ladies (Jeanette Goens-McCrary, Rebecca Miller and Ruth Walton-Slater) expressed interest in becoming Zetas. The chartering ceremony was held the weekend of July 1, 1960, with the three new initiates and existing Zetas: Edythe Bryant, Celestine James, Mary Black, Arvella Reynolds and Mildred Stevenson. With the chapter in place, the members began their journey to promote the principals on which Zeta Phi Beta was founded.