TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Institutional Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement Note
Conditions of Access and Use
Related Material
Administrative Information
Search Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Series A. Constitutions, 1855-1894
Series B. Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge/National Conventions, 1864-1979
Series C. Financial records, 1927-1951
Series D. Publications, 1884-1975
Series E. Ritual Books/Prayers, 1895-1953
Series F. Programs/Photographs, 1939-1971
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Manuscript Collection No. 638
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| Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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| Creator: |
United Order of True
Sisters.
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| Title: |
United Order of True Sisters
Records.
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| Dates: |
1864-1979 |
| Quantity: |
7.5 linear feet (9 Hollinger boxes, 3 oversized boxes) |
| Abstract: |
The United Order of True Sisters records describe the governance
and activities of the organization between 1876 and 1976. The collection contains executive
minutes, convention records, programs, publications, ritual books, financial records, and
photographs.
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| Collection Number: |
MS-638 |
| Language: |
Collection material in English and German. |
The Unabhängiger Orden des Treue Schwestern or the United Order of True Sisters (UOTS) was founded
in 1846 by a dozen women led by Henrietta Bruckmann, wife of New York physician Dr. Phillip
Bruckmann. In order to strengthen the credibility of the group, Henrietta sought the support
of her husband as well as Temple Emanu-El associate rabbi, the Rev. Dr. Leo Merzbacher, and
Dr. James Mitchels, an early B'nai B'rith leader. The original members of the order all
belonged to Temple Emanu-El. They were of German Jewish ancestry and formed this secret
order devoted to charity.
The UOTS followed the typical organization of the time period, with written constitutions
and by-laws adopted by the membership. Their objectives were "to unite its members in
sisterly affection and esteem" in addition to charitable work. Their male advisors helped
them to develop the first installation ceremony. Rituals and degrees were also formalized
and published. In 1883, the publication of the newsletter, The Echo began. This publication gave information about the different activities of the
chapters, the charity recipients, and details of the ritualized ceremonies.
The UOTS has retained the Jewish, if not German, part of their identity. In 1892, the first
English speaking chapter was formed. In 1918, the last chapter meeting in German was
conducted. The UOTS's chief charitable concerns now have to do with cancer and cancer
treatment centers.
Growth in the number of chapters continues, although the overall membership has declined
since 1945. The first chapter was the Immanuel Lodge #1 (so named because its membership
consisted of members of the Emanu-El congregation), and in 1851 the UOTS created the
national Grand Lodge. Immanuel was the first chapter to sign the Grand Lodge charter.
Philadelphia also opened a lodge in 1851 and, in 1874, Johanna Lodge No. 9 became the first
Midwestern chapter, located in Chicago, Illinois. In the early 1960s, the United Order
formalized its commitment to expansion by creating a National Expansion chairman for
membership. As recently as 1978, a new chapter was formed in Suffolk County, New York.
The United Order of True Sisters Records describe the governance and activities of the
fraternal organization between 1864-1979. The collection contains executive minutes,
convention records, programs, publications, ritual books, financial records and photographs.
This collection is arranged in six (6) series:
Terms of Access
The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.
Terms of Reproduction and Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use,
may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address
queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information, see
the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
United Order of True Sisters. Nearprint file. American Jewish Archives.
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the United Order of True Sisters
Records and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-638. United Order of True Sisters Records.
American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The United Order of True Sisters records were donated by Mrs. Rita Lipkin, president of the
United Order, in August 1999.
Processed by Melinda McMartin, November,
1999.
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| Series A. Constitutions, 1855-1894 |
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Series A. consists of a handwritten copy of the first constitution and the roll-call
vote accepting it. The constitution was later used as a membership book and contains a
listing of members, chapters, and some addresses.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
Constitution. With membership rolls having various dates. 1855-1894. |
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| Series B. Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge/National Conventions, 1864-1979 |
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This series comprises six Hollinger boxes of minutes of meetings of the Grand Lodge
(national organization). Minutes prior to 1894 are in German. There is a break in the
series between 1922 and 1940. After this time, the series contains the programs and
addresses of the national convention in addition to the minutes of the Grand Lodge.
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The series is arranged chronologically. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
2 |
Grand Lodge meeting minutes. German. 1864-1876 |
| 1 |
3 |
Minutes. 1876-January 1880 |
| 1 |
4 |
Minutes. March 1876-January 1880 |
| 1 |
5 |
Minutes. December 1880-December 1885 |
| 1 |
6 |
Minutes. December 1885-December 1896 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
Minutes. January 1907-January 1916 |
| 2 |
2 |
Minutes. February 1916-March 1922 |
| 2 |
3 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1940 |
| 2 |
4 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1941 |
| 2 |
5 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1942 |
| 2 |
6 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1943 |
| 2 |
7 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1946 |
| 2 |
8 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1947 |
| 2 |
9 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1948 |
| 2 |
10 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1949 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1950 |
| 3 |
2 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1951 |
| 3 |
3 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1952 |
| 3 |
4 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1953 |
| 3 |
5 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1953 |
| 3 |
6 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1954 |
| 3 |
7 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1955 |
| 3 |
8 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1956 |
| 3 |
9 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1957 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 4 |
1 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1958 |
| 4 |
2 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1959 |
| 4 |
3 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1960 |
| 4 |
4 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1961 |
| 4 |
5 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1962 |
| 4 |
6 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1963 |
| 4 |
7 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1964 |
| 4 |
8 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1965 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 5 |
1 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1966 |
| 5 |
2 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1967 |
| 5 |
3 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1968 |
| 5 |
4 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1969 |
| 5 |
5 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1970 |
| 5 |
6 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1971 |
| 5 |
7 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1972 |
| Box |
Folder |
| 6 |
1 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1973 |
| 6 |
2 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1975 |
| 6 |
3 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1977 |
| 6 |
4 |
Meeting program and convention minutes. 1979 |
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| Series C. Financial records, 1927-1951 |
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This series consists of a board of subscribers book which contains information
concerning financial donors to the national headquarters of the UOTS, known as "the
clubhouse."
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| Box |
Folder |
| X-404 |
1 |
Board of subscriber books. Names, addresses, amounts. 1927-1951 |
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| Series D. Publications, 1884-1975 |
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Series D. contains two oversize and two legal size Hollinger boxes. It consists of the
run of The Echo, the official newsletter of the United Order, publication of which varies from
monthly to three times yearly. Reports of the meeting of the Grand Lodge in an
abbreviated fashion are included.
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This series is arranged chronologically. |
| Box |
Folder |
| X-404 |
2 |
The Echo. Prior to 1896 in German. 1884-1905
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| Box |
Folder |
| X-405 |
1-3 |
The Echo. 1906-1924 (3 folders)
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| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
1-7 |
The Echo. 1931-1951 (7 folders)
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| Box |
Folder |
| 8 |
1-10 |
The Echo. 1952-November 1975 (10 folders)
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| Series E. Ritual Books/Prayers, 1895-1953 |
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Series E. comprises one Hollinger box of ritual books, manuals of degrees, prayers for
the death of a sister, and lodge installation services. Earlier material is in both
German and English.
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The series is arranged chronologically. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 9 |
1 |
Manual of degrees. 1895 |
| 9 |
2 |
Ritual book. German. 1901 |
| 9 |
3 |
Ritual book/Manual of degrees. 1913 |
| 9 |
4 |
Ritual book. 1947 |
| 9 |
5 |
Ritual book. 1953 |
| 9 |
6 |
Prayers for the death of a sister. German and English. undated |
| 9 |
7 |
Installation of lodge service. undated |
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| Series F. Programs/Photographs, 1939-1971 |
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Series F. comprises three folders and one oversize Hollinger box. It contains
anniversary programs and photographs. Of special interest is a scrapbook of photographs
from the 1945 convention.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 9 |
8 |
True Sisters day at World Fair program. 1939 |
| 9 |
9 |
Anniversary programs. 1931-1971 |
| 9 |
10 |
Photos of 115th anniversary activity. circa 1960 |
| Box |
Folder |
| X-406 |
1 |
Scrapbook of photos. Mostly from Grand Lodge meeting and convention.
1945
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The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
AJA's online catalog.
Institutions
United Order of True Sisters. --
Photographs
Subjects
Jewish women -- Societies and clubs. --
Photographs
Genres and Forms
Photographs
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