Though yellowed and brittle, a valuable piece of Oxford’s history is going to be preserved and displayed for future generations thanks to a generous resident and American Legion Post 108.
Because of Oxford resident Shirley Fields the local veterans group is now in possession of the original charter which established the Frank Powell Woman’s Relief Corps No. 260 in Oxford, Michigan on May 23, 1902.
‘There’s no other known copy of this,? said Jim Parkhurst, curator of Post 108’s extensive military museum. ‘There’s no record in Lansing as far as we know.?
The WRC was the women’s auxiliary group for the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a fraternal organization that was composed of Union Army veterans who had served in the Civil War.
The WRC groups were to the GAR posts back then what the ladies? auxiliary units are to Legion posts now.
‘They served this community and gave back just like our auxiliary from the legion does today,? Parkhurst said. ‘We all work together.?
The charter contains the signatures of the Oxford WRC’s original 30 members. Parkhurst said most, if not all, were the wives of Civil War veterans and GAR members.
Many prominent names from Oxford’s past ? such as Glaspie, Gardner, Morison, VanWagoner and Hadrill ? are on this historic document.
Lauina Losey’s signature is also on the charter. She was the wife of the last Civil War veteran to die in Oxford around 1933, according to Parkhurst.
‘It’s a great piece of history,? he said. ‘It’s a hometown thing. It means a lot to everybody that lives here to see something like this.?
Fields found the charter while sorting through her deceased mother’s things at her Orion home.
Her mother, Beatrice Robertson, who passed away in October 2005 at the age of 90, was a member of the WRC for at least 20 years and was a past president.
‘When she was in it, she absolutely loved it,? Fields said. ‘She got so much enjoyment out of it. She was very patriotic.?
At first, Fields didn’t know what to do with the 106-year-old document.
‘I kept looking at that and thinking I just cannot throw that away,? she said.
Fields decided to give it, along with some WRC medals, spoons and photos, to Parkhurst after talking with him at a family funeral.
She couldn’t be more happy that future generations will be able to benefit from the historic artifact.
‘I’m so glad others can enjoy it, too,? she said.
Fields knows her mother would also be quite pleased.
‘I thought she would be thrilled if others could see this, too,? she said. ‘It would make my mom very happy.?
Parkhurst plans to have a copy of the charter made for display in Post 108’s military museum and give the original to the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum in downtown Oxford.
‘That seems like a fitting place for it,? he said.