TABLE OF CONTENTS
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
A Finding Aid to the United Order of True Sisters Records. 1864-1979.
Manuscript Collection No. 638
Introduction |
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| Repository: | The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives |
| Creator: | United Order True Sisters. |
| Title: | United Order of True Sisters Records. |
| Dates: | 1864-1979 |
| Quantity: | 7.5 linear feet (9 Hollinger boxes, 3 oversized boxes) |
| Abstract: | The United Order True Sisters records describe the governance and activities of the organization between 1876-1976. The collection contains executive minutes, convention records, programs, publications, ritual books, financial records, and photographs. |
| Collection Number: | MS-638 |
| Language: | Collection material in English and German. |
Institutional Sketch
The Unaghingiger Orden Treue Schwestern or the United Order 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.
Scope and Content Note
The Unaghingiger Orden Treue Schwestern or the United Order 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.
Arrangement Note
This collection is arranged in six (6) series:
Conditions of Access and Use
Terms of Access
The collection is open for use; no retrictions 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.
Related Material
United Order True Sisters. Nearprint file. American Jewish Archives.
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
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.
Provenance
The United Order True Sisters records were donated by Mrs. Rita Lipkin, president of the United Order, in August 1999.
Processing Information
Processed by Melinda McMartin, November, 1999.
Box and Folder Listing
Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.