Image: SPRA Fonds 111
Today’s “From the Vault Friday” comes from Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, Alphaeus Patterson Chapter Fonds (Fonds 111).
The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire is a Canadian Women’s organization, founded in Montreal in 1900 to promote ties with Britain and the Commonwealth. The Alphaeus Patterson Chapter of the I.O.D.E was organized in 1921, when 60 local women were part of the organization, but its formal charter was not received until 1932. The chapter was named after Alphaeus Patterson, the first MLA to be elected to the provincial government from the Grande Prairie area.
To raise money for their programs, members held formal dances, silver teas, bake sales and fashion shows. From 1971 to 1987 they operated a “next to new” store. As well as being of social benefit, the thrift store was their financial mainstay for many years, allowing them to finance health, education and social programs.
Like many other long-standing organizations, the I.O.D.E. lost much of its volunteer base as membership declined, and the chapter disbanded in 1997.
Read more about the I.O.D.E. fonds (fonds 111) here.
From the Vault Friday is a social media campaign that highlights interesting materials from the collections of the South Peace Regional Archives. This project was made possible by an Access to Holdings Grant from the Archives Society of Alberta.