The Times of our Founding-January 21, 1869
F-43
Founders' Day Program-1980
Written and presented by Mary Loots, Chapter AM, Milwaukee
(This is an appreciation of our founders by describing the historical context in which
P.E.O. was created. It is to be read, rather conversationally, by a chapter member.
Lighting of candles and other formal observation of the Founders may be done following
this text, as the chapter wishes.)
P.E.O. was founded ____years ago this week (change to fit the meeting date in
relation to January 21). As an appropriate commemoration of this significant event and
of those responsible for it, I should like to put the founding of P.E.O. into its historical
context…focusing our attention on the contemporary world of our founders.
There are two main purposes in looking at the world of which our founders were a
part on January 21, 1869. First, to actually know our founders better, by recognizing
some of the historically significant events, noted people, ideas and creations which were
contemporary to them. Second, to think about what also was new at the time P.E.O.
began---what also was new and has also endured to influence our lives today.
We don't know that our founders were directly influenced by or even conscious
of, each of the current events, books or ideas to be mentioned in this program. We may
readily assume, though, that these seven girls were alert, well-informed, and interested in
the many aspects of the life and thought of their day. We have only to refer to their
specified "objects and aims" to confirm this.
Thus, I draw your attention today, to the years 1859-1875, a period of sixteen
years around our founding year of 1869. This would include ten early formative years of
our founders and the early years of P.E.O. itself. These sixteen years produced such an
abundance of activity in retrospect and to select what to include in a brief consideration
of it.
The history of man necessarily has a continuity which prevents one from
beginning and ending a subject with absolute dates. The year on which we shall
especially focus our thoughts tonight is, of course, 1869…The events and ideas current
during the years 1859-1875 may reasonably be said to have penetrated life enough to be
recognized and have an impact on the immediately contemporary world of 1869.
What was happening in the United States?
Fort Sumter, Lincoln's dedication of the battlefield at Gettysburg in his revered
address-Appomattox-the assassination of Lincoln-were all uncomfortably recent history.
The agonizing period of postwar reconstruction included January of 1869. Impeachment
proceedings against President Andrew Johnson nearly succeeded in 1868. The 15th
amendment was passed by Congress in February, 1869 and ratified in 1897. Ulysses
Grant became president in March of 1869.
These years also brought rapid expansion of the nation westward.
In 1867 the nation ridiculed "Seward's Folly"…the purchase of Alaska from Russia for
$7.2 million.
The California Gold rush was history…but the Comstock lode discovered in
1859, in Utah, was at its peak in the 1860's. The lure of wealth from gold and silver
created a significant spirit of the times.
In 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed in May, when the Union
Pacific tracks met the Central Pacific in Utah.
The Homestead Act of 1862 encouraged settlement of the Plains States; farming
methods were essentially primitive in 1860; the next ten years brought spectacular
advance in farm machinery.
The victory of the North in 1865 helped to give impetus to the growth of industry.
The great period of "industrial revolution" in America was later than the years under
consideration today, but the process was significantly underway.
The discovery of oil on Drake's farm in Pennsylvania in 1859 marked the
beginning of commercial use of petroleum and, in fact, made possible much of the later
industrial and economic development of the nation. The creative genius of inventors was
also a requirement for industrialization and existed during this time.
-The 2-wheeled bicycle was developed in 1865.
-The Westinghouse airbrake was patented in 1869.
-Refrigeration in railway transportation was introduced in 1869.
-The first color photography was in 1869.
-Edison's phonograph dates 1877, the incandescent electric lamp, 1879.
-The telephone was to come in 1876.
These inventions along with the railroad development, were essential in keeping a
spreading population conscious of its unity.
In 1869 population was about 40 million in the U.S.
In 1869 there were 37 states in the nation (Nebraska being the most recent, in
1867).
In November of 1869 the national Women's Suffrage convention met in
Cleveland and organized the American Women's Suffrage Assoc., showing increased
interest and activity in the quest for equality for women.
Related directly to this, we note that in 1841, Iowa Wesleyan College was
founded in Mt. Pleasant, "the first co-educational college west of the Mississippi and one
of the first institutions in America to recognize the right of women to college training…"
(P.E.O. Record, January 1954, p. 2)
P.E.O. came as a natural result of the co-educational college development…in
1867 the sisterhood which became Pi Beta Phi was the first sorority and organized at
Monmouth College. Its second chapter was at Iowa Wesleyan. The P.E.O. Society in
1869, became the second college group of women to be founded.
Very briefly, what was happening in the rest of the western world? The continent
was involved in a series of wars during this time…the wars of unification were being
waged during the decade of 1860-1870. This was the time when a "nation" as we know it
today, was a new concept.
Queen Victoria reigned over the British Empire. These were the years of
Gladstone and Disraeli.
In 1867 the British colonies comprising Canada, were united as a Dominion…the
first Dominion, and characterized by having complete control of domestic affairs and tied
to the Mother country only in foreign affairs.
Italy finally achieved unification of its many smaller kingdoms and became one
nation-in 1870.
The Germanies (300 in 1648, 30 in 1815) likewise at last completed unification
into one nation, in 1871…achieved by the forceful direction of Bismarck…and finally,
only after defeating the French in the Franco-Prussian War, in 1870.
This brought an end to the Second French Empire, of Napoleon III (Nephew of
the Napoleon). The third French Republic was created in 1871 and lasted until July,
19940, when it fell to Nazi aggression.
In Russia, Czar Alexander II was the ruler, and his reign was characterized by
reforms, notably the end of serfdom.
The Suez Canal was opened in 1869.
In the history of ideas, of the creative work of men's minds, the period of 18591875 was remarkably active.
What great men were living and contributing then to our heritage of today?
In 1859 Gounod's opera, Faust, was first performed in Paris; Darwin's theory of
evolution was presented in the Origin of the Species in 1859 and its impact was already
felt in the 1860's and 1870's.
In 1865 Mendel developed his thesis on the laws of heredity, still regarded as
valid today. Also in 1865, Lister introduced antiseptic surgery and Louis Pasteur was
actively experimenting.
The world of our founders knew Communism. In 1846 Karl Marx wrote his
communist Manifesto and during the years from 1867-1894 wrote his lengthy analysis of
capitalism. Localized communist revolutions occurred in Europe in 1848 and
sporadically during the several decades which followed.
In regard to the literary, artistic and musical genius alive and creating during this
time, each name will have a personal meaning or relevance to each of you. There is no
need for me to elaborate on any one…just to mention them in a way which will bring
them into focus as contemporaries of our founders.
In literature, 1869 was in the Victorian Age…the great era of the novel; moral
purpose dominated the writing of the time; social reform messages reflected and often
exaggerated and satirized the problems of society at the time. In America, civil War
drama and a deep feeling for the nation, was expressed in literature.
To cite but a few of the best known authors whose impact was significant in the
1860's…Charles Dickens, who died in 1870 (his Christmas Carol, 1843, was
known to have been a great favorite of Alice Bird Babb throughout her life).
Thackeray wrote Vanity Fair in 1864.
Alice in Wonderland was written in 1865.
Dostoyevsky wrote Crime and Punishment in 1866.
Tolstoi, Victor Hugo were also among the great novelists of the time.
Hans Christian Anderson died in 1875.
In America, in 1869, Mark Twain wrote The Innocents Abroad and thus
established his literary reputation; tom and Huck were yet to come.
Walt Whitman lived until 1892.
Works by these men were all quite new when P.E.O. was organized in 1869, yet the
authors were established and read…hence truly were a part of the period of which we
speak.
In art…
In music…
Degas was painting; French impressionism began about 1874,
represented notably by Monet and Renoir.
-Gounod's Faust was first performed in Paris, 1859.
-Johann Straus wrote the "Beautiful Blue Danube" in 1867.
-Brahms wrote and published his famous Lullaby, the Cradle Song,
in 1866; his C minor (first) symphony in 1875.
-Franz Liszt was nearing the end of his remarkable performing
career as a pianist.
-Tchaikovsky wrote the Romeo and Juliet Overture in 1870, Swan
Lake Ballet was first performed in 1877.
-Wagner (Lohengrin in 1850) The Rhingold…first of the ring Cycle
of Operas first performed in 1869.
-Verdi wrote Aida in 1871 to celebrate the opening of the Suez
Canal.
-Bizet's Carmen dated 1875.
-Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite first performed in 1875.
-and by the 1870'2 Gilbert and Sullivan were busy satirizing grand
opera with their delightful operettas.
We have an image of our founders-how they appeared, how they dressed, what
their personal interests and abilities and characteristics were.
Today, I have tried to bring a little different understanding of the creation of our
sisterhood, by considering what else was new at that time, which also has endured-and to
help us to feel the longevity of P.E.O. by realizing that these other events and ideas which
seem always to have been…were, in fact contemporaries of P.E.O. in their beginnings.
Doesn't it rather seem that there must always have been a Braham's Lullaby---a Swan
Lake ballet---Charles Dickens' books---Carmen---Alice in Wonderland?---yet they and
P.E.O. were created during the same period of time.
Thus, our founders had the privilege of living in a time which richly endowed our
heritage, and, they distinguished themselves in also making an enduring contribution to
this heritage.
Mary Ladd Loots (Mrs. Robert J.)
Chapter AM, Milwaukee