Order of the Eastern Star, Oberlin Chapter Records

Collection

Identifier: RG 31-006-006

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records of the Pansy Chapter #34, Oberlin Order of the Eastern Star document the organization’s internal activities and their ties to other O.E.S. groups. The group met regularly for bi-weekly meetings, and celebrated activities such as Association Day, Flag Day, Inspections, Installation of officers and Friendship nights with other nearby Ohio chapters.

The collection consists of a three-page history, 1976; a list of past Matrons and Patrons, 1895-1977; programs for events both for the Pansy Chapter #34 and for other O.E.S. chapters, 1953-77; and a Pansy Chapter #34, O.E.S. cookbook, 1918.

Dates

Creation: 1918-1977

Creator

Order of the Eastern Star, Oberlin Chapter (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted

Administrative History

Pansy Chapter #34, the Oberlin chapter of Order of the Eastern Star, was started in 1894, as the women’s auxiliary to the Masons. The Pearl Chapter #2 of Cleveland is considered the Pansy Chapter’s Mother chapter since it instituted the Oberlin organization on June 15, 1894 and the official charter was granted to the 31 members on October 10, 1894. According to Mrs. Sadie Oliver, Past Grand Matron, O.E.S. State of Ohio, the reason for the name “Pansy” was that for several years O.E.S. chapters were named for flowers. The pansy is said to be symbolic of thoughtfulness. In the early years of the organization, membership overlapped significantly with that of the Finitimi Society, a women’ s literary club.

As early as 1897, Pansy Chapter members traveled to Cleveland to celebrate the annual picnic, this tradition has been continued through the creation of friendship nights with other nearby O.E.S. chapters. In addition to its Pearl #2 Mother chapter, the Oberlin O.E.S. has a Daughter chapter, Elyria #186, and a Granddaughter chapter, Avon Lake #557. In 1934, the Pansy Chapter Auxiliary was organized to raise funds for philanthropic purposes. The history included in Series II. Historical written in 1976 by Irene Annable documents the various locations of the Pansy Chapter’s meetings, culminating in the completion of a Temple in September 1971. This history also details the appointments of Pansy Chapter #34 members to higher posts in the O.E.S. organization, particularly Sadie Oliver’s election as Worthy Grand Matron of Ohio in 1955. Members showed a high level of commitment to the Oberlin O.E.S., as evidenced by the 1976 celebration of ten Pansy Chapter #34 fifty-year members.

The Pansy Chapter #34, Order of the Eastern Star, illustrated the existence of a women’s auxiliary group that grew into an organization that developed ties with other O.E.S., as well maintained affiliations with the brother organization, the Oberlin Masons. The records here document the period from 1918 to 1977 [1975-76], and provide a brief account of the activities of the Pansy Chapter #34, Oberlin O.E.S.

Sources consulted

Roland M. Baumann, editor, Guide to Women’s History Sources in the Oberlin College Archives (Oberlin: Oberlin College, 1990)

Note written by Roland M. Baumann.