American Woodmen, Kentucky
The American Woodmen started as a white organization in Colorado in 1901, but became a black organization in 1910, founded by Cassius M. White and Granville W. Norman, both from Austin, TX [source: "History of American Woodmen - the Supreme Camp of the American Woodmen (AWSC)" in Fraternal Organizations by Alvin J. Schmidt]. Members were from 16 states (including Kentucky). AWSC was a fraternal and benefits organization that provided aid to deceased members, widows, heirs, and orphans via the American Woodmen Life Insurance Company. The organization also provided social and community services. In 1994, the AWSC merged with the Woodmen of the World, and Assured Life Association.
In Kentucky, in 1924, the American Woodmen Uniform Ranks met at Camp Nicholas Biddle in Louisville, KY. The Kentucky camp existed as early as 1918 when they participated in the national campaign to recruit 1,000 new members [source: "American Woodmen growing, female band practicing," Cleveland Gazette, 08/10/1918, p.1]. In 1922, C. C. Trimble from Louisville, KY, was the National Supervisor of the American Woodmen [source: Ad "Here the Hon. C. C. Trimble," Advocate (Kansas City, Kansas), 04/21/1922, p.1]. There continued to be a membership in Kentucky in 1937 [source: "American Woodmen to hold ninth quadrennial meeting in August," Plaindealer (Kansas City), 06/04/1937, p.2]. Around 1978, the American Woodmen Life Insurance Company could no longer write insurance certificates in Kentucky and most other states.
