1947-1996. — 35 cm of textual records. — 136 photographs.
Agency History
Grande Prairie’s Royal Purple #107 is part of a national women’s charitable organization that, along with their partner organization , The Elks, supports community needs and its national charity, Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children. The club in Grande Prairie was organized in Oct., 1947 and received its charter on January 29, 1948. The officers are the Honored Royal Lady (lodge president), the Immediate Past Honored Royal Lady (past president), the Associate Royal Lady (first vice-president), Loyal Lady (second vice-president), Lecturing Lady (third vice-president), Secretary, Treasurer, Conductress, Chaplain, Inner Guard, Outer Guard, and Pianist. At the Initiation Ceremony, new members are escorted around the room and officers present each with four charges: Justice, Charity, Love and Fidelity, symbolized by their floral emblem, the purple pansy. The Draping of the Charter is a ceremony conducted in honor of a member who has died and involves actual draping of the original charter with a purple cloth. The pianist provides music which is key to all the drills and ceremonies.The group has supported many community projects over the years. They have held raffles, bake sales, catered events, disitributed Christmas hampers and worked concession booths at fairs and bingos in order to support community services such as CNIB, Cancer Society, Red Cross, Grace Children’s Home, Meals on Wheels, Peace School of Hope, the Grande Prairie Hospital and many other charitable causes.
By 1970, the lodge had a membership of 125. In 1972 they had three work teams: the Catering Committee, looking after 37 banquets that year; the Bingo Committee, in charge of the booth at Elks bingos; and the Sunshine Committee, which sent out 65 cards, 24 gifts, 26 bouquets and made 42 home visits and 35 hospital visits. The membership in 2007 is 61. Of the 26 charter members, three are still living: Pollyanna Kilgour, Thelma Crough, and Martha Tofer.
Custodial History
The records were donated to the South Peace Regional Archives in June 2005, by Marion Shofner on behalf of the Grande Prairie Royal Purple #107, and in May, 2006, by Sam Lowe from his wife’s mother’s collection.
Scope and Content
The fonds consists of Royal Purple history records from 1947-1977, minutes from 1948-1982, financial records from 1973-1996, photographs from1950-1996, publications from 1955-1995, and newsclippings both loose and in a scrapbook from 1960-1996.
Notes
Table of Contents
| Series 273.01 | History Records |
| Series 273.02 | Minutes |
| Series 273.03 | Financial Records |
| Series 273.04 | Photographs |
| Series 273.05 | Publications |
| Series 273.06 | Newsclippings |
| Series 273.01 | History Records. — 1947-1977. — 12 cm of textual records.The Royal Purple Historian’s duty was to keep in a notebook a concise record of each year’s events recording “for the valued use of Purpledom in general”. The account included a record of the Supreme Lodge Convention, place held, the Supreme Honored Lady, the number and names of delegates. Also recorded were all social events and money raising events, new members initiated, installation of officers, visits from other Lodges, babies born to members and deaths of members.The series consists of records of the group’s officers, members and activities such as initiations and tributes, fund raising activities and donation recipients. They worked together with their brother Elks in building and operating the Elks Hall. Many photos are contained within the history books. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 273.02 | Minutes. — 1948-1977. — 17 cm of textual records.The series consists of the minutes of the group from 1948-1977. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 273.03 | Financial Records. — 1969-1996. — .5 cm of textual records.The series consists of financial statements from 1972-1993 and includes a summary of financial dispursements from 1969-1996. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 273.04 | Photographs. — 1947-1969. — 4 cm of textual records. — 136 photographs.The series consists of one photo album from 1947-1969, and loose photographs from 1950-1996, covering member iniatiations and installations, meetings, conventions, social activities and community service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Series 273.05 | Publications. — 1969-1996. — 1 cm of textual records.The series consists of publications including “A History of Purpledom in District 15, Alberta and British Columbia”, Lodge Directory 1966, and District and National Convention programs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series 273.06 | Newsclippings. — 1969-1996. — .5 cm of textual records.The series consists of a scrapbook of clippings recording activities of the group from1969-1976, and loose clippings fron 1960-1996. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||