Charter

Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic

1 - Charter for the Detroit Circle No. 1 of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. The charter includes the names of the members of the organization and details its purpose and responsibilities. It is affixed with an orange seal of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic and an American flag ribbon. The text of the document begins:

"Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic

United States of America.
To All Whom these Presents Shall Come:
Be it known, that the following named persons, being of the Loyal Mothers, Wives, Sisters or Daughters of Soldiers, Sailors of Marines of the Army or Navy of the Unites States, viz:"

The following names are then written in vertically and horizontally in several columns: Ernestine Serenberg, Louisa Wilkinson, Sarah H. Rapelie, Emma Long, Anna Robinson, Delia A. Wood, Adelaid Havens, Emma Smith, Myrtie Culver, Grace Thornton, Sophie E. Labadie, Mary Denman, Nelli J. Starkey, Susan E. Dominick, Calista M. Thornton, Carrie DeGarmond, Emily Bromley, Julia Kingsley, Susan Bell, Mary B. Hawley, Helen Coe, Isabella Gascon, Anna Spillane, Sarah A. Phillips, Emma Wood, Mary Hart, Catherine Bittman, Carrie A. Passee, Elizabeth Holcomb, Anna McCreadie, Cora Junkin, Marie L. Hanford, Margaret Wilcox, Anna Wielhenbock, Josephine Martin, Margret Dixon.

The text of the charter continues:

"have United by the name of Detroit Circle, No. 1, of Detroit State of Michigan, with loyalty and love for each other, to honor the memory of Loyal Soldiers, Sailors and Marines; to perpetuate and keep sacred Memorial Day; sympathizing and encouraging the Grand Army of the Republic in its works of charity; to extend needful aid to members in sickness and distress; to aid sick Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, or those who from any cause may need assistance, and especially to look after the Soldiers' Homes and Soldiers' Orphans' Homes; to see that the children obtain proper situations when they leave such homes; to watch the schools and see to it that the children of our country receive proper education in the history of their land and in patriotism; and, as such Circle, have applied to be received as members of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic of the United States.
Wherefore, the Circle so formed has been received as a Circle of this Order, and is entitled to all the privileges of a Circle of the Order, and to be recognized as such throughout the United States.
Praying these dear sisters, and all who may unite with them, to remember the charity for which they are united; to seek the good of others rather than office or personal ends; remembering the divine instruction, "He that would be great among you let him be your servant;" under the authority vested by our Constitution, we hereby attest these presents with the Seal of the Badge of our Order.
Done at Marine City, in the State of Michigan, this 24th. day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred _____
Mary A. Jameson
President of the L. of G.A.R. of the State of Michigan
Lizzie M. Armstrong
State Secretary.