Conditions Governing Access

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.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was purchased from DeWolfe and Wood by the Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library on June 26, 2020.

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

Content Description

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.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African American fraternal organizations