Southern District Grand Tent No.1 (membership certificate for Eliza Braxton)

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16739, Southern District Grand Tent No.1, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Summary

Extent:
.03 Cubic Feet Contains 1 letter sized folder.
Creator:
United Order of Tents
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16739, Southern District Grand Tent No.1, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.

Background

Scope and content:

Once named for abolitionists J. R. Giddings and Jolifee Union, the Southern District Grand Tent No. 1 is a secret organization to help African American Christian women. It was created by former enslaved women, Annette Lane and Harriet Taylor. The collection contains a membership certificate for Eliza Braxton. It certifies that Braxton was part of the Iola Tent No.74 of Richmond, Virginia. The United Order of Tents was formed in 1867 in Richmond. The society provided aid to the African American Community across the nation.

Biographical / historical:

The United Order of Tents is an organization for African-American churchwomen founded in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1867 by former enslaved women, Annetta M. Lane (c.1838-1908) and Harriet R. Taylor. There are chapters across the United States. It is a secret society, with parts of membership and organizing only shared with members. It is the oldest benefit society for black women in the United States. At its height,national membership reached approximately 50,000 women.The United Order of Tents works to care for the sick and the elderly,and to help those in need.

Lane and Taylor created the organization with assistance from two abolitionists, Joliffe Union and Joshua R. Giddings.It was created as a fraternal lodge intended to be used as a stop on the underground railroad. The name, Southern District for the United Order of Tents refers to the tents that fugitive enslaved people often used as shelter.

The collection contains a membership certificate for Eliza Braxton.

Source: "United Order of Tents." Wikipedia. Accessed 02/15/2023 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Order_of_Tents

Acquisition information:
This collection was purchased from DeWolfe and Wood by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on June 26, 2020.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard