What do the letters A.O.U.W. stand for?

[Charmin]

I found a really neat little purse at an estate sale and inside it there were some little baby pictures and a ribbon/button that says: 6th Annual Meeting of Grand Lodge A.O.U.W. Shawnee , O.T. (O.T.=Oklahoma Territory maybe??). Anyone know what the letters A.O.U.W. stand for? And when this meeting might have been held? There is some writting on the back of the celluoid button part that says: ?? US Pat ?? May ?? 1899. The front of the button has some words that are in Latin(I think?): ALTERUM ALTERIUS AUXILIO EGET(?) and there is a shield with an anchor.
The little baby pictures have a Pat July 24, 1900, on the back. The babies look like they have on Victorian era clothing. I wonder if this was common during that era to make pictures into wearable buttons?
The little purse is red and green velvet on a metal frame with paper lined pockets.
Thanks for looking and any help with ID!!
kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

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[72cheyenne]

Ancient Order of United Workman
Here ya go. http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/aouw.htm

Nice old find. This was copied from the Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Territory

The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian territory and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.

 

[Woodland Detectors]

Cool!

 

[Charmin]

Ancient Order of United Workman
Here ya go. http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/aouw.htm

Nice old find. This was copied from the Wiki. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Territory

The Territory of Oklahoma was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian territory and admitted to the Union as the State of Oklahoma.

Thanks 72cheyenne! That was quick! Thanks for the link, too! Kind regards~~sandcreek

Cool!

Thanks 4-H!
regards~~sandcreek

 

[Saturna]

Google is your friend....



http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=aouw&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=






Jay

 

[Charmin]

Google is your friend....



http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=aouw&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=






Jay

Thanks Jay! I kinda thought that's what the letters stood for, but wanted confirmation from the experts!
regards~~sandcreek4

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Ancient Order of United Workman

I wonder if that purse will come back in style.

 

[Charmin]

Ancient Order of United Workman

I wonder if that purse will come back in style.

I don't think I would carry a purse that small even if it did come back in style--it sure wouldn't hold all the plunder that I carry in mine . It's still a neat little piece and I was thrilled when I opened it to find all the stuff inside. I love finding anything to do with Oklahoma history-Especially "Oklahoma Territory" or "Indian Territory"!
Thanks BCH!
regards~~sandcreek

 

[Monty]

I notice you don't have a great deal of posts, at least compared to some of us who blab all the time. Anyway, if you are new to metal detecting, there are several tokens I have seen found that have reference to Indian Territory. I've never found one but they are there if you put that coil in the right spot. Monty

 

[kenley]

I typed the letters in google. Bam! So easy.

 

[Charmin]

I typed the letters in google. Bam! So easy.

Thank You, Kenley! I just really needed help in putting a date on this piece and hoped someone from here in my part of the country would see this and could tell me when the "6th Annual Meeting" was held.
regards~~sandcreek

I notice you don't have a great deal of posts, at least compared to some of us who blab all the time. Anyway, if you are new to metal detecting, there are several tokens I have seen found that have reference to Indian Territory. I've never found one but they are there if you put that coil in the right spot. Monty

Nope, I don't have the "gift to gab"(or blab ), Monty . I would love to find an Indian Territory token! I've got a couple of places lined up to metal detect for Fall/Winter that date to the early 1900's so maybe there will be one waiting for me.
Thanks for the info and comments~~regards~~sandcreek

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

The little baby pictures have a Pat July 24, 1900, on the back. The babies look like they have on Victorian era clothing. I wonder if this was common during that era to make pictures into wearable buttons?

Yes it was common practice from about 1900-1920. You might enjoy reading these links.
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,235199.0.html
http://www.morninggloryantiques.com/collectVictPhoto.html

I just really needed help in putting a date on this piece and hoped someone from here in my part of the country would see this and could tell me when the "6th Annual Meeting" was held.
regards~~sandcreek

I dont know the date of the meeting but patents were only good for 10-15 years at most so the button cannot be any newer than 1915. (1900-1915)
Here is the patent: http://www.google.com/patents?id=f7hTAAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&pg=PA1

 

[72cheyenne]

I have looked extensively for the date of the A.O.U.W. 6th annual meeting in Shawnee, O.T. and have come up empty......but by using the information of O.T. being from 1890-1907, and then buttons marked with patents of 1900, I think we can assumeably narrow down the meeting date to sometime between 1900-1907. But by using just the time frame of when O.T. was in existence it gives you a 17yr. window. It is really strange that there is very, very little info on the A.O.U.W. history in Oklahoma.

 

[Charmin]

Bigcypresshunter and 72cheyenne--I can't thank you both enough for all the help! Its amazing the information you all come up with and I really appreciate ya!! You Guys are GOOD PEOPLE!! .
kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[traderoftreasures]

some old gangbanging