10 10 105 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/2b9cb9d913f097aca6137c383837e71c.jpg e7d90119a05acf08aece6d4f18e9cd7c Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Date Started 1976 Type of Institution Government Social Welfare Source of File Attached “<a href="https://ehahousing.org/who-we-are/">Who We Are</a>.” Who We Are @ Englewood Housing Authority. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Englewood Housing Authority Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="https://ehahousing.org/who-we-are/">Who We Are</a>.” Who We Are @ Englewood Housing Authority. Subject The topic of the resource Affordable Housing Description An account of the resource The Englewood Housing Authority was created in 1976 with Michael Terrace as the first Executive Director. The organization is made of a seven-member board. The director appoints five, the mayor appoints one, and the Department of Community Affairs appoints one. Originally founded to build the Vincente K. Tibbs Senior Center the organization has since created numerous housing developments. In 1981 Westmoor Gardens was built. In 1991 167-169 Morse Place was rehabilitated. In 2001 the organization purchased the John Foti building on 115 Humphery Street. In 2014 the organization worked at the Rock Creek Terrace and Parkview housing complexes. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Community Work Elderly Housing Social Welfare https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/b9ed1e9c43882d07b1552ca7b412ded5.jpg e945863d14708ea7aec2ec958fb58b5b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Date Started 1923 Type of Institution Social Welfare Source of File Attached “<a href="http://www.englewoodnjrotary.org/sitepage/about-our-club/rotary-club-of-englewood">Rotary Club of Englewood</a>.” Rotary Club of Englewood. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Rotary Club of Englewood Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="http://www.englewoodnjrotary.org/sitepage/about-our-club/rotary-club-of-englewood">Rotary Club of Englewood</a>.” Rotary Club of Englewood. Subject The topic of the resource Activism, Social Welfare Description An account of the resource The Rotary Club is an international service organization. The Englewood branch was founded in 1923. The Englewood branch focuses a lot of its work on local youth. The club also supported many local humanitarian organizations. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Community Work Social Welfare Social Work https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/30b353a2f43f046d8559a12b9f2feba6.jpg 4b86ebaab407ec435f668fb2ef003e37 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/e304c1260a4659d49fb202d5ee43c67e.jpg 6a9ce1b9ea0b324ba183bbed356ae575 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/2ec155aed7b99e8c6de1374b64c872e6.jpg aa3ee5347287843f75a4b3ac465fc631 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/42d3fbeb3de7c68dfb035ffb50bf07bd.jpg 63e95e20ffc2c245d350cefaf18f27d0 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Date Started 1880 Type of Institution Religious Source of File Attached Colman, David. "Bethany Presbyterian Church." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Bethany Presbyterian Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Bethany Church organized in 1915." The Record, 8 Sep. 1949, p. 24. Supik, Wilma. "The 'serving' church." The Record, 11 Apr. 1980, p. A17 Description An account of the resource Bethany Presbyterian Church has been one of the most important institutions in the history of Englewood, New Jersey. For more than a century, the church has served as a center of worship, education, cultural life, and civic leadership within the city’s African American community. Its story reflects both the local history of Englewood and the broader experience of African Americans within the Presbyterian tradition. The origins of Bethany Presbyterian Church reach back to 1876, when missionary outreach began among Black residents of Englewood. At the time, many African Americans living in the community worked as domestic servants, laborers, and tradespeople serving Englewood’s wealthy households. Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood organized a mission effort to provide religious instruction, Sunday school classes, and prayer meetings for these residents. By 1880, the work had developed into Calvary Mission, which held regular worship services and community gatherings. Over time the mission grew into a stable congregation with its own leadership and membership. In 1911, the church was formally organized as Bethany Presbyterian Church, becoming the third Presbyterian congregation in Englewood and the principal Presbyterian church serving African Americans in the city. The congregation soon called Rev. William E. Griffin as its first pastor. One of Bethany’s most influential early pastors was Rev. Thomas J. B. Harris, who assumed leadership of the church in 1915. Rev. Harris believed that churches should serve not only spiritual needs but also the economic and educational advancement of the community. Under his leadership Bethany established an ambitious industrial training school designed to teach practical job skills. Courses offered included instruction in: <ul> <li> carpentry </li> <li> bricklaying </li> <li> plastering </li> <li> plumbing </li> <li> electricity </li> <li> painting </li> <li> printing </li> <li> tailoring and dressmaking </li> <li> millinery and design </li> <li> domestic science </li> </ul> Classes were held in the evenings so that students could continue working during the day. The program was intended to help young people who had left school early as well as adults seeking employment opportunities. Local newspapers praised Bethany as a pioneer in vocational education in Englewood, demonstrating the church’s commitment to social advancement and community empowerment. Local newspapers praised Bethany as a pioneer in vocational education in Englewood, demonstrating the church’s commitment to social advancement and community empowerment. This commitment to uplift extended beyond education into the organization of civic and fraternal institutions within the African American community. In the years following World War I, Bethany Presbyterian Church became an important gathering place for Black veterans returning to Englewood. Many of these men had served in segregated units such as the 92nd Division, fighting for democracy abroad while facing discrimination at home. Upon their return, they sought recognition, fellowship, and opportunities to participate more fully in civic life. In January 1920, a group of these veterans assembled at Bethany Presbyterian Church to organize the Henry Douglass Post No. 222 of the American Legion. According to contemporary newspaper accounts, the meeting was attended by Colonel E. P. D. Moore and representatives of Englewood Post No. 78, who explained the mission of the Legion and emphasized the importance of national service and unity. During the meeting, Moore highlighted the “splendid record” of the 92nd Division and affirmed that Black soldiers deserved “the same recognition as other troops,” a statement that was met with strong approval by those present. The newly formed post received financial support to assist in its early development, marking the beginning of an organized network of Black veteran leadership in Englewood. At the same time, fraternal organizations were also emerging as key institutions within the community. Among them was Henry Douglass Lodge, part of the Prince Hall Masonic tradition, which provided structured opportunities for leadership development, mutual aid, and civic engagement. Like the American Legion post, the lodge reflected a broader effort by African American residents to build independent institutions that could support their social, economic, and political advancement. Together, these organizations illustrate Bethany Presbyterian Church’s role as more than a place of worship. The church functioned as a central hub where community members gathered to establish institutions that would strengthen Black civic life in Englewood. Through the formation of veteran organizations and fraternal networks, Bethany helped foster a generation of leadership rooted in service, resilience, and collective advancement. Bethany Presbyterian Church was also deeply engaged with the intellectual and political life of the African American community. One notable event reported in local newspapers was a “Triple Affair” celebration honoring the legacies of: <ul> <li> Abraham Lincoln </li> <li> Frederick Douglass </li> <li> Paul Laurence Dunbar </li> </ul> The program commemorated Lincoln’s role in emancipation, Douglass’s leadership in the abolitionist movement, and Dunbar’s contributions to American literature. The celebration included speeches, community leaders, and invited guests from local political and civic organizations. Such events demonstrate that Bethany was not only a religious institution but also a forum for African American historical memory, civic education, and cultural pride. By 1926, Bethany Presbyterian Church had become a firmly established institution in Englewood. That year the congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, marking half a century of organized ministry. The anniversary program lasted an entire week and included: <ul> <li> nightly church services </li> <li> public lectures </li> <li> musical programs </li> <li> guest speakers from across Englewood’s religious community </li> </ul> Prominent ministers from local congregations participated in the celebration, including representatives from Baptist, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. The anniversary events reflected the church’s strong position within Englewood’s religious and civic life. Bethany placed strong emphasis on developing leadership among young people. Newspaper accounts describe youth-led services in which the congregation’s young members conducted the entire worship program. Junior choir members opened the service with a procession, young speakers delivered short addresses, and church youth served as ushers. These programs helped cultivate confidence and leadership skills among the church’s younger generation. The church also organized recreational activities and outings. One example was the annual Sunday school picnic, where members traveled together by trolley to Grandview Park near Paterson for a day of recreation and fellowship. Such gatherings were especially meaningful during a time when segregation limited access to many public spaces. In later decades Bethany continued to sponsor programs that combined cultural expression with community service. One event featured the gospel musical “God’s Trombone,” organized by the church’s Women’s Day Committee. The performance was staged as a fundraiser for a proposed senior citizen and child day-care center on William Street. The production brought together performers from the Paterson Community Ensemble and regional theater groups, demonstrating the church’s role as a cultural center as well as a place of worship. Bethany Presbyterian Church also welcomed nationally prominent leaders. One of the most notable events in the church’s history was a visit by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, the renowned educator, civil rights leader, and founder of Bethune-Cookman College. Bethune spoke at Bethany after being barred from delivering a scheduled address at a local school in Englewood. The church opened its doors so that the community could hear her speak, demonstrating Bethany’s willingness to challenge racial barriers and provide a platform for Black leadership. Bethune’s appearance connected the Englewood congregation to the broader movement for African American education and civil rights. Bethany also celebrated the dedication of its members. In 1962, the church honored individuals who had belonged to the congregation for fifty years or more. At the commemorative dinner, longtime member William P. Rhodes spoke with three ministers who had served the church, including former pastor Rev. Thomas J. B. Harris. Events like this reflected the church’s emphasis on continuity and collective memory. The church’s history is also reflected in the lives of its members. Obituaries reveal the many ways Bethany members contributed to Englewood’s civic life. Examples include: <ul> <li> Katherine E. Lennon, who volunteered in the church’s soup kitchen and nursery school. </li> <li> Anna Bell Smith Jackson, who served as both an elder and choir member. </li> <li> Susan E. Jones, active in the choir and the Willing Workers Club. </li> <li> Wynnell M. Perry, wife of Englewood’s Board of Education president, who participated in church organizations and community charities. </li> </ul> These records illustrate how Bethany helped nurture community leadership across generations. The story of Bethany Presbyterian Church reflects the broader experience of African Americans within the Presbyterian denomination. Historically, Presbyterian churches were often dominated by white leadership and European religious traditions. African American congregations had to navigate the challenge of maintaining cultural identity while participating in a denomination with different historical roots. Scholar Rev. Dr. Randal Jelks has described this tension as a form of cultural marginality faced by Black Presbyterians. Congregations like Bethany worked to reconcile Presbyterian theology with the traditions of the Black church and the realities of racial inequality. Bethany’s history illustrates how African American Presbyterian congregations developed their own distinctive identity within this framework. Today Bethany Presbyterian Church remains one of Englewood’s most historic institutions. From its origins as a nineteenth-century mission to its role as Englewood’s oldest Black Presbyterian congregation, the church has served as a center of faith, education, activism, and community life. Through worship services, educational programs, cultural events, and social outreach, Bethany Presbyterian Church has helped shape the history of Englewood for nearly 150 years. Its story stands as a testament to the power of religious institutions to sustain communities, cultivate leadership, and preserve cultural memory across generations. “Bethany Church Is Fifty Years Old: Anniversary Program Is Now Being Observed,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 30, 1926, p. 6. “Founded 1876 – Bethany Presbyterian Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 24, 1926, p. 6. “Triple Affair: Lincoln, Douglass, Dunbar Honored at Affair at Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), February 12, 1936, p. 10. “Industrial School Classes to Be Held,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), December 8, 1924, p. 5. “Conduct Worship: Young People in Charge of Service at Englewood Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 27, 1936, p. 16. “Bethany Presbyterian Church Will Picnic,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 30, 1926, p. 6. “Church Honors Parish Elders: 50-Year Members Get Bethany Tribute,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), February 12, 1962, p. 8. Lorraine Matys, “A Musical to Rival Gabriel’s Trumpet,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), June 6, 1983, p. 18. “Bethany Presbyterian Church Marks 103rd Anniversary,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), April 3, 1987, p. 39. “Susan E. Jones,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 20, 1994, p. 34. “Katherine E. Lennon,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 18, 2002, p. A36. “Anna Bell Smith Jackson,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 23, 1993, p. 62. “John H. Lewis,” obituary, The Record (Hackensack, NJ), November 26, 1990, p. 27. “Eleanor Alston,” obituary, The Teaneck Suburbanite, October 16, 2002, p. A34. “Perry Services Are Tomorrow,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), September 27, 1966, p. 22. “Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Speaks at Bethany Church,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), July 22, 1976, p. 53. “Colored Ex-Service Men of Englewood Form Legion Post,” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), January 10, 1920. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Subject The topic of the resource Religion, Christianity African American Religion https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/10c5ab78d63d588c7f2f61cbac061277.jpg de65432a45536f8c43c3558a260e249b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Date Started 1933 Type of Institution Community Source of File Attached "The Community Chest." Facebook. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Community Chest Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Tekelly, Michael. “<a href="https://thecommunitychestebc.org/history">History</a>.” The Community Chest. <div></div> "Mrs. Morrow To Direct Community Chest Drive." The Record, 18 Nov. 1932, p. 6. Subject The topic of the resource Activism, Social Welfare Great Depression Description An account of the resource The Community Chest is a charitable organization. The mayor Cornelius P. Kitchel organized a committee to create a community chest in June 1932. This was due to the flood of social services needs caused by the Great Depression. Elisabeth "Betty" Reeve Cutter Morrow was selected as the organization's first leader. The Community Chest ran its first fundraiser in the autumn of 1933. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Charity Finances Social Welfare Social Work https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/830cceacf18a861471ffd3357ad7b915.jpg 8ca83436d3c9abb3e65fa272e1793f99 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Organizations and Institutions A group of individuals cooperating under similar beliefs to reach an agreed-upon goal. Metadata for organizations and institutions provides information for the basis of an investigation into the creation, purpose, beliefs, and actors involved in an organization and institution. Date Started 1900 Type of Institution Social Welfare Source of File Attached "Social Service Federation Flourished For 50 Years." The Record, 5 Oct. 1950, p. 23. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Social Service Federation Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Social Service Federation Flourished For 50 Years." The Record, 5 Oct. 1950, p. 23. Subject The topic of the resource Activism, Social Welfare Social Welfare System Description An account of the resource The Social Service Federation of Englewood emerged from the civic reform spirit that characterized the turn of the twentieth century. Its roots trace back to 1898, when members of the Woman’s Club of Englewood organized boys’ clubs to provide structured recreation and moral guidance for local youth. In 1900, the addition of a day nursery expanded the mission beyond boys’ programming and marked the beginning of a broader commitment to family support. In May 1900, a group of public-minded citizens formally organized what became known as the Civic League, headquartered at 32 North Dean Street in the city’s first “Neighborhood House.” From the outset, the organization sought to address the social needs of a growing industrial community. In 1907, the Bureau of Associated Civic Relief was created as a clearinghouse for Englewood’s charitable efforts, investigating needy cases and coordinating assistance among agencies. A playground was opened at MacKay Park in 1908, reflecting early concern about youth welfare and juvenile delinquency. By 1912, several related efforts—including tuberculosis relief and family aid—were consolidated under the Civic Association banner. The organization steadily expanded its reach. In 1914, it helped secure the appointment of a physical director for Englewood’s public schools. In 1916, Memorial House opened as a community center for boys and girls, a forward-looking effort to combat juvenile delinquency through recreation and supervision. Six years later, the Civic Association and Memorial House merged their activities to form the Social Service Federation of Englewood, unifying multiple strands of charitable and civic work under one umbrella. By mid-century, the Federation stood as one of Englewood’s most important social institutions. Supported largely through the Community Chest, it sponsored or coordinated agencies such as the Englewood Urban League, the Bergen County Tuberculosis and Health Outpatient Department at Englewood Hospital, and the Englewood Thrift Shop. Its services included home economics assistance, family counseling, youth recreation programs, and the operation of Camp Englewood at Lake Tiorati, which provided summer experiences for underprivileged children. During World War II, Memorial House even served as a casualty training station. The Federation’s growth mirrored the city’s own development. Leaders such as Dwight W. Morrow, Daniel E. Pomeroy, and other prominent citizens supported its mission, but its strength ultimately lay in the volunteers and families it served. By its fiftieth anniversary in 1950, local observers credited the Federation with helping to create “a cleaner Englewood” and fostering improved community living through coordinated social services. The 1950s brought structural change. Clinical counseling and family advocacy programs eventually spun off into a separate organization—Family Service of Bergen County, headquartered in Hackensack—reflecting the professionalization of social work. Decades later, in 1997, the two agencies reunited, and in 2002 adopted the name Bergen Family Center, acknowledging both their shared history and their countywide scope. Today, as Bergen Family Center marks more than 125 years of service, it stands as Bergen County’s oldest continuously operating family service agency. Its evolution—from boys’ clubs to day nursery, from Civic League to Social Service Federation, and finally to a modern countywide nonprofit—reflects more than organizational change. It tells the story of a community adapting to new social challenges while sustaining a long tradition of compassion, civic responsibility, and collective care. “Lowly Birth of Social Service Federation Dramatized in Skit at 50th Annual Session.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), April 28, 1950. “Social Service Federation Flourished for 50 Years: Group Started at Turn of Century as Civic League Now Furnished City With Much.” The Record (Hackensack, NJ), October 5, 1950. <div class="resource-meta media-object-section"> <div class="description full"> <div class="resource-meta media-object-section"> <div class="description full">Partly written by OpenAI. (2026, February 13). ChatGPT (GPT-5.2.) [Large Language Model] https://chat.openai.com/chat.</div> </div> </div> </div> Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Ludder, Rachelle Social Welfare Social Work https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/3775e4c26b3567b200b4cebeb54c22f8.jpg b30ab459688d6f5a840990b1e68cb4bc Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Source of File Attached "Janis E. Dismus Middle School." Google Maps. Type of Institution Educational Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Janis E. Dismus Middle School Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Your Schools." The Record, 16 Sep. 1982, p. D-5. Subject The topic of the resource Schools Schools, Public Description An account of the resource Janis E. Dismus is a middle school under the Englewood Board of Education. It teaches students from grades 6th-8th. It was named after educator Janis Greene E. Dismus after she died in 1982. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Education https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/62bf3299d657884184970d704e6a4674.jpeg a927178a7a4da7a3ca87349cb64efd59 https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/7c8997c1d9d81f1b6ee2b3ebd63464b7.jpg 6a9ce1b9ea0b324ba183bbed356ae575 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Type of Institution Government Community Source of File Attached Kim, Linsey. "American Legion Henry Douglas Post 58." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource American Legion Henry Douglass Post 58 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="http://www.legion.org/history">“History.”</a> The American Legion. <div></div> Subject The topic of the resource Government Agencies World War I Veterans Description An account of the resource American Legion Henry Douglas Post 58 is the American Legion post located in Englewood, New Jersey. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Military https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/14b5807c54f0b650a1182ff4945f7dd0.jpeg 2a2f057addcd570f645d6d1e1b9d52b6 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Date Started 1924 Type of Institution Community Source of File Attached Kim, Linsey. "Elks Ideal Lodge #470/Temple #290." Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ideal Elks Lodge #470/Temple #290 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "Applause." The Record, 8 July 2008, p. L8. Description An account of the resource The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) or the Elks Lodge is a fraternal order founded On February 16, 1868, in New York City. Fifteen entertainers began gathering to socialize and created a list of rituals and a statement of purpose. The mission of the BPOE is: "To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God: to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks care and Elks Share" (Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks). The organization has a long history of charitable work providing services for youth, veterans, and their local communities. When the organization was founded, however, African Americans were not allowed to become members of the order. Many fraternal organizations of the time had rules that called for the exclusion of blacks including the Odd Fellows and the Masons. "The Elks stipulate that "No person shall be accepted as a member of the Order unless he be a white male" (Schmidt and Babchuk, 278). The Ideal Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks of the Word (IBPOE of W) was created in response to this discrimination. In 1898 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Arthur J. Riggs, a former slave, gained a copy of the BPOE rituals. As it was not under copyright, African Americans were able to create their own version of the BPOE (Skocpol and Oser). Works Cited Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. “Our Mission.” Elks.org www.elks.org/who/missionStatement.cfm#:~:text=To%20inculcate%20the%20principles%20of,organization%2C%20and%20to%20provide%20for. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024. Schmidt, Alvin J., and Nicholas Babchuk. “The Unbrotherly Brotherhood: Discrimination in Fraternal Orders.” Phylon (1960-), vol. 34, no. 3, 1973, pp. 275–82. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/274186. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024. Skocpol, Theda, and Jennifer Lynn Oser. “Organization despite Adversity: The Origins and Development of African American Fraternal Associations.” Social Science History, vol. 28, no. 3, 2004, pp. 367–437. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40267851. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024. “The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.” National Postal Museum, Smithsonian, postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/america%E2%80%99s-mailing-industry-industry-segments-magazine-publishers/the-benevolent-and. Accessed 13 Sept. 2024. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Subject The topic of the resource Social Clubs Activism, African American Charity Community Centers Community Work Men https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/45064abf98c91c428fa6a0b94318534c.jpeg af674f257ade45d76e983cc956c99f71 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Date Started 1913 Type of Institution Religious Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Ebenezer Baptist Church Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived “<a href="https://myebc.church/pastor">Pastor Preston E. Thompson Jr.</a>.” MyEBC. <div></div> "Ebenezer to set cornerstone." The Record, 2 May 1972, p.3. "Looking Ahead." The Record, 11 May 2004, p.L-4. Subject The topic of the resource Religion, Christianity Description An account of the resource The Ebenezer Baptist Church began in 1913 under Reverand Samuel Lightfoot. Reverand W. B. Booker was his successor. Reverand Clarence E. Richardson was the church's third pastor and a new church building was constructed on Fourth Street beginning in 1972. The other three pastors of the church were Reverand William Holt Hargrave, Reverand William Marcus Small, and Reverand Jovan T. Davis. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Religion https://archive.englewoodmakeshistory.org/files/original/8bce39739936bca1a674288eeb1f2be0.jpg 76b6a7d28313809e54d81ac51f3551cd Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Organizations and Institutions Places A fixed location. Metadata for a place provides descriptive information that is the basis of discovery of the creation, purpose, and agents associated with a place. Type of Place Places of Worship Type of Institution Religious Source of File Attached "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/shilohamezionenglewood/photos_by">Shiloh AME Zion Church Englewood</a>." Facebook. Date Started 1892 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church Subject The topic of the resource Religion, Christianity Description An account of the resource The Shiloh African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church began in 1892 with gatherings held in private homes. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "60 Groups Worshipping in City, Boro." The Record, 2 June 1959, p.C-14. Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Colman, David Ludder, Rachelle Religion