Zeta Tau Alpha House
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Kappa Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha women’s fraternity was chartered at the University of Texas in 1906. After residing in houses in several locations near the University campus during its early years, the chapter purchased this Nueces Street lot in 1927 and made plans to build a new chapter house at the site. The Austin architectural firm of Page Southerland designed the structure, and when additional adjoining lots were purchased construction finally occurred in 1939. The two-story Neoclassical-style brick house has a symmetrical main façade, square columns, double-hung windows, entrance with broken pediment, and roof-line balustrade. Additions to the rear of the house were made in 1965 and 1975. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark – 2011
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Kappa Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha, chartered at the University of Texas in 1906, was among the early women's fraternities to put down roots near the Austin campus. After years of moving between rented houses, the chapter bought a Nueces Street lot in 1927 and in 1939 built a stately two-story Neoclassical brick house designed by the noted firm Page Southerland, with square columns and a roof-line balustrade.
Why it matters
Chapter houses like this marked the growing presence of women in American higher education in the early 20th century, giving college women their own institutions and spaces on campus.
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Themes & tags
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