The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, also simply styled the Grange, is a fraternal organization for American farmers that encourages farm families to band together for their common economic and political well-being. Founded in 1867 after the Civil War, it is the oldest surviving agricultural organization in America, though now much diminished from the over one million members it had in its peak in the 1890s through the 1950s. In addition to serving as a center for many farming communities, the Grange was an effective special interest group for farmers and their agendas, including fighting railroad monopolies and pushing for rural mail deliveries. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
Purchase.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (Lewis County, Missouri) Minute Book, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
This collection is the minutes of Grange Order#1019 of Lewis County, Missouri. The minute book includes business matters, procedures, committee reports, conferring of degrees and debates on issues affecting them. There are committee reports on topics such as local trade and purchase of supplies. Highlights of the minute book include the following:
The Ways and Means Committee joins with other Grangers to negotiate the purchase of dry goods and groceries. Draws up article binding those who signed to trade exclusively with whom the committee made an arrangement to do exclusive dealing. Committee discusses types of jobs that will do, i.e. the Overseer or the Post Master "sees that the field is properly arranged for people labor."
Lists members who hold offices and receive degrees. J.F. Bumberger is the Master and H.G. Million is the Overseer. Other offices are Lecturer, Steward, Secretary, Treasurer and Gatekeeper. Meetings held often, usually weekly.
1873
November 15: New election of officers.
November 28: Trying to stop Grange at Sugar Creek (near Kansas City, Missouri) from organizing near them.
1874
February 6: Motion to purchase a monogram seal.
February 11: Ways and Means Committee appointed to confer with committees appointed by other Granges concerning the purchase of dry goods and groceries.
March 27: "Recommend to the several subordinate Granges to take some legal action so as the committee might be able to perfect an arrangement with merchants and grocery men..."
May 2: Resolutions, including "Resolved that the present concentrated system of buying dry goods and groceries and selling our produce is contrary to the principles of the Grange and a disadvantage to the order."
May 9: A person from their Grange will go to a convention June 2nd "for the purpose of electing a delegate to attend a congressional convention for the purpose of electing a state board of agriculture".
June 26: Proposition for building a double track railway from Council Bluffs on the Missouri river to the Atlantic Ocean.
July 4: One topic is subscription to state agricultural manufactory.
November 11: "Resolved, that our present system of farming is the best, under the circumstances, for us to follow."
1875
January 1: Move to send money to a Grange in Nebraska,"...for all sufferers."
January 15: Discuss building a timber Grange and a Hall. Discuss the "propriety of consolidation...motion..sec...that we surrender our charter and consolidate with Timber Grange. Lost."
March 12: Discussion on whether their method of farming is the best.