Material Type

Manuscript

Date Range

1960-1963

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 Sir Alexander Galt Chapter of the IODE was the first to form in Lethbridge and formed in February 1914. Mrs. G. Robinson was the first Regent and the Chapter was named for Sir Alexander Galt, Father of Confederation and founder (with his son Elliott) of Lethbridge. The prime project of this chapter was the care of the Soldiers’ Plot (1st Field of Honour) at Mountain View Cemetery. Over the years, in addition to assisting with Decoration Days at the cemetery, the group raised funds for the gates and fence around the plot. This Chapter also created a Music Festival Award and the Elizabeth McKillop Scholarship which was annually awarded to a student in Grade 12. When the Municipal Hospital was constructed in 1955, this Chapter furnished a two-bed room in the new hospital. The Major Jack Ross Chapter was named to honour Major Jack Ross who lost his life in France in 1916 (and was brother to George Ross, local rancher). This Chapter was formed in 1917 with Mrs. Rachael DeVeber as first Regent. The Chapter took as their primary purpose the support of the Sunbeam Ward (or Children’s Ward) at the Galt Hospital and later the Municipal Hospital. When the new Municipal Hospital was built, this Chapter contributed a sum of money to set up a trust fund for the new Sun Beam Ward. The Chapter also had the Emily Hick award in Pediatrics for a graduate of the Galt School of Nursing as well as a scholarship for Grade 12 Science. The Military Chapter was formed in 1920 by wives of men who had served in the First World War. This Chapter took as its motto “Loyalty and Service” and Mrs. T. Longworth was first regent. The Military Chapter worked closely with the War Veterans’ Association and acted as unofficial auxiliary to the Canadian Legion until the Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion was officially formed in 1945. While active in all of the work of the IODE, this Chapter had as its primary purpose the care of service and ex-service personnel and their dependents during war, peace or reverse of fortune. The Dr. Frank Hamilton Mewburn Chapter received its charter 9 June 1930. The formation of this chapter was sponsored by Mrs. A.M. Durling, then Superintendent of the Galt Hospital. Mrs. George B. Davies was the first regent. Early in its development, this Chapter (named for Lethbridge’s 1st permanent doctor) was interested in the Galt Hospital Nursery and purchased the first baby incubator ever for the nursery and purchased more equipment for the nursery with the new Municipal Hospital. The Chapter also had several prizes that were awarded at the schools. The Jane Megarry, R.N. Chapter was formed 7 October 1934 with Mrs. R.W. Anderson as Regent. This Chapter was named for Jane Megarry, head matron for 12 years of the St. Paul’s Residential School on the Blood Reserve. This Chapter supported the Residential School providing gifts, prizes and equipment for the school. The Chapter also furnished a four-bed women’s ward at the Municipal Hospital. The Mildred Dobbs, R.N., Chapter was formed in June 1949. Joy Hall was the first regent. The name was chosen to honour Mildred Dobbs, who ran the isolation hospital in Lethbridge for several decades. The Chapter’s primary area of support was the Nursing Mission. Each year the Chapter donated dolls to be distributed to city children. The Chapter sponsored a one-bed ward in the Municipal Hospital and adopted Hillsboro, a one-roomed rural school. There was also the Lethbridge Municipal Chapter. This 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

Notebook containing lists of the Municipal Regents(1920-19610, lists of each chapter's executive for 1960-1963 and their Regents. Notebook also contains Life memberships awarded in 1960 at Provincial meeting.

Access Restrictions

Public Access

Accession No.

19891079007

Collection

Archive

Less detail