{{Short description|African American women's fraternal organization}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox fraternity | name = Order of Calanthe | crest = Order_of_Calanthe_crest.png | type = Benefit society | affiliations = | affiliation = Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia | status = Active | founded = {{start date and age|1883}} | birthplace = Louisiana, US | motto = "Fidelity, Harmony, and Love" | chapters = 33+ courts | address = 4718 Wipprecht Street | city = Houston | state = Texas | ZIP code = 77026 | country = United States | scope = National | emphasis = African American women }} The '''Order of Calanthe,''' originally titled the '''Independent Order of Calanthe,''' is a fraternal benefit society for African American women. It was established in Louisiana in 1883 as an auxiliary to the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Calanthe was the wife of Pythias in the Greek legend Damon and Pythias.
== History == The Order of Calanthe''',''' originally titled the Independent Order of Calanthe''',''' is a fraternal benefit society for African American women. It was established in Louisiana in 1883 as an auxiliary to the Knights of Pythias of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Its purpose was promoting "the social, intellectual, and moral welfare of its members and the community at large".<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Order Of Calanthe Regalia |url=https://bricksmasons.com/pages/order-of-calanthe |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=Bricks Masons |language=en}}</ref>
=== Courts === The Grand Court of Florida was established in 1887.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calanthe Sisters |url=https://knightsofpythiasfl.com/calanthe-sisters/ |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=knightsofpythiasfl.com }}</ref> By 1888, there were 33 courts in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171325 |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref>
The Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas, established on May 30, 1897, was a highly successful branch and is commemorated with a historical marker.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=171325 |website=www.hmdb.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=Calanthe Historical |title=Calanthe Historical Society |url=https://calanthehistoricalsociety.org/about-us |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Calanthe Historical Society |language=en-US }}</ref> Susie H. Norris, who helped organize the Grand Court of Texas, was elected the first Grand Worthy Counsellor of the organization and served from 1898 to 1902.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Texas State Historical |title=Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas, Inc. |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/grand-court-order-of-calanthe-of-texas-inc |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en }}</ref> In 1902, America D. Key led the organization until 1925 and dramatically expanded the organization making it one of the largest Grand Courts in the United States.<ref name=":1" /> After Key died in 1925, Fannie McPherson led from 1925 to 1934 and P. E. Davis from 1934 to 1944.<ref name=":1" />
The University of Texas San Antonio has a photograph of a parade of members.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parade of Grand Court, Order of Calanthe |url=https://digital.utsa.edu/digital/collection/p9020coll008/id/1757/ |website=digital.utsa.edu }}</ref> An office building for the group was built at 2411 Dowling Street in Houston, Texas. The organization has been sued over benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Court Order of Calanthe v. Welch, 250 S.W. 457 | Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/grand-court-order-of-calanthe-v-welch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621122316/https://casetext.com/case/grand-court-order-of-calanthe-v-welch |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |website=casetext.com }}</ref> In 2018, the Texas court became the Calanthe Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Society |first=Calanthe Historical |title=Calanthe Historical Society |url=https://calanthehistoricalsociety.org/about-us |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Calanthe Historical Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
The Grand Court of Calanthe, Jurisdiction of Michigan, was founded in September 1922 in Detroit, Michigan with Anna T. Hyde as the first Grand Worthy Counsellor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical program for the dedication of the Pythian Temple of the Grand Lodge and Court of Michigan, 1952 September 21 · digitalVGW |url=https://digitalvgw.omeka.net/items/show/1320 |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=digitalvgw.omeka.net}}</ref> During the 1920s, Texas grew to become one of the largest courts in the United States.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Grand Court Order of Calanthe of Texas, Inc. |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/grand-court-order-of-calanthe-of-texas-inc |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}}</ref> However, many fraternal and benefit societies struggled to survive the Great Depression.<ref name=":3" /> As of 2025, the Grand Court of Calanthe Texas is still active.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grand Court Order Of Calanthe Of Texas – The State of the Arlington Nonprofit Sector |url=https://nparlington-research.uta.edu/grand-court-order-of-calanthe-of-texas/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=University of Texas at Arlington}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Its headquarters are in Houston, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order of Calanthe of Texas |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-7509649 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=GuideStar}}</ref>thumb|Calanthean Temple in Shreveport
== Symbols == The organization was named for Calanthe, the wife of Pythias in the Greek legend Damon and Pythias.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GCOC |url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/ef1d2391-df8e-494a-a922-f4d1996756d3/Calanthe%20%20Historical%20Society%20-%20%20%20%20%20History%20Rev.pdf |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=img1.wsimg.com }}</ref> The organization's motto is "Fidelity, Harmony, and Love."<ref name=":0" /> The Order of Calanthe is known for its distinctive fez hats.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Order Of Calanthe Regalia |url=https://bricksmasons.com/pages/order-of-calanthe |access-date=February 22, 2024 |website=Bricks Masons |language=en }}</ref> Each degree has its unique symbols, teachings, and rituals.<ref name=":2" />
== Activities == The organization provided life insurance, sick, and death benefits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life Insurance |url=https://www.tdi.texas.gov/lorc/documents/560gcocappterm.pdf |access-date=December 20, 2022 |website=tdi.Texas.Gov }}</ref> Members provide community service, support charities, and advocate for social justice and civil rights.<ref name=":2" />
== Membership == Membership in the Order of Calanthe was originally opened to family members of the Knights but was later widened to any woman sponsored by a Knight. The order's members are ranked by several degrees.<ref name=":2" />
==Buildings== The Calanthean Temple in Shreveport was built by the group in 1923 and is part of the St. Paul's Bottoms historic district.<ref>https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/086d15a1-b3ce-4490-a8f6-52ebeb0c60d3</ref>
== Notable members == * Fannie Emanuel, educator, businesswoman, and clubwoman * Mame Stewart Josenberger, educator, businesswoman, and clubwoman * Rebecca H. Lester, businesswoman, social activist and clubwoman * Vivian Osborne Marsh, activist and club woman * Carrie A. Tuggle, educator, philanthropist, and social activist
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.stichtingargus.nl/vrijmetselarij/s/calanthe_r1.html Order of Calanthe Initiation Ritual of the First Degree of Degree of Fidelity]
Category:Fraternal orders Category:1883 establishments in Louisiana Category:Organizations established in 1883 Category:African-American women's organizations Category:African-American fraternal orders Category:Women's organizations based in the United States