The Hebrew Benevolent Society was one of many such benevolent-cemetery societies established by Jewish settlers in Texas. The Jewish settlement pattern consisted first of the formation of a benevolent-cemetery society and then the establishment of a synagogue. Before 1821 under Spanish rule, Jews ...more

Hermann Sons (or the Order of the Sons of Hermann) was a fraternal organization founded by German immigrants in New York in 1840.  The name comes from German folk hero Hermann the Cherusker and the Battle of Teuton Forest in 9 AD against the invading Roman army.   The Texas Order of the ...more

The Josephite Society of the Sacred Heart (Josephites) is a religious community who advance the teachings of the Catholic Church in the African-American community.  In 1871, Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Herbert Vaughan brought a group of priests from London to Baltimore to educate and ...more

The Order of Knights of Pythias was established in 1864 in Washington D.C. to promote peace and understanding among men.  Named for two historical figures in Greek history, Damon and Pythias who were members of the Pythagorean Brotherhood, the Order promotes friendship and goodwill.   ( ...more

Margaret Mary Healy-Murphy (1833-1907), an Irish immigrant and educator, came to Texas with her husband John B. Murphy in 1849 and settled in Corpus Christi where she operated "Mrs. Murphy's Hospital for the Poor."  After the death of her husband, she relocated to San Antonio and opened the ...more