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Interesting book on the lost history of mutual aid societies in America.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 7:53 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 7:53 pm
This part of Americana died out after the Great Depression, which required more large scale operations, but I was unaware of just how vast and commonplace the network of fraternal orgs and mutual aid society membership was in pre ww2 America. I was always taught it was just a place men went to to hang out.
LINK
Did anyone here have a grandparent or other older relative who talked about these orgs?
LINK
quote:
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, more Americans belonged to fraternal societies than to any other kind of voluntary association, with the possible exception of churches. Despite the stereotypical image of the lodge as the exclusive domain of white men, fraternalism cut across race, class, and gender lines to include women, African Americans, and immigrants. Exploring the history and impact of fraternal societies in the United States, David Beito uncovers the vital importance they had in the social and fiscal lives of millions of American families.
Much more than a means of addressing deep-seated cultural, psychological, and gender needs, fraternal societies gave Americans a way to provide themselves with social-welfare services that would otherwise have been inaccessible, Beito argues. In addition to creating vast social and mutual aid networks among the poor and in the working class, they made affordable life and health insurance available to their members and established hospitals, orphanages, and homes for the elderly. Fraternal societies continued their commitment to mutual aid even into the early years of the Great Depression, Beito says, but changing cultural attitudes and the expanding welfare state eventually propelled their decline.
Did anyone here have a grandparent or other older relative who talked about these orgs?
5
Posted on 7/15/25 at 7:59 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
Yea, my grand pappy was a member of the Loyal Order of the Water Buffaloes.
Was an ace on the pine slinging his rock ball at the pins.
Was an ace on the pine slinging his rock ball at the pins.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 8:31 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
when i was in little league, my coach for years on my 9-12 yr old team was a detective and we'd always have our end of season parties at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge. They had a huge swimming pool and small party or meeting rooms that we'd use.
Posted on 7/16/25 at 10:32 am to VinegarStrokes
I’d like to listen to it on audible. Hope they add it.
Posted on 8/7/25 at 10:41 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
Grandfather was a mason.
Now they want the government to do all the things organizations like this provided
Now they want the government to do all the things organizations like this provided
Posted on 8/8/25 at 11:30 am to HailHailtoMichigan!
My grandfather was a Shriner. Little me got to see Little Joe Cartwright ride around waving to people in a New Orleans rodeo. No telling what year it was.
Posted on 8/9/25 at 7:16 pm to HailHailtoMichigan!
My Grandfather was into the Modern Woodmen of America and sold their life insurance on the side. They actually have a pretty good rating to this day. I saw some of their offices in my youth in the Midwest and really didn't know what it was all about.
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