Member of the Royal Neighbors Lodge

Member of the Royal Neighbors Lodge

Initially founded in 1888 as a social group, Royal Neighbors was chartered in 1895 as a fraternal benefit society for women "to bring joy and comfort into many homes that might otherwise today be dark and cheerless...by affording the mother an opportunity to provide protection upon her life." The group's first "Camps" were established in Iowa and Nebraska. Initially, Royal Neighbors was a ladies' auxiliary to the Modern Woodmen of America, but dissolved its affiliation with that group in 1929.

By 1910, RNA had 250,000 members and was the leading women's benefit society in the United States. As early as 1911, the group supported the cause of universal suffrage, well pre-dating the achievement of the vote for women in 1920. In 1931, the Royal Neighbors National Home opened its doors to provide "the comforts of a home...for deserving members of our society, in need of such a service," pursuing this goal until the home closed in 2004. The organization remains active today, providing life insurance and pursuing community service activities.