Yesterday's Architect · c. 1840–after 1910
Eliza Allen
Born enslaved in Westmoreland County, Virginia, she organized three secret mutual aid societies for enslaved women in Petersburg, then, working as a laundress after emancipation, rose to lead the Grand United Order of True Reformers. She was the only woman on the 1888 charter of the True Reformers Savings Bank, the first Black-owned bank in the United States.
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People
- husbandJames AllenBEJ profile
- worked forRichard Bealeborn enslaved on his estateBEJ profile
- documented byShennette Garrett-ScottBEJ profile
- business partner ofWilliam Washington Brownebuilt the True Reformers bank togetherBEJ profile
Institutions and enterprises
- member of · 1875Grand United Order of True ReformersBEJ profile
- led · 1881Grand United Order of True ReformersGrand Worthy Mistress, held for six yearsBEJ profile
- co-founded · 1888True Reformers Savings Bankonly woman on the bank's charterBEJ profile
- foundedConsolation Sisterssecret society for enslaved women, before the Civil WarBEJ profile
- foundedGrand United Order of Brothers and Sisters of Love and CharityBEJ profile
- ledIndependent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of SamariaGrand Presiding DaughterBEJ profile
- ledIndependent Order of St. LukeGrand ChiefBEJ profile
- foundedSisters of Usefulnesssecret society for enslaved women; up to thirty membersBEJ profile
- foundedTobithasecret society for enslaved women, before the Civil WarBEJ profile
- foundedTrue Reformers fountain, PetersburgBEJ profile
Places
- born in · c. 1840Westmoreland County, VirginiaBEJ profile
- worked inPetersburg, Virginiaorganized societies while enslaved; later laundress and organizerBEJ profile
Themes
Only relationships stated in a BEJ profile or a cited record are shown, each with its source.