Membership certificate for the African American fraternal organization containing an allegorical view that includes Odd Fellow iconography. Shows the female figures of Justice and Truth standing on globes and flanking a framed view of an ark at sea. Justice holds a sword and scale and Truth holds a torch, serpent, and a mirror from which a light shines. Visible within and bordering the view are Odd Fellow symbols, including the sickle and hourglass, dove, skull and crossbones, the lamb, heart-in-hand, and the lion. Above the view the female figure Charity sits and holds children in her lap below the all Seeing Eye in the night sky under a rainbow marked "G.U.O. of O.F." The G.U.O.O.F was established in 1843 with a charter from the Grand Lodge in Manchester, England., Not in Wainwright., Copyrighted by D. B. Bowser, probably the artist., Issued to David B. Bowser, Unity Lodge, No. 711, G.U. O. of O.F. on July 10, 1844. Signed James Needham, N[oble] F[ather], James McCrummill, N[oble] G[rand] and Joshua Campbell, P. S[ecretary]., Philadelphia on Stone, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Certificates - Odd Fellows, Bowser, was a prominent African American ornamental artist and social activist, who specialized in signs, banners, and paraphernalia in addition to portraiture. Major commissions included volunteer firefighter apparel and equipment, Civil War pictorial banners, and Grand United Order of Odd Fellows regalia.
Date
c1843
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania | Print Department | HSP at LCP HSP Certificates - Odd Fellows
Membership certificate for the patriotic nativist women's society established in New York in 1845 as an auxilliary to the Order of United Americans. Contains a vignette portrait of Martha Washington flanked by the allegorical figures of Liberty and Justice perched in a cluster of clouds. Below on each side, columns entwined with the American flag and adorned with the American eagle and shield rest on pedestals decorated with horns of cornucopia. Between the columns, a "United Daughter" leads a little girl to another "United Daughter" who welcomes them into a temple adorned with garlands of flowers. The society weakened by the collapse of the nativist political movement remained active until circa 1861., Not in Wainwright., Copyrighted by Wm. Patton., Issued October 23, 1847 to Elizabeth Curry for membership in the Lady Taylor Council, No. 10 State of Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Wentz, Governess. Anna Clewell, Recd. Secretary., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 160, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 052 U 58, LCP exhibit catalogue: Women 1500 to 1900, entry #192., See "Order of the United American Mechanics." AAS Graphic Arts Lithf Patt Hone.
Date
c1848
Location
Historical Society of Pennsylvania HSP Bc 052 U 58