Fonds consists of textual material which documents the history of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire from its inception in 1900 up until the year 1986 and includes minutes and annual reports for the National Executive and for the Annual Meetings of the Daughters of the British Empire in the United States and in the United States of New York, Inc., in addition to miscellaneous minutes and annual reports. Fonds also includes various documents relating to the history of the IODE such as correspondence, memoranda and petitions. The correspondence is comprised of a large number of items dating from the organization's formative years and deals with its organization and membership, business matters and with relations with its non-Canadian affiliates.
There is also correspondence concerning individual applications for charters by Canadian chapters as well as the original charters issued to these chapters and the original constitution of the IODE itself. The subject files contain information pertaining to a wide range of IODE activities including its activities during the two wars, scholarship activity and work in India. Fonds also contains local chapter records, miscellaneous printed material about the IODE and a number of scrap books compiled by IODE members which document certain facets or activities of the organization.
Also included in fonds are numerous photographs documenting activites and meetings of the IODE, various artistic material, objects, and a plan for the proposed restoration of the St. Catherine's Chapel of St. Mary's Church Western, Kent. Material has been divided into three separate series entitled: Artistic material; Photographs; and Objects.
In addition, there is a radio broadcast documenting a ceremony of presenation of Queen Mary's carpet to the National gallery of Canada by the IODE, 1951. As well, there are two films (1970) entitled International fair (1970) and The mother of Parliament. Each of the films contains a trailer for the IODE.
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire : Founded by Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal in 1900 as the Federation of the Daughters of the British Empire, and the Children of the Empire (Juvenile Branch), the Order moved its headquarters to Toronto in 1901 and became incorporated in Ontario under the name The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, and The Children of the Empire. Its expressed objectives included the stimulation of patriotic sentiment, the fostering of a bond of union among women and children throughout the Empire, the promotion of study of the Empire, care for the dependents of military personnel, and the preservation of the memory of brave and historic deeds.
Chapters were organized throughout Canada and in 1917 Dominion incorporation was obtained. The organization of a proposed Imperial Chapter was never achieved, although the Order did succeed in establishing chapters in Bermuda, the Bahamas, India, and the United States, and entered into affiliation with a number of like-minded associations elsewhere in the Empire.
One of the Order's first major projects entailed the location and marking of graves of those who died in the South African War, and during both World Wars the I.O.D.E. performed considerable work in raising funds and providing comforts for service personnel. Yet, from its inception, the Order has also been closely involved in the promotion of education, health, and welfare, assisting in the construction and maintenance of medical facilities, providing financial aid to students, encouraging the study of the history and current concerns of both Canada and the Commonwealth, and promoting good citizenship.
