Page 6 - Sojourner Newsletter-Fall 2023 v1.3

6 THE SOJOURNER

HISTORIAN’S CORNER

Edward W. Nolte, PNP, PNC, National Historian

The Grande Dame Award

The Award: First and foremost, the Grande Dame Award is an unofficial National Sojourners award, and three fac-
tors impact its history. First, the award is not, and has never been documented in any National Directive. Its signifi-
cance is simply passed verbally from National President (NP) to NP. Second, no guidance exists concerning who
should receive the award, what length of service is required or appropriate, or the degree of involvement of the recipi-
ent. Originally, receiving a Grande Dame Award required 20+ years of ANC and MWM support, but recently that
time has been greatly reduced. Third, the NP funds the Award at his discretion, not National Sojourners. The award
consists of an engraved plaque with the Grande Dame’s name, year of award, and words of thanks for supporting the
Order. Unfortunately, there is no master award maintained at National HQ, as there is with most official awards.

Name of the Award: The “Grande Dames” Award was created in 1975. In 2016 it was called the “Grand Dame”
Award, (no e or s). Since 2017, it is the “Grande Dame Award,” (phonetically, the “A” in Grande and Dame is pro-
nounced as “ahh,” as in Grahnd Dahm, NOT Grand, as in Lodge, or Dame, as in aim).

Documentation: This is the unfortunate part of the Award. For nearly 50 years, NPs have honored other Ladies (not
their Lady), for their contributions to Order, and for half of that period no documentation exists. The Award is the
NP’s secret until he presents it at the President’s Banquet, and consequently, the National Secretary-Treasurer (NS-T)
did not report the award in the Proceedings. The first documented award was in 1975. At the time, Lady S’ardia
Rice’s husband was the most senior Past National President (PNP) (1952-53), and Lady Anne Buckner’s husband was
the junior PNP (1964-65), and both ladies had been attending National Meetings for 16 to 35 years. Between these
two Sojourner years, no other Grande Dame Award recipients exist. From 1976 through 2002, a search of the National
HQ archives has discovered no documentation. The estimated years (~ symbol) are based on prior and subsequent
lengths of service for awards and the husband’s continued activity at the national level. Could the 1982 award (Lady
Paula Lay) actually have been presented in 1983? Sure, but these estimates are very close and represent the best infor-
mation available. Beginning in 2003, documentation for the Grande Dame Award is available via various sources. All
Grande Dames can thank Bro. James A. Baker for being the first NP (2016-17) to direct Grande Dame Awardees be
published in the Staff Directory.

Factoid: All are Grand Dames are Ladies, and all are married to a Sojourner, not a girlfriend or a significant other in
the mix. Bro. Past National Commander (PNC) Williamson’s first and second wives were both Grande Dames; Bro.
PNP Barnes’ Lady and Daughter were/are Grande Dames; and Bro. NS-T Pollard’s Lady worked daily at National
HQ.

Analysis: Of the 60 Grand Dame Awardees over 48 years, 22 supported their husband as an NP, 12 as an NC, 8 as
both an NP and NC, 5 as a National Line Officer (NLO), and 13 as a Sojourner’s Lady (Trustees, C33, Committee,
AR/RR, etc.). All directly supported the Order by helping to host ANCs or MWMs, welcoming newcomers, planning
events, and promoting the interest of the Order. An asterisk (*) indicates the Lady is deceased, and from the Staff Di-
rectory, of the 60 Grande Dames, there are currently 23 living.

1975: Ladies Anne Buckner*, Stella Byers*, Ruby Linn*, S’ardia Rice*, Margaret Rogers*, and Alice Scherger* by
NP Byers.
(~1977 to ~2002 Estimates): Ladies Georgia Casto*, Helen Lyon*, Amelia May*, Margaret Pollard*, and Peggy
Youndt* (1977); Agnes Duryea* and Lucy Marston* (1979); Eleanor Biehl*, Greta Mager*, and Betty Wil-
liams* (1980); Paula Lay* (1982); Gertrude Harrell* (1987); Faye Hendrickson (1988); Frances Henry*
(1994); Mary Ann Williamson* (2001); and Betty Cole*, Emma Snyder*, and Twyla Sutherlin* (2002).
2003: Ladies Katie Ryland and Hellen Sizemore by NP Samuels
2005: Ladies Emiko Folsom* and Mary Lou Taylor* by NP Cowan
2006: Ladies Gayleen Gilbert* and Ruth Harrington* by NP McVeigh III
2009: Ladies Deanne Miller, Vera Nelson*, and Patti Turner by NP Joe Baker
2011: Lady Esther Jennings by NP Sanders
2012: Lady Ervalyn McVeigh by NP Turner
2013: Lady Beverly Baker* by NP McConnell
2014: Ladies Josie Arroyo*, Dottie Lowmiller*, and Lynn Sanders by NP Perry, Sr.