The Independent Order of St. Luke was an African American fraternal order of to promote Black economic independence. It was founded after the Civil War (1861–1865) in Baltimore, Maryland by Mary Ann Prout.[1][2] It was first called the United Order of St. Luke.[1]
Black fraternal orders provided a means for Black community members to create resources to promote independence, self-reliance, and success that was not available to them by white businesses due to segregation. Members of the African American community also supported and were employed and serviced by Black businesses, like retail stores, insurance companies, banks, newspapers, and homes for the elderly.[1]
In 1869, the organization split into two factions. The new organization Independent Order of St. Luke was operated from Richmond, Virginia by William M. T. Forrester. He ran the organization until the 1890s, when membership had fallen to 1,000 members.[1]
Office force of the Independent Order of St. Luke, of which Mrs. Walker is the head, 1922, Lily Hardy Hammond
Maggie L. Walker had led the development of a juvenile department and rose through the ranks of the organization until she became the leader of the organization in 1899. In two years, she doubled its membership. New headquarters were established at the St. Luke Building in 1903. St. Luke Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] Under her leadership, the organization supported 100,000 members in 26 states. Her policy of "cooperative economics" resulted in Black businesses employing Black workers, which were patronized by the community. She oversaw the founding of the St. Luke Herald newspaper, a department store, and the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank.[1][2] The Consolidated Bank and Trust was the longest-running, independently owned Black-owned bank in the country. It was sold in 2005.[1]
Hattie N. F. Walker, Maggie Walker's daughter-in-law, became leader of the organization after Maggie died in 1934. She ran the organization until 1957. The fraternal order was disbanded in 1988.[1]
With other Black fraternal orders, the Independent Order of St. Luke helped Richmond being named as the "Birthplace of Black Capitalism", "Black Wall Street", and "Harlem of the South".[1]
^ abcdefghi"Independent Order of St. Luke: Maggie L Walker National Historic Site". U.S. National Park Service. Retrieved 2022-07-05.
^ abMayo, Anthony; Onise Smith, Shandi (January 2017). "Maggie Lena Walker and the Independent Order of St. Luke". Harvard Business School.
^"Independent Order of St. Luke Records, 1935-1945. Organization Records Collection". Library of Virginia, Richmond. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
Further readingedit
Lugar, Caleb W; Garrett-Scott, Shennette; Novicevic, Milorad M.; Popoola, Ifeoluwa Tobi; Humphreys, John H; Mills, Albert J (April 2020). "The historic emergence of intersectional leadership: Maggie Lena Walker and the Independent Order of St. Luke". Leadership. 16 (2): 220–240. doi:10.1177/1742715019870375. ISSN 1742-7150. S2CID 202287953.
"Richmond Story: Lillian Payne and the Independent Order of St. Luke". The Valentine (accredited by the American Alliance of Museums). 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
External linksedit
"The St. Luke Hall: A Beacon of Black Business". Google Arts & Culture.
November 01, 2023
independent, order, luke, african, american, fraternal, order, promote, black, economic, independence, founded, after, civil, 1861, 1865, baltimore, maryland, mary, prout, first, called, united, order, luke, luke, building, headquarters, richmond, virginia, na. The Independent Order of St Luke was an African American fraternal order of to promote Black economic independence It was founded after the Civil War 1861 1865 in Baltimore Maryland by Mary Ann Prout 1 2 It was first called the United Order of St Luke 1 St Luke Building headquarters for the Independent Order of St Luke Richmond Virginia on the National Register of Historic PlacesHistory editBlack fraternal orders provided a means for Black community members to create resources to promote independence self reliance and success that was not available to them by white businesses due to segregation Members of the African American community also supported and were employed and serviced by Black businesses like retail stores insurance companies banks newspapers and homes for the elderly 1 In 1869 the organization split into two factions The new organization Independent Order of St Luke was operated from Richmond Virginia by William M T Forrester He ran the organization until the 1890s when membership had fallen to 1 000 members 1 nbsp Office force of the Independent Order of St Luke of which Mrs Walker is the head 1922 Lily Hardy HammondMaggie L Walker had led the development of a juvenile department and rose through the ranks of the organization until she became the leader of the organization in 1899 In two years she doubled its membership New headquarters were established at the St Luke Building in 1903 St Luke Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1 Under her leadership the organization supported 100 000 members in 26 states Her policy of cooperative economics resulted in Black businesses employing Black workers which were patronized by the community She oversaw the founding of the St Luke Herald newspaper a department store and the St Luke Penny Savings Bank 1 2 The Consolidated Bank and Trust was the longest running independently owned Black owned bank in the country It was sold in 2005 1 Hattie N F Walker Maggie Walker s daughter in law became leader of the organization after Maggie died in 1934 She ran the organization until 1957 The fraternal order was disbanded in 1988 1 With other Black fraternal orders the Independent Order of St Luke helped Richmond being named as the Birthplace of Black Capitalism Black Wall Street and Harlem of the South 1 Papers of the Independent Order of St Luke are held at the Library of Virginia 3 See also editFifth Street Historic District African American Commercial amp Cultural Center Lynchburg VirginiaReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Independent Order of St Luke Maggie L Walker National Historic Site U S National Park Service Retrieved 2022 07 05 a b Mayo Anthony Onise Smith Shandi January 2017 Maggie Lena Walker and the Independent Order of St Luke Harvard Business School Independent Order of St Luke Records 1935 1945 Organization Records Collection Library of Virginia Richmond Retrieved 2022 07 06 Further reading editLugar Caleb W Garrett Scott Shennette Novicevic Milorad M Popoola Ifeoluwa Tobi Humphreys John H Mills Albert J April 2020 The historic emergence of intersectional leadership Maggie Lena Walker and the Independent Order of St Luke Leadership 16 2 220 240 doi 10 1177 1742715019870375 ISSN 1742 7150 S2CID 202287953 Richmond Story Lillian Payne and the Independent Order of St Luke The Valentine accredited by the American Alliance of Museums 2021 02 19 Retrieved 2022 07 06 External links edit The St Luke Hall A Beacon of Black Business Google Arts amp Culture Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Independent Order of St Luke amp oldid 1154245723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
