Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity:
The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World

Sarah H. Shepherd

March 18, 2025

Early History

Founded in 1898 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by Arthur J. Riggs (1855-1936) and Benjamin Franklin Howard (1860-1918), the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World (I.B.P.O.E.W) is an African American fraternal organization that supports its members and fights for their social, economic, and civic equality. The I.B.P.O.E.W. was based on the white fraternal order, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (B.P.O.E), which was not open to Black men in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Howard and Riggs were involved with other Black fraternal organizations, but they sought more responsibility and decided to start a new organization based on the B.P.O.E. Fraternal organizations gave African American men, at this time, a unique opportunity to gain leadership and management skills that could not be found in white American society.

Riggs acquired a copy of the Elk ritual and, after discovering that it had no copyright, he applied for copyright as the proprietor. This allowed the I.B.P.O.E.W to use the Elk ritual without legal threat or infringement from the B.P.O.E. The B.P.O.E. were so angered by this that Riggs had to flee the city and change his name for fear of his life (Wesley, 1955, pp. 42-46).

The I.B.P.O.E.W grew steadily over the next few decades, despite significant political infighting in the first twenty years. Emma V. Kelley (1867-1932), a Virginia educator, founded the Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Elks of the World in 1902, though it was not formally recognized by the Elks as an auxiliary to the order until 1916. In the mid-20th century, the I.B.P.O.E.W was one of the largest and most centralized Black fraternal orders in the United States, with around 800,000 members (Woyshner, 2023, p. 584).

Reciprocal Aid and Social Welfare in the 19th and 20th centuries

Similarly to other fraternal organizations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the I.B.P.O.E.W. took care of its members, providing sick and death benefits, as well as hosting social and charitable activities. In addition to these practices, the I.B.P.O.E.W went above and beyond in response to national disasters. In 1927, the national office gave more than $4,000 to members affected by the Mississippi floods and Florida hurricanes (Beito, 2003, p. 61). They also were deeply embedded in American society and its causes, raising over $30 million in war bonds during World War II (Mjagkij, 2001, p. 268). Their patriotism was instilled within their fight for civil rights as they argued that equality was a “fundamental American doctrine and characterized racism and prejudice as undemocratic and un-American” (Skocpal et al., 2006, p. 191).

Unlike other Black fraternal organizations in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Elks had several advantages. They built a membership from all classes in society and had a strong centralized national organization. This strong centralization was formed under their most famous leader, J. Finley Wilson (1881-1952). Wilson grew the organization from 36,000 members in 1922 to 250,000 in 1927, based primarily on his success with the working class (Mjagkij, 2001, p. 268). Once elected Grand Exalted Ruler, Head of the Elks, Wilson created centralized and powerful departments: Education (1925), Health (1926), Civil Liberties (1927) and Economics (1930) (Green, 2012, p. 476).

These departments allowed the Elks to mobilize and coordinate on a grand scale, accomplishing much and serving their members in extraordinary ways. The Health Department provided low-cost medical service and health education, as well as larger measures. In 1928, the Health Department conducted a general survey of African American health, described as the first comprehensive survey on African American health made by any organization (Wesley, 1955, p. 207). The New York Times reported that after the reading of the report during the Elks’ Annual Meeting, “recommendations were adopted to urge legislation in the States” to adopt several measurements that would improve the health of African American communities. The Times continued that “All, as Elks, were urged to cooperate in bettering civic, social and sanitary conditions” (“Health of Negroes Alarms Their Elks,” 1927).

The Economic Department launched campaigns to support Black businesses and assisted unemployed members, especially at the start of the Great Depression. Even at the local lodge, the Elks worked to keep their members employed. New York City Monarch Lodge, No. 45, kept an “index system of members and their occupations to try to locate jobs for them.” (Monarch Lodge, No. 45, 1925). The Elks also supported organizations that pursued equal opportunity for African American workers such as the Future Outlook League, National Negro Congress, Negro Labor Victory Committee, the Council for a Permanent Fair Employment Practices Commission, and more (Green, 2012, pp. 477-478).

The Education Department conducted oratorical contests, provided college scholarships, and held adult education classes for literacy and civics, promoting full participation in American democracy and educating members on their constitutional rights and how to protect them (Skocpal et al., 2006, p. 178). In 1927, a total of almost $5,000 was given to 23 students–nearly $85,000 today (Wesley, 1955, p. 203). The oratorical contests were held nationally, and by 1940, around 300 students had won over $350,000 (Woyshner, 2023, p. 590). Many contestants and winners went on to highly successful careers including civil and women’s rights activist Dorothy Height, who won the $1,000 first place prize, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who participated in 1944 (Woyshner, 2023, p. 592).

These centralized departments enabled the Elks to enact wide-reaching policies to further the betterment of their members. The Daughters echoed this strong responsibility to their members. Kelley stated that “We as daughters have our part of work to do to look after the homes of our daughters, see that the orphans of our deceased daughters and brothers are cared for” (Kelley, 1913, p. 10). This support for their members speaks to the early history of social welfare and the importance of fraternal organizations as institutions for self-determination, economic independence, and reciprocal aid.

The Fight for Civil Rights

The I.B.P.O.E.W. understood that their members’ freedom to live the life they chose was impossible without fighting for civil, economic, and social equality. The organization’s guiding principles, Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity, exemplified this mission. This emphasis on justice was a core tenet of the organization and in the Daughters. The Daughters stood side by side with the Elks in the fight for civil rights. In their 1945 Proceedings, the Grand Directress of Civil Liberties declared “it should be known throughout Elkdom that we are organized to fight all cases of discrimination, segregation, intolerance, brutality and prejudices…we must fight together shoulder to shoulder, toward a goal of liberty, equality, freedom, life and democracy” (p. 128).

The Civil Liberties Department challenged segregation, lynching, disenfranchisement, and employment discrimination. Their goal was to “work unceasingly until there were complete rights under the law accorded to Negro-Americans as citizens” (Wesley, 1955, p. 208). To follow this mission, each department worked hand-in-hand to help their members become educated, financially sound, healthy, and aware and able to fight for their rights as American citizens. The I.B.P.O.E.W. supported the Civil Rights movement through their campaigns and the support of other campaigns, and by creating an engaged and active citizenry in their community (Skocpal et al., 2006, p. 183). Fraternal organizations, including the I.B.P.O.E.W., Prince Hall Masons, Grand United Order of Odd Fellows and more, were vital in supporting, funding, and mobilizing the fight for civil rights.

Now: The Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World Today

The I.B.P.O.E.W’s long history stands testament to its dedicated work to provide and better their members. Fraternal organizations provided unmeasurable aid, both financial and social, to their members throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Historical Black fraternal organizations were especially vital in providing access to services and opportunities withheld from African Americans in American society. Though not as large today, the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World continue to provide for their members and work to enact change. They are active in their communities with charitable giving, awarding scholarships, supporting veterans, seniors, and families in need, and they continue to embody their guiding principles: Charity, Justice, Brotherly and Sisterly Love, and Fidelity.

References

Beito, D. T. (2003). From mutual aid to the welfare state: Fraternal societies and social services, 1890-1967. The University of North Carolina Press.

Daughters of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World. (1945). Proceedings of the forty-third annual convention of the Daughters of I.B.P.O.E. of the World, Grand Temple. Guide Quality Press.

Green, V. (2012). Not your average fraternal organization: The IBPOEW and labor activism, 1935-1950. Labor History, 53(4), 471-494.

Health of Negroes Alarms Their Elks. (August 27, 1927). New York Times, 30.

Kelley, Emma V. (1913). Kelley’s History of the Daughters of I.B.P.O.E. of W.

Mjagkij, N. (Eds.). (2001). Organizing Black America: An Encyclopedia of African American Associations. Garland Publishing, Inc.

Monarch Lodge, No. 45. Minutes for October 12, 1925.

Skocpol et al (2006). What a mighty power we can be : African American fraternal groups and the struggle for racial equality. Princeton University.

 Wesley, Charles H. (1955). History of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, 1898-1954. Washington: Association for the Study of Negro Life and History.

Woyshner, C. (2023). Black civic organizations and the quest for education: The improved benevolent and protective order of elks of the World, 1898-1954. The Journal of African American History, 108(4), 576-599.

For further reading:

History of the IBPOEW. Improved Benevolent and Protective Order Elks of the World. (n.d.). https://www.ibpoew.org/history  

Edds, M. E. (2019). “Emma Virginia Lee Kelley (1867–1932),” Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998–) http://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/dvb/bio.asp?b=Kelley_Emma_Virginia_Lee 

Green, V. (2012). Ardent citizens: African American Elks and the fight for equal employment opportunities. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 36(2), 353-371.

Elks Special Extra Edition (Aug. 29, 1925). Richmond Planet, 42(41-A), edition 02. https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RP19250829-02.1.1 

Elks staged gorgeous parade here. Astound White People of Richmond. Hospitality Amazes Visitors. Good Order Here. Citizens Praise Big Meet. Northern Folks Praise Richmonders (Aug. 29, 1925). Richmond Planet, 42(41),1. https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RP19250829.1.1 

Shepherd, S. H. (2024). Reciprocal Aid: Fraternalism and Early Social Welfare History. Social Welfare History Project. https://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/organizations/reciprocal-aid-fraternalism-and-early-social-welfare-history/ 

© Sarah H. Shepherd, 2025.

Sarah H. Shepherd is the recipient of a 2025 VCU Publishing Research Award.