Material Type

Manuscript

Date Range

1937-1949

Physical Condition

Excellent

History Biographical

The IODE (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) was founded in 1900 by Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal. During the Boer War in South Africa, she recognized that support needed to be developed for Canadians serving in the war. IODE members raised money to send comforts to the men. The IODE also created a program to maintain graves of soldiers and to help provide social services for returning soldiers. During the First and Second World Wars, the IODE supported hospitals and hospital ships, helped provide relief to prisoners, established libraries and canteens and did more to support service personnel. The IODE idea grew across Canada and the first chapter in Lethbridge started in 1914 (the year the First World War started). In Lethbridge, along with the work the volunteers did to support the national work of the IODE, the IODE worked to make a better community. By the 1950s there were 7 IODE Chapters operating in Lethbridge. The Lethbridge Municipal Chapter was formed in 1920 and had the motto “In Unity is Strength.” This chapter was formed with representation from the first three other IODE Chapters in Lethbridge and the purpose of this chapter was to co-ordinate the work of the other chapters. This was the Municipal Chapter and the other six were called Primary Chapters and were under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Chapter. Over the decades the various members of the IODE donated countless hours working at the broad program which included: Education, Patriotism, Services at Home and Abroad, War Memorials, Immigration and Canadianization, Hospitality and Films” in cooperation with civic government and civic departments. The IODE supported, as well as those groups already mention, the YWCA, Senior Citizens’ Home, Red Cross, Canadian Cancer Society, various schools and more. Over time, the chapters lost members and amalgamated. In 1989 the last two remaining chapters of the IODE in Lethbridge combined, hoping to combine their efforts and keep going. Unfortunately in the long run this wasn’t enough and as of 2007 the IODE does not operate in Lethbridge.

Scope and Content

General Account Ledger of the Municipal Chapter of the IODE in Lethbridge. Ledger covers from 1937 - 1949.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19891079008

Collection

Archive

Less detail