Return to the Frank Passic
Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.
|
Morning Star, September 19, 2025, pg. 5 Albion once had numerous women's groups which were in existence in the early 20th century. One of them was the Royal Neighbors of America, a fraternal benefit society of women. Its national organization was originally formed in 1888 as a social auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen of America. The RNA soon became involved in the woman's suffrage movement, and other issues involving woman's rights through the years. They were chartered as a fraternal benefit organization in 1895, and began offering life insurance policies to its members. The name is taken from Proverbs 27:10 "For better is a neighbor that is near than a brother that is far." The word "Royal" was added because of the noble principles of the group. Headquartered in Rock Island, IL, today the non-profit RNA continues to carry out their mission of making financial security and independence a reality for women and for those they care about. Their website is: www.royalneighbors.org Albion's "Crescent Camp" No. 3942 of the RNA was organized on November 10, 1904. Subsequently, the Juvenile Department of the local RNA was chartered on November 16, 1922. The group was quite active here in the early 20th century. The original 1904 members were: Carrie Kern, Leora Eastman, Bertha Boyd, Bessie Vroman, Cora Goyd, Johanna Hahn, Agnes Reed, Otelia Schumacher, Fannie Horton, Arzelia Adams, Ada Clark, Katherine Semon, Theda Wilder, Eva Davis, Elizabeth Abbott, Inez Reed, Minnie Horton, Mary Crosier, Emma Wochholz, and Dr. George Hafford. The group held monthly meetings and social events for its members. The RNA also provided cemetery flag holders to its members. In Riverside Cemetery, only a few of these still remain at gravesites. The RNA holder shows a rose surrounded by leaves and bud with the initials "RNA" on top, and "MEMORIAM" on the bottom. As local membership declined following World War II, Albion's RNA was consolidated with Camp 3872 at Marshall in August, 1975, the latter of which was placed on inactive status on June 20, 1984. From our Historical Notebook this week, courtesy of Kathy Pewsey, is a photo circa 1930 of the local RNA group. They are all unidentified except for Cassie (Adam) Coulson, who is No. 3 from the left (wearing a white outfit with lots of ruffles at the waist). The 1934 Albion City Directory lists the following officers and their positions (some of which have titles that make you wonder what they did) in the local post No. 3942 as follows: Oracle - Mrs. Elizabeth Carris; Vice-Oracle - Mrs. Gladys Jewell; Past Oracle - Mrs. Cassie Coulson; Chancellor - Mrs. Dora Vanderwater; Recorder - Mrs. Iva Harrington; Receiver - Mrs. Margaret Radee; Marshall - Mrs. Rena Miller; Ass't - Mrs. Edna Smith; Inner Sentinel - Mrs. Anna Kreger; Outer Sentinel---Mrs. Edna Haight; Managers: A.D. Mills, Mrs. Mae Kimler, Mrs. Hazel Amsden; Flag Bearer - Mrs. Hazel Amsden; Physician--Dr. L. N. McNair; Musician - Mrs. Minnie Thurow; Juvenile Director - Mrs. Mae Kimler. How many of our readers had ancestors who belonged to the Royal Neighbors of America?  Thanks to Kathy Pewsey, a photo circa 1930 of the local RNA group
All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic
| ||||
