Have you ever come across the United Order of Tents of J.R. Giddings and Jollifee Union? Most likely not. You might be surprised to learn that it is a somewhat secretive organization comprised entirely of Black women. Known as the Grand United Order of Tents, this group is one of the oldest fraternal organizations led by Black women.
The organization has its origins in the Underground Railroad in Norfolk, Virginia, founded by two formerly enslaved women, Sarah J. Walker and Mary E. Thompson. While details about Thompson remain scarce, Walker was a nurse on a plantation, allowing her to navigate between enslaved individuals and their captors. She utilized this position to assist numerous individuals in escaping to freedom through the Underground Railroad.
In 1867, Walker and Thompson officially established the organization under the names of white abolitionists, J.R. Giddings and Jollifee Union, for strategic reasons. It became Virginia’s first mutual aid society for women following the Civil War. They named the organization after the tents that runaway slaves used during their escapes, viewing it as a “tent of salvation” aimed at uplifting the Black community during the tumultuous Reconstruction era.
The chapters, often referred to as “Tents,” primarily focused on community service, providing care for the sick and elderly, supporting those in distress, and ensuring dignified burials for the deceased. They established various homes for the aged, including the Rest Haven Home for Adults, which operated for over a century. The Order also offered loans to community members when banks denied them and created group insurance plans for those who were excluded by mainstream insurance companies.
Though these efforts may seem minor, the work of the Order of the Tents was often radical and fraught with danger. Walker and Thompson initiated their mission in a deeply segregated society, where many former slaves had just begun to assert their autonomy and faced systemic prejudice. These women boldly took steps to assist former slaves in their newfound freedom while promoting economic independence within Black communities.
Aware of the risks involved in their endeavors, the organization maintained a level of secrecy. Membership rituals and customs are exclusive to Tents members, and potential new members must be invited by current ones. Furthermore, they adhere to a Christian framework, which may have added an additional layer of safety for members.
Over the span of 120 years, the United Order of Tents has expanded its reach to include national, district, and local memberships across Georgia, North Carolina, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The Order has served as a social network, a sanctuary for sisterhood, and a collective force for community action.
The United Order of Tents played a pivotal role in what is known as “the Black women’s club movement.” This movement, characterized by the assembly of Black women into fraternal organizations dedicated to community welfare, led to the formation of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the National League for the Protection of Colored Women, which later merged with other groups to establish the National Urban League. Many of these women were instrumental in founding the National Association For The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Mary Johnson, the first president of NACW, eloquently summarized the purpose of these organizations in her inaugural address, stating, “We call ourselves an Association to signify that we have joined hands one with the other, to work together in a common cause. We proclaim to the world that the women of our race have become partners in the great firm of progress and reform… Our association is composed of women… because the work we hope to accomplish can be done better… by the mothers, wives, daughters, and sisters of the race.”
Women’s History Month and Black History Month frequently overlook figures like Sarah J. Walker and Mary E. Thompson. Yet, the women of the United Order of Tents faced numerous challenges and persevered in their vital mission to uplift their community. Despite their years of operating in secrecy, they deserve recognition for their contributions.
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Summary
The United Order of Tents is a historically significant organization of Black women that has played a crucial role in community upliftment and mutual aid since its inception in the 19th century. Founded by Sarah J. Walker and Mary E. Thompson, this organization has navigated secrecy and societal challenges to provide essential services to the Black community, shaping what is now recognized as the Black women’s club movement. Their legacy is often overlooked, but their impact resonates in the present day.