Have you come across the United Order of Tents of J.R. Giddings and Jollifee Union? Likely not. It’s probably a surprise to learn that this organization serves as a semi-secretive collective for Black women. The United Order of Tents, also referred to as the Grand United Order of Tents, stands as one of the oldest and most discreet fraternal organizations exclusively led by Black women.
This remarkable organization, which has roots tracing back to the Underground Railroad in Norfolk, Virginia, was established by two formerly enslaved women, Mariah S. Lane and Clara J. Taylor. While details about Taylor remain scarce, Lane, who was enslaved, worked as a nurse on the plantation, giving her the unique opportunity to move between the enslaved and their white oppressors. She utilized this position to assist enslaved individuals in their escape via the Underground Railroad.
In 1867, Lane and Taylor officially launched the organization under the names of two white abolitionists, J.R. Giddings and Jollifee Union, for safety reasons. This marked the creation of the first mutual aid organization for women chartered in Virginia post-Civil War. The founders named it in honor of the tents that runaway slaves used for shelter during their escapes, viewing the Order as a “tent of salvation” aimed at uplifting the Black community during the tough times of Reconstruction.
The Tents, or chapters of the organization, devoted their efforts to community service, focusing on caring for the sick and elderly, supporting those in need, and ensuring proper burials for the deceased. They established various homes for the aged, including the Rest Haven Home for Adults, which operated for over a century. Additionally, the Order provided loans to community members when banks turned them away and offered group insurance when traditional insurers refused to help.
While these actions may seem commonplace today, the work of The Order of Tents was both radical and perilous. Lane and Taylor began their mission in a deeply segregated society, where newly freed slaves were still fighting for recognition and equality. These courageous women took significant risks to support former slaves in their newfound freedom and to foster economic independence within Black communities.
Aware of the dangers associated with their efforts, the organization maintained a level of secrecy. They developed rituals and customs exclusive to members, and one must be invited by a current member to join. They also followed a Christian ethos, which likely contributed to the safety of the members.
Over the past 120 years, The United Order of Tents has expanded significantly, including national, district, and local membership across states such as Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The Order has served as a social sanctuary, a bastion of sisterhood, and a unified force for action.
The United Order of Tents played a foundational role in what is now recognized as the “Black women’s club movement.” This movement brought together Black women into fraternal organizations dedicated to improving the welfare of their communities, leading to the formation of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the National League for the Protection of Colored Women, which eventually merged to create the National Urban League. Many of these women were instrumental in establishing the National Association For The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Mary Church Jones, the inaugural president of NACW, eloquently expressed the purpose of these organizations in her first address: “We call ourselves an Association to signify that we have joined hands one with the other, to work together in a common cause. We proclaim to the world that the women of our race have become partners in the great firm of progress and reform. . . . Our association is composed of women . . . because the work which we hope to accomplish can be done better . . . by the mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of the race.”
Women’s History Month and Black History Month often overlook the contributions of figures like Mariah S. Lane and Clara J. Taylor. Yet, the women of the United Order Of The Tents confronted numerous biases and persevered in their vital mission to support their community from behind the scenes. Though they operated in secrecy for many years, their contributions deserve acknowledgment.
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Summary:
The United Order of Tents, a semi-secretive organization founded by formerly enslaved women, has played a crucial role in supporting Black communities through mutual aid and service for over 120 years. Despite operating in secrecy due to the risks involved, their contributions to the Black women’s club movement and community welfare are significant and deserve recognition.