The Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique (USJB), also referred to by its member organizations as the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique (lit. "Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of America"), was a Franco-Americanbenefit society first organized in 1899 when the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of Holyoke (French: Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Holyoke) invited several other so-named independent organizations to form a national committee, by 1929 the Boston Globe described it as the largest French Catholic fraternal organization in the United States.[1]
Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste d'Amérique
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society of America
Merged into
Catholic Financial Life (1991)
Established
26 February 1899 (1899-02-26), de facto 7 May 1900 (1900-05-07), official
The society's first meeting was held on February 26, 1899; in the following year its first national congress was held on March 27, 1900, and the national organization was officially incorporated on May 7, 1900 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.[2] While L'Union was primarily formed for the purpose of creating sick, disability, and death funds for American French-speaking Catholics, the organization would also provide scholarships, civic education, and held cultural events including celebrations on Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day, parades, culinary and musical events, including French opera performances.[3] The USJB also maintained a large collection of Franco-Americana that it purchased from the estate of American Civil War Major Edmond Mallet in 1908. Conducting the entirety of its business in French for most of its existence, in 1966 the organization became officially bilingual, adding English content to its bimonthly newsletter in 1972. After 1982, non-Catholics were granted membership, and from 1977 until its merger 1991, the Society held the Franco-American Interest in the Handicapped, known as Project FAITH, an annual seminar discussing advancements in the providing of care for the mentally and physically disabled.[4] Other services included distribution of grants to French language programs at several colleges, guaranteed student loans, charter trips, and an annual pilgrimage language development program.[5] Following a period of decline, the organization's mutual functions were merged with Catholic Financial Life in 1991.[6][7]
Todayedit
Although the mutual functions of the organization were folded into Catholic Family Life, a handful of chapters remained active in some form as recently as 2019. In New Britain, Connecticut there is the Societé St. Jean Baptiste, Inc., which continues to maintain a social club with a bar and billiard tables, open to all nationalities.[8] Following the dissolution of its parent organization in 1991, a local chapter in Southbridge, Massachusetts, Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Chapter #12, began organizing trips for members and non-members to New York City and Boston, as well as Franco-American cultural events, such as hosting French Canadian singers at Southbridge's La Salle Reception Center.[9]
Further readingedit
Rivard, Simon Rioux (February 2019). Fêter la Saint-Jean-Baptiste en Nouvelle-Angleterre: Entre L'Érable, le Lys et L'Étoile(PDF) (Thesis) (in French). Université du Québec à Montréal.
Referencesedit
^"Ready to Dedicate Gatineau Shaft at Southbridge Today". The Boston Globe. Boston. September 2, 1929. p. 5. The memorial erected to State. Representative Felix Gatineau of Southbrldge, founder of L'Union St John the Baptist in America, the largest French Catholic fraternal organization in the United States, will be dedicated tomorrow. Labor Day, and a parade in which 3000 persons will participate, will be a feature.
^"L'Union St. Jean Baptiste d'Amerique". Worcester Magazine. Vol. XVIII. Worcester Chamber of Commerce; Belisle Printing & Publishing. 1915. pp. 184–185.
^"Nearly 5000 in Line in Colorful Holyoke Parade". Springfield Republican. Springfield, Mass. October 13, 1925. p. 5.
^Brault, Gerard J (1986). The French-Canadian Heritage in New England. Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. p. 179. ISBN978-0-87451-359-2.
^Statistics of Fraternal Benefit Societies. National Fraternal Congress of America. 1991. p. 180.
^. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Educational Foundation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
^Marie Louise Bonier; Raymond H. Bacon (1997). The beginnings of the Franco-American colony in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Assumption College Insitut Français. p. 552. The Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste reached its high point in 1953 with 80,000 members. It was down to under 40,000 when it merged in 1991, for reasons of fiscal stability, with Catholic Family Life Insurance Company
^(PDF). Auburn News. Stonebridge Press. March 15, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2019. Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste, Chapter #12, Southbridge, is sponsoring a variety of excursions for all to enjoy in 2019. We are a non-profit family oriented Franco-American fraternal society since 1900. As always, you do not have to be a member to participate in any of the scheduled events. All are welcome. Gift certificates purchased in any amount can be used by the recipient to any event at face value. For information or reservations contact Ted at (508) 764- 7909. 2019 2019 is the Society's 27th anniversary in providing members and non-members alike the opportunity to experience excursions of a day or extended days. All are welcome to travel with our organization.
^(PDF). Auburn News. Stonebridge Press. March 15, 2019. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2019.
External linksedit
Union Saint-Jean-Baptiste Collection, Assumption College
Maj. Edmond Mallet Collection 2019-03-26 at the Wayback Machine, digital exhibit
This article about a cultural institution or organization is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
union, saint, jean, baptiste, amérique, confused, with, saint, jean, baptiste, society, montréal, québecois, organization, union, saint, jean, baptist, amerique, woonsocket, rhode, island, organization, former, headquarters, usjb, also, referred, member, organ. Not to be confused with the Saint Jean Baptiste Society de Montreal the Quebecois organization or L Union Saint Jean Baptist d Amerique Woonsocket Rhode Island the organization s former headquarters The Union Saint Jean Baptiste d Amerique USJB also referred to by its member organizations as the Societe Saint Jean Baptiste d Amerique lit Saint Jean Baptiste Society of America was a Franco American benefit society first organized in 1899 when the Saint Jean Baptiste Society of Holyoke French Societe Saint Jean Baptiste d Holyoke invited several other so named independent organizations to form a national committee by 1929 the Boston Globe described it as the largest French Catholic fraternal organization in the United States 1 Union Saint Jean Baptiste d AmeriqueSaint Jean Baptiste Society of AmericaMerged intoCatholic Financial Life 1991 Established26 February 1899 1899 02 26 de facto7 May 1900 1900 05 07 officialLocationWoonsocket Rhode Island United StatesArea servedUnited States of AmericaArchives and cultural documents donated to Assumption College 2007 2013 Contents 1 History 1 1 Today 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksHistory edit nbsp nbsp The Felix Gatineau Memorial in Southbridge Massachusetts by Lucien Gosselin with the USJB ensign visible Gatineau was an instrumental figure in the organization s founding along with numerous affiliates The society s first meeting was held on February 26 1899 in the following year its first national congress was held on March 27 1900 and the national organization was officially incorporated on May 7 1900 in Woonsocket Rhode Island 2 While L Union was primarily formed for the purpose of creating sick disability and death funds for American French speaking Catholics the organization would also provide scholarships civic education and held cultural events including celebrations on Saint Jean Baptiste Day parades culinary and musical events including French opera performances 3 The USJB also maintained a large collection of Franco Americana that it purchased from the estate of American Civil War Major Edmond Mallet in 1908 Conducting the entirety of its business in French for most of its existence in 1966 the organization became officially bilingual adding English content to its bimonthly newsletter in 1972 After 1982 non Catholics were granted membership and from 1977 until its merger 1991 the Society held the Franco American Interest in the Handicapped known as Project FAITH an annual seminar discussing advancements in the providing of care for the mentally and physically disabled 4 Other services included distribution of grants to French language programs at several colleges guaranteed student loans charter trips and an annual pilgrimage language development program 5 Following a period of decline the organization s mutual functions were merged with Catholic Financial Life in 1991 6 7 Today edit Although the mutual functions of the organization were folded into Catholic Family Life a handful of chapters remained active in some form as recently as 2019 In New Britain Connecticut there is the Societe St Jean Baptiste Inc which continues to maintain a social club with a bar and billiard tables open to all nationalities 8 Following the dissolution of its parent organization in 1991 a local chapter in Southbridge Massachusetts Union Saint Jean Baptiste Chapter 12 began organizing trips for members and non members to New York City and Boston as well as Franco American cultural events such as hosting French Canadian singers at Southbridge s La Salle Reception Center 9 Further reading editRivard Simon Rioux February 2019 Feter la Saint Jean Baptiste en Nouvelle Angleterre Entre L Erable le Lys et L Etoile PDF Thesis in French Universite du Quebec a Montreal References edit Ready to Dedicate Gatineau Shaft at Southbridge Today The Boston Globe Boston September 2 1929 p 5 The memorial erected to State Representative Felix Gatineau of Southbrldge founder of L Union St John the Baptist in America the largest French Catholic fraternal organization in the United States will be dedicated tomorrow Labor Day and a parade in which 3000 persons will participate will be a feature L Union St Jean Baptiste d Amerique Worcester Magazine Vol XVIII Worcester Chamber of Commerce Belisle Printing amp Publishing 1915 pp 184 185 Nearly 5000 in Line in Colorful Holyoke Parade Springfield Republican Springfield Mass October 13 1925 p 5 Brault Gerard J 1986 The French Canadian Heritage in New England Hanover NH University Press of New England p 179 ISBN 978 0 87451 359 2 Statistics of Fraternal Benefit Societies National Fraternal Congress of America 1991 p 180 About Us Saint Jean Baptiste Educational Foundation Archived from the original on April 23 2017 Retrieved November 22 2018 Marie Louise Bonier Raymond H Bacon 1997 The beginnings of the Franco American colony in Woonsocket Rhode Island Assumption College Insitut Francais p 552 The Union Saint Jean Baptiste reached its high point in 1953 with 80 000 members It was down to under 40 000 when it merged in 1991 for reasons of fiscal stability with Catholic Family Life Insurance Company Union Saint Jean Baptiste Chapter 12 PDF Auburn News Stonebridge Press March 15 2019 Archived from the original PDF on November 9 2019 Union Saint Jean Baptiste Chapter 12 Southbridge is sponsoring a variety of excursions for all to enjoy in 2019 We are a non profit family oriented Franco American fraternal society since 1900 As always you do not have to be a member to participate in any of the scheduled events All are welcome Gift certificates purchased in any amount can be used by the recipient to any event at face value For information or reservations contact Ted at 508 764 7909 2019 2019 is the Society s 27th anniversary in providing members and non members alike the opportunity to experience excursions of a day or extended days All are welcome to travel with our organization Union Saint Jean Baptiste Chapter 12 PDF Auburn News Stonebridge Press March 15 2019 p 12 Archived from the original PDF on November 9 2019 External links editUnion Saint Jean Baptiste Collection Assumption CollegeMaj Edmond Mallet Collection Archived 2019 03 26 at the Wayback Machine digital exhibit nbsp This article about a cultural institution or organization is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This Rhode Island related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Union Saint Jean Baptiste d 27Amerique amp oldid 1194846697, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
