Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (U.S.) Columbia Camp #17 (North Baltimore, Ohio)

 Collection – Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS-0521

Collection Overview

Abstract

The records of Woodmen of the World, Columbia Camp #17, North Baltimore, Ohio, consist of meeting minutes, a membership ledger, cash books, correspondence, and account books, dating from 1894 through 1913.

Dates

  • Creation: c.1890's, 1894-1914

Extent

0.46 Cubic Feet (1 legal box)

1 Volumes

Creator

Scope and Contents

The records of Columbia Camp #17, Woodmen of the World, document some of the history, structure, and procedures of a secret and ritualistic fraternal life insurance organization from 1894 to 1913.

Biographical / Historical

Woodmen of the World (WOW) was a secret fraternal society organized primarily to provide life insurance for members and, secondarily, to serve social purposes.

Little is known of Columbia Camp #17 of North Baltimore, Ohio. It is possibly the counterpart of the Supreme Forest Woodmen Circle, Oak Grove #18, also of North Baltimore. The Woodmen Circle and WOW were founded in 1891 by Joseph Cullen Root, and incorporated in 1895, with headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Root had founded Modern Woodmen in 1883, which had its headquarters in Rock Island, Illinois, and severed ties with that group to found WOW and Woodmen Circle. Woodmen Circle operated as a women's auxiliary of Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, but with separate and independent management.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions have been placed on the use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was transferred to the Center for Archival Collections during April 1988 from the Wood County Historical Museum.

Processing Information

The finding aid was completed by Marylin Levinson in March 1990.

Title
Guide to the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society (U.S.) Columbia Camp #17 (North Baltimore, Ohio) Organizational Records
Author
Marilyn Levinson, Jacob Branstiter
Date
March 1990, February 2020
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
  • Box: 1 (Text)
  • Volume: 1 (Text)