Praise the Moose!

[African Americana]: Paramount Progressive Order of Moose:

Why Not Join the Moose? One of the Most Progressive Orders Founded by H.A. Stewart, Director General [caption title].

[St. Louis: ca. 1922]. Broadside, 11.25 x 14.25 inches. Tanned, short closed diagonal tear on right edge, left edge a bit frayed, tiny hip to top right corner, otherwise minor edge wear. Fragile, but in good condition. Item #12673

An unrecorded promotional broadside recruiting membership in the short-lived Paramount Progressive Order of Moose (PPOM), an African-American fraternal organization founded in the early-1920s by H.A. Stewart of St. Louis. The organization was created to serve the needs of the African-American community after the Loyal Order of Moose refused to admit Black members. The PPOM was gone by the 1930s following lawsuits from the Loyal Order of Moose, who claimed infringement due to the PPOM's use of similar imagery. Still, the PPOM offered members a number of benefits during its operations. According to the present broadside, which asks "WHY NOT JOIN THE MOOSE?" and touts itself as "One of the Most Progressive Orders" above the moose-centric logo at upper center, the PPOM was "Now Open to Men and Women Between the Ages of 18 and 50 Years." Members could enjoy "Free Medical Aid" as well as sick and death benefits. Membership was $6 for men and half that for women, with women receiving $3 sick benefits (as opposed to $5 for men) and $150 death benefit (men received $200). Potential members are asked to contact the Grad Supervisor, but the name, city, and state for said person is not filled in. A wonderful and evocative promotional broadside for an important, though short-lived St. Louis-based African-American mutual aid society, with no copies reported in OCLC.

Price: $500