Record Details
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Daughters of Rebekah Past Noble Grand Jewel
This jewel was worn by a woman who served a term as Noble Grand (or leader) of her Rebekah Lodge. An offshoot of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Daughters of Rebekah was formed in 1851 and was the first such organization to offer a fraternal degree for women. The familiar three-link chain forms the pin. The five-point star on the jewel was used to signify that the wearer was a “Past Grand,” having successfully served in that office. The dove holds an olive branch in its beak; this symbol, which was central to the ritual of the Rebekahs, signifies deliverance, peace, and prosperity.
Stacy C. Hollander, "Independent Order of Odd Fellows Daughters of Rebekah Past Noble Grand Jewel," exhibition label for Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2016.
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