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copy of the BPOE ritual and received the first copyright for it, establishing their organization in
September 1898. The first meeting of the new IBPOEW organization was held on Thursday, November 17, 1898. This was a period of a rise in black fraternal associations, with men organizing to work in community and create strong networks.
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and the abolition of slavery. The Elks purchased the property as a memorial to Brown and built several buildings on the 235-acre property, including a 50' by 124' auditorium that was used as a meeting place for Elks gatherings of up to three thousand persons on Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends.
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During the 1930s and 1940s, the IBPOEW was active in the effort of blacks to "gain work while resisting union exclusion, workplace segregation, and unemployment." According to historian Venus Green, the
Improved Elks labor activism was distinguished from other black fraternal organizations by their
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who had been born into slavery. The men had met in another fraternal association and wanted to establish a chapter of Elks; the white organization refused them admission. (It was only in 1972 that the white-majority BPOE opened admission to
African Americans and other minorities.) Riggs had gained a
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In 1979, the
Improved Elks had approximately 450,000 members. In the early 21st century, they have 500,000 members in 1500 lodges around the world. Like other fraternal associations in the United States, both black and white, the Improved Elks have been dealing with declining membership as older
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ruled in favor of the BPOE, with Judge
Barlett stating, "If the members desired the name of an animal there is a long list of beasts, birds, fishes which have not yet been appropriated for such a purpose." The decision was apparently ignored after the IBPOEW made a minor change in the letters on
27:
253:"cross-class alliances, male/female solidarity, racial unity, a willingness to join coalitions across ideologies and to engage in multiple forms of struggle, especially militant mass mobilization." In the IBPOEW, ideologies ranged from
712:, was founded in 1926. In 1945 it was the reportedly the second-largest African-American Elks lodge in the country. In 1930, the Lodge erected a home at 1943 Christian Street, in the area now known as the
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The
Improved Elks in the United States sponsor scholarship programs, youth summer computer literacy camps, help for children with special needs, and extensive community service activities.
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members die. Younger people face a different world, and seem less inclined to join such associations that purposefully discriminated against women and also require religious belief.
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The BPOE disputed the
African Americans' use of the ritual, but they held the copyright. In 1912 the Improved, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World was sued by the
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The auditorium was rented on summer weekends by a local black entrepreneur, John Bishop, who booked into that venue dozens of the biggest stars of rhythm and blues, including
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The order's historical importance as a place of activism continues to be a central aspect of its public image, that has even reached the interest of scholars and historians.
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The organization and titles of the
Improved Elks are reportedly modeled on that of the BPOE. Its Grand Lodge meets annually, and the organization is headquartered in
249:, as men were attracted from the rural South to the city's industrial jobs. At the same time, there were also numerous European immigrants settling in the city.
186:. That organization later resulted in the founding of the first African-American congregation in the Episcopal Church, headed by Jones, and the founding of the
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From 1950 to 1966, the IBPOEW owned and operated as their
National Shrine "The John Brown Farm" (also known as "The
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The formation of the
Improved BPOE as a separate order, however, began in February 1897, when it was established in
959:
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North Side Lodge 124 I.B.P.O.E.W. marching club, Sunday, June 13th, 1925, Pittsburgh, taken outside of Watt School
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Green, Venus (2012-11-01). "Not your average fraternal organization: the IBPOEW and labor activism, 1935–1950".
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In 1923 the IBPOEW convention in Chicago was attended by 3,000 delegates. At that meeting
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John Brown to James Brown - The Little Farm Where Liberty Budded, Blossomed, and Boogied
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The IBPOEW founded a Civil Liberties department in 1926. It was active in opposing the
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Just like the BPOE, the Improved Elks have kept much of their original ritual intact.
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Michelle O'Donnell, "Black Elks Honor Rituals as Membership Dwindles"
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List of African-American Greek and fraternal organizations
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To promote charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity.
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Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World
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Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World
20:
Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World
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Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax
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had trained his troops in anticipation of his raid on
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1161:. August 9, 1930. p. 8. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
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360:. The Improved Elks have an officially recognized
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1018:, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1980, pp. 107-8
225:to keep them from using the "Elks" name. The
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1029:A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies
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1005:, 20 September 2004; accessed 17 May 2017
1218:Men's organizations in the United States
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847:Booker T. Washington Lodge, No. 218, of
708:Quaker City Elks Lodge No. 720, IBPOEW,
514:Paul Laurence Dunbar Lodge, No. 106, of
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1213:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
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412:Selected US lodges COLUMBUS MISSISSIPPI
383:was re-elected "Grand Exalted Leader."
219:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
148:Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
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895:William E. Burrell Lodge, No. 737, of
805:Capt. Levi M. Hood Lodge, No. 159, of
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720:Christopher Perry Lodge, No. 965, of
671:Harvey H. Alston Sr Lodge, No. 1755,
590:James L. Crawford Lodge, No. 322, of
540:Peerless Princess Lodge, No. 243, of
453:Pikes Peak Region Lodge, No. 473, of
422:William Townsend Lodge, No. 1149, of
288:in 1859; this was a catalyst for the
1151:Wilson, W. Rollo (August 9, 1930). "
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853:Brighton Pioneer Lodge, No. 219, of
835:Clinton J. Lewis Lodge, No. 201, of
763:John F. Moreland Lodge, No. 801, of
732:Edward W. Henry Lodge, No. 1235, of
726:Leonard C. Irvin Lodge, No. 994, of
489:New Nutmeg charter Oak, No. 67, of
683:Glenville Elks Lodge, No. 1494, of
280:. That property was the site where
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992:
841:Edgar A. Still Lodge, No. 207, of
714:Christian Street Historic District
188:African Methodist Episcopal Church
166:The Order claims descent from the
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1223:Organizations established in 1897
1208:African-American fraternal orders
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932:Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
751:John A. Watts Lodge, No. 224, of
677:Spirit of Ohio Lodge, No. 52, of
441:Warren McCree Lodge, No.1285, of
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565:Quinsigamond Lodge, No. 173, of
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25:
16:African American fraternal order
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907:Montgomery Lodge, No. 1271, of
901:Twin County Lodge, No. 838, of
757:B.F. Howard Lodge, No. 580, of
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559:Commonwealth Lodge, No. 19, of
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146:fraternal order modeled on the
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871:Flood City Lodge, No. 371, of
775:North Side Lodge, No. 124, of
769:Maple View Lodge, No. 780, of
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435:Clementine Lodge, No. 598, of
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829:Twin City Lodge, No. 187, of
799:Conestoga Lodge, No. 140, of
738:O.V. Catto Lodge, No. 20, of
646:Syracuse Lodge, No. 1104, of
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268:The Kennedy Farm meeting hall
1105:10.1080/0023656X.2012.731770
865:Gem City Lodge, No. 328, of
817:Arandale Lodge, No. 184, of
689:Prosperity Lodge No.1971 of
640:Industry Lodge, No. 889, of
625:Imperial Lodge, No. 127, of
612:Monmouth Lodge, No. 122, of
546:Midwest Lodge, No. 1444, of
286:Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
47:; 127 years ago
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913:Bethal Lodge, No. 1284, of
877:Elmwood Lodge, No. 438, of
781:Lawrence Lodge, No. 18, of
634:Neptune Lodge, No. 743, of
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577:Obie Knox Lodge, No. 1568,
571:Harmony Lodge, No. 140, of
527:Columbia Lodge, No. 85, of
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459:Empire Lodge, No. 1493, of
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278:Washington County, Maryland
178:as a mutual aid society by
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883:Monroe Lodge, No. 513, of
859:Valley Lodge, No. 294, of
811:Cyrene Lodge, No. 169, of
665:Waldorf Lodge, No. 76, of
573:Springfield, Massachusetts
483:Goodwill Lodge, No. 1325,
465:Mountain Lodge, No. 39 of
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104:Leonard J. Polk, Jr., Esq.
1178:, 53 (Nov. 2012), 471–94.
1153:Elks Open New Home Sunday
989:, IBPOEW official website
823:Canon Lodge, No. 186, of
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404:Benefits and philanthropy
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368:. They were organized by
282:John Brown (abolitionist)
227:New York Court of Appeals
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889:Okay Lodge, No. 697, of
793:Unity Lodge, No. 71, of
567:Worcester, Massachusetts
497:New Britain, Connecticut
1016:Fraternal Organizations
927:Prince Hall Freemasonry
659:Alpha Lodge, No. 1, of
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614:Asbury Park, New Jersey
1158:The Pittsburgh Courier
1133:Schmidt (1980), p. 107
631:Brooklyn Lodge, No. 32
579:Holyoke, Massachusetts
495:Pride of Connecticut,
477:Shining Star Lodge of
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235:segregation of schools
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92:Winton, North Carolina
1049:Schmidt (1980), p.108
787:Berks Lodge, No. 47,
501:Carter L Marshall of
491:Hartford, Connecticut
372:on June 13, 1902, in
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522:District of Columbia
503:Danbury, Connecticut
455:Colorado Springs, CO
201:, by city residents
168:Free African Society
110:Grand Daughter Ruler
987:"Our Brief History"
608:Trenton, New Jersey
604:Sunlight Elks Lodge
209:. The latter was a
100:Grand Exalted Ruler
21:
1014:Schmidt, Alvin J.
290:American Civil War
270:
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970:. April 30, 2018.
374:Norfolk, Virginia
223:State of New York
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114:Margaret D. Scott
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1191:Official website
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339:The Drifters
335:The Coasters
327:Otis Redding
274:Kennedy Farm
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255:Christianity
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230:their seal.
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203:B. F. Howard
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172:Philadelphia
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88:Headquarters
70:Legal status
34:Abbreviation
903:Vandergrift
897:North Hills
885:Stroudsburg
472:Connecticut
323:Eartha Kitt
315:Chuck Berry
307:Marvin Gaye
303:James Brown
295:Ray Charles
1202:Categories
943:References
879:Norristown
849:McKeesport
825:Canonsburg
795:Harrisburg
783:New Castle
777:Pittsburgh
598:New Jersey
516:Wilmington
443:Pittsburg
430:California
424:Pine Bluff
387:Membership
331:Etta James
319:B. B. King
195:Cincinnati
1121:144964524
1113:0023-656X
968:Guidestar
915:Bethlehem
909:Pottstown
873:Johnstown
801:Lancaster
771:Elizabeth
685:Cleveland
592:Ann Arbor
485:Waterbury
437:San Diego
259:Communism
74:501(c)(8)
921:See also
891:Monessen
813:Steelton
648:Syracuse
620:New York
585:Michigan
509:Delaware
479:Stamford
449:Colorado
417:Arkansas
142:) is an
837:Bristol
831:Farrell
819:Altoona
789:Reading
753:Chester
542:Wichita
243:Indiana
221:in the
154:History
119:Website
80:Purpose
50: (
42:Founded
1119:
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765:Monaca
561:Boston
548:Topeka
535:Kansas
467:Denver
461:Denver
396:Ritual
364:, the
354:Winton
337:, and
140:IBPOEW
124:ibpoew
94:, U.S.
37:IBPOEW
1117:S2CID
759:Media
1109:ISSN
867:Erie
654:Ohio
239:Gary
205:and
199:Ohio
182:and
134:The
126:.org
60:Type
52:1897
45:1897
1155:".
1101:doi
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