Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World facts for kids

The Daughters of the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World is a special group for women. It's connected to the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World, which is a group for African American men. The Daughters group is officially recognized and supported by the men's organization.

This organization was started by Emma V. Kelley in 1903. To honor her, the Daughters give out an award every year called the Emma V. Kelley Achievement Award.

History of the Daughters

How the Daughters Began

The very first local group of the Daughters was called Norfolk Temple No. 1. It was founded in Norfolk, Virginia, by Emma V. Kelley. The first public meeting happened in July 1903 at the St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church. Forty people attended this important meeting.

Emma V. Kelley created the Daughters with a clear goal. She wanted to bring together all women who were healthy and had good character. Her aim was to offer help and support, and to connect women across the United States and even with sisters in Africa.

Guiding Principles and Growth

The Daughters follow the 13th chapter of the First Corinthians as their guide. Their main ideas include being kind (charity), being fair (justice), loving their country (patriotism), and showing love to their sisters and brothers.

The Daughters became a national organization, known as the "Grand Temple," on September 9, 1903. This happened during the National Elks convention, with groups from Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Virginia joining together.

At first, the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World did not officially accept the Daughters. However, Emma V. Kelley was chosen to create their rules and ways of doing things. In 1907, a special department for young people was started. By 1913, there were 48 local Daughters groups. In 1916, the Daughters were formally accepted as the official women's group for the I.B.P.O.E.W. When Emma V. Kelley passed away in 1932, the organization had grown to over 35,000 members.

How the Daughters Are Organized

Structure and Membership

The national organization of the Daughters is called the "Grand Temple." Local groups are known as "Temples." In 1979, it was reported that the Daughters had Temples in many places. These included the United States, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Virgin Islands, other parts of the West Indies, and Panama. That year, the group had about 450,000 members.

The leader of a local Temple is called the Daughter Ruler. The leader of the Grand Temple, which is the national group, is known as the Grand Daughter Ruler.

What the Daughters Do

Helping Communities

In their first fifty years, the Daughters raised more than two million dollars. This money was used for college scholarships to help young people of all backgrounds go to school. The Daughters were also very active during the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s. They worked to support equal rights for everyone.

Notable Members

• Lucy J. Brown, a person who worked for social fairness and public service.
• Mary Ingraham, a woman from the Bahamas who fought for women's right to vote.
• Emma V. Kelley, the founder of the Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World.
• Ernest Mae McCarroll, a doctor and activist.
• Grace Snively, a person who was very active in her community.
• Minnie T. Wright, a talented pianist.