Gavel – Black Female Organizations in Chatham Kent, 19th century

Jonah Wood HIST3801E

The object I have chosen for my Anti Slavery In Small Things Assignment is the Gavel. Through looking at all the items on display in the Chatham Kent Black Historical Society, the Gavel caught my attention not based on it’s visual appeal but rather the historical significance behind it. From researching the rich history of Chatham early in the assignment, I came to be very interested in how Chatham gained such a prominent black community in the years after emancipation. Therefore as I arrived at the Chatham Kent Black Historical Society I was immediately drawn to the case labeled “The Spirit of Progress & Dignity”.[1] This case drew my attention as this is where I thought I could find an item that fit the criteria of my research outcome (i.e. how the prominent black community was built). This is where I cam across the gavel. I chose the Gavel as I thought it could provide me with some context on the early political and social institutions that gave rise to blacks in Chatham.

Upon having a closer look at the Gavel I had noticed that it had belonged to an all black female fraternal organization called “The House Hold of Ruth”.[2] With this information I started to conduct independent research along with contacting the Chatham Kent Black Historical Society and was able to come up with very little to no information on the Chatham Kent House Hold of Ruth Chapter. This is where I faced most difficulty. Due to my inability to find relevant information on the History of the House Hold of Ruth in Chatham I attempted to shift my focus on looking into other black female organizations/fraternities in Chatham. Upon broadening my research I was able to find information on four organizations which had a tremendous social impact on Chatham and the formation of its black community.

The first organization I came across in my research was the Order of the Eastern star – Electa Chapter #1. Through using “Constitution and by Laws of the Order of The Eastern Star” I was able to discover that an assembly was created in Chatham on August 30th, 1889 at 9 o’clock a.m. by The Order of the Eastern members who aimed their focus at organizing a Grand Chapter for Ontario.[3] This is when the Electa Chapter #1 officially became a chartered chapter. After discovering that the Electa Chapter #1 was established on August 30th, 1889 I started to shift my attention to the committee members and the types of impacts they had on Chatham. As I looked into more detail on the members of the committee I was able to discover that the committee was a sister organization to St. John’s Lodge #9 an organization for Master Masons (a builder/worker of stone).[4] Therefore the Electa Chapter #1 was composed of wives, mothers, widows, sisters, daughter and pretty much any other women that were related to a Master Mason in St. John’s Lodge #9.[5] Additionally, it is also interesting to note how many black Masons there were during this time period as black masons were not so common.  After looking into the committee members I started to focus on their community involvement. I discovered that the Electa Chapter #1, Order of the Eastern Star has “striven to maintain a benevolent position in Chatham and the surrounding areas” for over the past one hundred years.”[6] They have done this through different types of community involvement such as, “visiting hospitals, nursing homes, assisting fire victims and generally helping anyone in distress”.[7] Through this community involvement the Electa Chapter #1, Order of the Eastern Star, has strongly influenced the growth of a black community in Chatham by assisting citizens who are in need of support. Additionally, through the formation of a black female social group such as this one, the establishment gave rise and purpose to black females, which essentially furthered the community as it provided everyone with an opportunity to contribute to the development of society.

The second black female organization that I looked into was The Ladies Union Aid Society. Through using the same process of research as I did in researching the Order of the Eastern Star I first tried to locate the origin of the organization. As I looked into “Seek The Truth” I discovered that The Ladies Union Aid Society was created on May 13th, 1878 and that there was an annual fee of admission for all members, as well as monthly dues.[8] Upon looking into more detail I was able to discover that “the official badge of the organization was a bar at the top with helping hands signifying the true purpose of the organization: helping the needy, elderly and sick in the community.”[9] Additionally I was also able to discover that the organization dismantled in the 1960’s, around 80 years after it was conceived.[10] Furthermore the key implication that I took from The Ladies Union Aid Society was that it (much like the Electa Chapter #1) was an organization aimed at the overall health and preservation of the society.

The United Daughters was another black female organization established in Chatham during the 19th century. Upon using “Seek The Truth” I firstly discovered that the organization was formed in July of 1864.[11] Additionally upon a more detailed look I discovered that the organization met every second Monday of each month at the home of Mrs. Margaret Holton at 12 Princess Street.[12] The inference I made from this meeting is that on every second Monday The United Daughters would discuses upcoming fundraisers for the weeks ahead. These fundraisers were essentially created in order to funnel more money back into community development and also into the purpose of aiding the community as a whole. Additionally I also discovered that The United Daughters was a non-denominational group composed of thirty-nine members.

The last black female organization in Chatham that I looked into was The Chatham Lyceum. Once again through using “Seek The Truth” I was able to discover that The Chatham Lyceum was organized in 1827.[13] Additionally, The Chatham Lyceum, much like the other female organizations mentioned above, aimed their objectives at aiding the community, however in a slightly different way. “They provided a cultural association for the uplifting of the area people by lectures, debates and was probably the forerunner of the Evergreen Literary Society.”[14] This displays that The Chatham Lyceum was more focused on mentally stimulating the community and further aided the community through literacy and communication.

By selecting the Gavel as my object for my Anti Slavery In Small Things Assignment I was able to discover some of the impacts that black female organizations had on the development of Chatham as strong black community in the 19th century.  Through research of Electa Chapter #1: Order of The Eastern Star, The Ladies Union Aid Society, The United Daughter and The Chatham Lyceum I was able to identify some of the efforts black females went to in order to aid the community. The formation of these organizations ultimately enabled strong black females to become more integrated in 19thc Chatham, by providing services, such as: community funding, aiding the sick and elderly, providing cultural association and more. Through the efforts of these organizations, they enabled everyone in Chatham to play a role and form a multi functional society centered around the overall well being of everyone within. Additionally, throughout this assignment I found it very interesting how a simple object such as the Gavel represents so much more than the eye perceives. At first gaze it just looks like a simple wooden Gavel, however, upon a more detailed look at the object and its history, I was able to unlock an immense amount of information on how the formation of black female institutions contributed to the building of a prosperous black community in Chatham Kent.

 

[1],2 Ckbhs, /. “Black Mecca Museum.” Black Mecca Museum. Accessed December 04, 2017. https://ckbhs.org/.

[3] “Constitution and By Laws of the Order of The Eastern Star .” For The Province of Ontario , 1914, 1-5.

 

[4] Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989.

 

[5] “Constitution and By Laws of the Order of The Eastern Star .” For The Province of Ontario , 1914, 1-5.

 

[6],7 Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989.

[8],9,10 Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989

[11],12 Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989

[13] Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989

 

[14] Robinson, Gwendolyn, and John W. Robinson. Seek the truth. Chatham, Ont.: The Authors, 1989