1897 Lawrence Broadside, Knights of the Golden Eagle Fraternal Order

This is Dawson Lawrence's 1897 chromolithographic broadside produced for the Knights of the Golden Eagle and printed by Sackett and Wilhelms.

A Closer Look

This striking broadside contains complex allegorical imagery related to the fraternal order, heavily influenced by Christian symbolism, including references to the Crusades. The broadside depicts rituals taking place in several levels of the castle, with the different levels representing the three degrees in the order. The levels of the castle parallel a struggle between good and evil, and relies heavily on Crusader imagery. At the bottom three levels, paintings on the walls behind the figures reinforce the concept of battles, both literal and figurative, while at right are additional depictions of group rituals, likely for initiates.

Abbreviations on several altars on the various levels refer to values of the Knights of the Golden Eagle and associated fraternal orders like the Odd Fellows (such as 'F.H.C.' for fidelity, honor, charity). On the top level of the castle are a group of women engaged in rituals, likely meant to represent the female auxiliaries of the Knights, called the Ladies of the Golden Eagle. Although Christian imagery predominates, atop the castle are references to the American Republic, including the American flag, a flag with an eagle, and the dome on top of the castle with an eagle.

Knights of the Golden Eagle

The Knights of the Golden Eagle was a fraternal organization founded in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1873. It was initially established as a mutual aid society, offering support such as insurance benefits, funeral assistance, and camaraderie to its members, many of whom were working-class men. The order blended fraternal ritual with a chivalric theme, drawing inspiration from medieval knights and emphasizing virtues like fidelity, valor, and charity. Structurally, it was organized into local 'Castles,' regional 'Grand Castles,' and a national 'Supreme Castle.' Membership was restricted to Christian men who pledged to uphold moral conduct and mutual assistance. At its height in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Knights of the Golden Eagle had a significant presence, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic states, but like many fraternal groups of the era, it declined sharply after World War I (1914 - 1918), with its last bastions being among the working-class miners and steelworkers of Eastern Pennsylvania. It was defunct by the 1960s.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Oftentimes, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.

Publication History and Census

This broadside was copyrighted to Dawson Lawrence of South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, likely its designer, in 1897, and was printed by Sackett and Wilhelms. It is quite rare, only being noted among the holdings of the American Antiquarian Society and Williams College in the OCLC and with minimal market history.