Material Type

Artifact

Date

1956

Materials

WOOD, PAPER

No. Pieces

1

Height

48

Length

43.9

Width

31.9

Description

DESKTOP PODIUM SLOPING TOP WITH TWO SUPPORT LEGS RUNNING TO A BASE. ALL WOOD CONSTRUCTION, HAND-MADE. UNDER TOP & BETWEEN LEGS PAPER CREST MOUNTED ON MASONITE, CROWN OVER FLAG: "IMPERIAL ORDER DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE" ENCIRCLING FLAG. CREST SUPPORTED BY 3 LEGS. MARKED IN PENCIL UNDER BASE OF DESK TOP "PRESENTED BY MRS. THOS BISHOP M.B.E. PROVINCIAL PRESIDENTS I.O.D.E. 1956 TO MUNICIPAL CH OF LETH". GREEN FELT LINER UNDER PODIUM BASE.

Subjects

FURNITURE

Historical Association

ASSOCIATIONS

History

FROM DR. F. H. MEWBURN O.B.E. CHAPTER I.O.D.E., NOW DEFUNCT. I.O.D.E. IS A WOMEN'S SERVICE ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1900. *UPDATE* IN 2014 COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT JANE EDMUNDSON CONDUCTED A SURVEY OF ART OBJECTS. THE FOLLOWING BRIEF HISTORY OF THE I.O.D.E. AND ITS LETHBRIDGE CHAPTERS WAS DEVELOPED WITH INFORMATION FROM THE I.O.D.E. WEBSITE, GALT ARCHIVES, AND AN ARTICLE FROM THE APRIL 21, 2014 ISSUE OF THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD. THE IMPERIAL ORDER DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE (IODE) WAS FOUNDED IN 1900 BY MARGARET POLSON MURRAY OF MONTREAL WHO WANTED TO INCREASE HOMELAND SUPPORT FOR CANADIANS FIGHTING WITH THE EMPIRE FORCES IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE SECOND BOER WAR. MURRAY INITIATED THE FORMATION OF A FEDERATION OF WOMEN TO PROMOTE PATRIOTISM, LOYALTY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS BY SENDING TELEGRAMS TO THE MAYORS OF CANADA'S MAJOR CITIES ASKING THEM TO CALL TOGETHER THE PROMINENT WOMEN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE FIRST CHAPTER WAS FORMED IN FREDRICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK IN JANUARY 1900. THE FOLLOWING MONTH A CONSTITUTION AND LIST OF OBJECTIVES WERE DRAFTED IN MONTREAL. IN 1901 THE HEAD OFFICE MOVED TO TORONTO AND THE FEDERATION WAS INCORPORATED. CHAPTERS WERE QUICKLY STARTED ACROSS CANADA AND IN INDIA AND THE BAHAMAS. FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN PROJECTS MOUNTED BY VARIOUS I.O.D.E. CHAPTERS HAVE INCLUDED A MONUMENT TO CANADIAN SOLIDERS KILLED IN BATTLE IN SOUTH AFRICA, A GATEWAY IN TORONTO TO COMMEMORATE THE 1901 VISIT OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK, INCREASED BEDS IN A TUBERCULOSIS SANITORIUM IN HAMILTON, ONTARIO, NUMEROUS CHILD WELFARE PROJECTS, VARIOUS WAR MEMORIAL FUNDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN OF VETERANS, THE PURCHASE OF HOSPITALS, AMBULANCES, SHIPS, AND AIRCRAFT IN BOTH WORLD WARS TO PROVIDE AID TO CANADIAN SOLDIERS, COMMEMORATIVE GARDENS, INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FOR PERSONS DISPLACED BY WAR, AND DOMESTIC RELIEF FOR CANADIANS DISPLACED BY NATURAL DISASTERS. LETHBRIDGE'S FIRST I.O.D.E. CHAPTER WAS THE SIR ALEXANDER GALT CHAPTER, FORMED IN 1914. AT ITS PEAK OF ACTIVITY, THE I.O.D.E. HAD FIVE CHAPTERS IN LETHBRIDGE, INCLUDING THE DR. FRANK H. MEWBURN CHAPTER AND THE MAJOR JACK ROSS CHAPTER. LOCAL I.O.D.E. EFFORTS INCLUDED THE WROUGHT-IRON GATEWAY OF MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, THE SOLIDER'S PLOT IN THE CEMEMTERY, AND PLAQUES AT BATTERY POINT IN HENDERSON LAKE PARK. IN 1989 THE TWO REMAINING LETHBRIDGE CHAPTERS MERGED, AND BY 2014 THERE WERE NO CHAPTERS OPERATING LOCALLY. THE CALGARY MUNICIPAL CHAPTER STILL RAISES FUNDS FOR A VARIETY OF CHARITABLE CAUSES THROUGH HOTDOG SALES AND A THRIFT STORE. SEE PERMANENT FILE P19900051000 FOR HARDCOPIES OF SOURCE MATERIAL.

Catalogue Number

P19890028001

Acquisition Date

1989-07

Collection

Museum

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