[BlackRose1042]

Day 7: "Sisters of Usefulness" by Eliza Allen
A sketch of Eliza Allen from Twenty-five years history of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers, 1881-1905, by William Patrick Burrell and D. E. Johnson, pg 42.

Eliza Allen was a leader and organizer who created communities for African-American women to provide mutual aid and generate wealth. She was also the only woman to be listed on the charter of The Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers, the first African-American owned bank in the nation.

Eliza Allen was born enslaved in roughly 1840. After being emancipated, she found work as a laundress for wealthy businessowners.  During that time, she also created and organized secret societies for enslaved women. These societies were run as organized acts of benevolence; members would gather to learn that gave enslaved women space to gather and pool resources for whatever their community needed. One of them, called “Sisters of Usefulness,” is rumored to have up to thirty-six members, but she was known to have many, including others named “Consolation Sisters: and “Tabitha” (Banking on Freedom). These societies would often meet on Sunday afternoons, as it was the most ideal time for gatherers to slip away from daily duties.
 
 “These societies had their officers then, just as we do
now — president, or head; treasurer, secretary, chaplain, or, as they said in those days, "someone to pray," and the sick committee, or "someone to go about and see those who were sick."
--Excerpt from Twenty-five years history of the Grand Fountain of the United Order of True Reformers, 1881-1905, by William Patrick Burrell and D. E. Johnson
 
 She also was the only woman to be listed on the charter of The Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain United Order of True Reformers, the first African-American-owned bank in the nation. The bank was founded by Rev. William Washington Browne, a formerly enslaved man.  At its peak, the bank was operating in 24 states and managed $223,500, which is roughly equivalent to $7.5M today (Black Past). The bank provided other support services, too, including “a real estate company, a retirement home, and a youth and children’s division that taught discipline, thrift, and business skills” (Encyclopedia Virginia).
 
Allen’s past work in organizing societies was critical to the development of the first fountains, or branches, of the True Reformers. Her experience of organizing, establishing trust, and creating practices of mutual benefit was critical for transforming forms of benevolent aid common during slavery into economic models of sustainability for African-American people once freed (Columbia University Press Blog).

A photo of the members and affiliates of the True Reformers' network. "Among the enterprises started by the True Reformers and featured on this page are the nation's first black-owned, black-operated bank, a hotel, a printing office, a grocery store, a concert hall, and a real estate office." Encyclopedia Virginia

We often think of philanthropists as wealthy billionaires or powerful corporations that give away large sums of money. But throughout history, small, interdependent forms of giving have provided people safety and security. To this day, Black-women led societies are instrumental to the wellbeing of its members and surrounding community (Lenny). And we see the same type of giving making an impact today. People use platforms like GoFundMe to send money to people in need, or give to mutual aid networks that are helping people in their community take care.

Reflection Questions

1. Who in your community is looking out for others, and making it easier to access things people may need?
   
   
2. Why is it important to build community with other people you trust? 
   
   
3. When you think of the history of money and finance, which names come to mind? What other stories of contributions throughout history might be missing?