I was almost minding my own business when I stumbled down a resource rabbit hole. You know what I’m talking about. A shiny object catches your eye when you are examining something less sparkly.
An interesting item was digitized by a local township historical society, whose modest size is masked by the multitude of resources offered. I periodically link to their materials on my website’s “Lake County, Illinois, Resources Online” page. What caught my eye, caused me to tumble down that warren, and share my findings with you? A booklet entitled Mortuary Record.
Why should you care about a mortuary record book in a tiny historical society in Northeastern Illinois? It led me to related resources in other locations, places that might relate to your family.
The Wauconda Township Historical Society hosts the Mortuary Record, which recorded deaths of women members of Alice Camp, No. 219, of the Royal Neighbors of America (R.N.A.). The deaths occurred between about 1920 through 1959.
The entry for Anna Kirk, who died 13 September 1920, reads:
“Whereas: That in this third visitation of the Grim Reaper, death has entered our camp and taken from membership our neighbor Anna Kirk leaving a vacancy therein also the beloved wife and mother from her family. Be it Resolved that the members of Alice Camp 219 R.N.A. adopt the resolutions The expression of our sorrow be spread upon the minutes of our camp and a copy to sent [sic] to the relatives of our beloved neighbor.
Resolution Committee Florence Green
Mary Turnbull
Lillie Toynton”[1]
Wikipedia offers that the Royal Neighbors of America started in 1888 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, when several wives of American Woodmen of America members had a social gathering. The group evolved into a fraternal benefit society. Their mission was to help women in need.[2] R.N.A. “is currently the largest fraternal life insurance society administered by women,”[3] and one of the first to offer women life insurance. The R.N.A. website includes a digital museum.[4]
To search R.N.A.’s digital database, use either the main or advanced search functions. You can also browse 16,000+ entries in the advanced search area. Filter by item type, such as person list, location list, subject list, chapter list, and photographic images. Use caution with filters; some items might not have been tagged with that filter. There are numerous photographs of people.
There are over 777,000 hits for “Royal Neighbors of America” in Newspapers.com,[5] including membership mentions in obituaries, articles about camp meetings, parade appearances, resolutions adopted at members’ deaths, farewell parties for relocating members, and other items.
The Royal Neighbor (Beloit, Kansas) announced the death of Mrs. Nora Franklin in 1904.[6] The Royal Neighbor published information about the organization and its members. Newspapers.com hosts issues of the Royal Neighbor from 1900 to 1908.[7] R.N.A. currently publishes the Royal Neighbor newsletter.[8]
Over 185,000 “Royal Neighbors of America” hits appear on NewspaperArchive.com.[9] A 1912 issue of the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette printed photos of some Fort Wayne Camp No. 758 members.[10]
GenealogyBank.com has over 146,000 hits for “Royal Neighbors of America” in their historic newspapers database, including member deaths. The phrase was found in over 13,000 obituaries at the site.[11]
Google Books hosts volumes with court cases involving the group, the booklet Ritual for Local Camps, and snippets of The Royal Neighbor.[12] HathiTrust hosts Ritual for Local Camps and other publications that mention the group.[13] Internet Archive has related lawsuits, Ritual for Local Camps, and other items.[14]
ArchiveGrid has hits for “Royal Neighbors of America” and “Royal Neighbors.” Records from several states and chapters are cataloged, along with family papers and other items.[15] It led to Eureka, Montana’s Kinnikinnic Camp No. 8011, whose records, at the Tobacco Valley Board of History, run from 1916 to 1966. Laramie, Wyoming’s Francis Willard Camp records from 1901 to 1989 are at the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage Center. Records of the Sabetha Chapter of Sabetha, Kansas, are at the Kansas State Historical Society; they range from 1922 to 1936, with minutes, membership, roles, benefit fund assessment, and camp dues.[16]
An exact keyword search on Ancestry for “Royal Neighbors” uncovered mentions in court cases, city directories, and school yearbooks.[17]
What about Anna Kirk, remembered by her Alice Camp associates in 1920? An article announcing her death does not mention her R.N.A. membership.[18] A published “Card of Thanks” offers gratitude from her family to supportive friends, neighbors, and “Especially do we wish the thank the Royal Neighbors.”[19] Anna was buried at the North Cemetery in Saint Charles, Kane County, Illinois. Her gravestone does not indicate her fraternal association.[20]
Seek information on and records for organizations that your ancestress participated in. Details on the parade she marched in, her photograph in the newspaper, and her death noted in a camp’s mortuary record book offer insight on her and glimpses of her associates. That she chose to enjoy the benefits many other organizations did not offer women at the time tells a bit about her, too. Each gleaned bit enhances a biographical sketch.
I was unfamiliar with the Royal Neighbors of America, but that doesn’t mean my relatives aren’t waiting in that rabbit’s hole of records.
