Badge, Membership
Badge, Membership
Badge, Membership

Badge, Membership

Object number2007.81.7
Date1900
MediumSilk; various metals; ink; plastic
Credit LineGift of United Lutheran Society
DescriptionRectangular fraternal badge. Brass plate at top; front covered in plastic covering, colored image of an eagle, American flags, and two shaking hands, with text. Connects directly with ribbons. Top ribbon, small silk American flag ribbon; plastic pointed-oval medallion at ribbon end with text and images of red cross and gold crown. Red, blue, and white striped silk ribbon trimmed in gold has gold screen printed text. Gold coiled metallic fringe at bottom. Backside: black silk ribbon with same text as front with additional memorial text before rest of words. Gold metallic coiled fringe.Dimensions3 x 9.375 in. (7.6 x 23.8 cm)
InscriptionsBrass plate at top with words, "IN UNION THERE IS STRENGTH".

Plastic pointed-oval medallion at ribbon end with, "SLAVONIA EV. UNION / [images of red cross and gold crown]".

Red, blue, and white striped silk ribbon has text written in gold screen printed letters, "SPOLOK SV. EMANUELA / CIS. 65. SLOV. EV [accent over C] / JEDNOTY / ZAL. DNA 20no. NOV. [accent over A] / ROKU PANE 1900 [accent over N] / ALLEGHENY, PA."

Backside: black silk ribbon with same lettering as above, except at top, "IN MEMORIAM / [cross with "SEJ" horizontally and crown]" before rest of words.

MarksOn pin, stamped label: "PAT OCT 16082 / MARCH 7 99".
Historical NotesPart of a collection related to the work of the locally-based United Lutheran Society, a fraternal benefit society that provided financial aid, life insurance, and social activities to its predominantly Slovak immigrant membership. The ULS was formed in 1962 by the merger of two long-running ethnic fraternal groups- the Evangelical Slovak Women’s Union (organized c. 1906) and the Slovak Evangelical Union (organized 1893.) Currently headquartered in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, the ULS main office was previously in Pittsburgh, in Manchester (North Side) and later the South Hills. Faced with years of declining membership, the ULS merged into the Pittsburgh-based Greater Beneficial Union in 2007. (The GBU, organized here in 1892, is a historically German beneficial group.) This fraternal benefit society is now open to all persons of the Lutheran faith and provides life and health insurance.
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