The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) had modest beginnings in 1868 as a private club for entertainers whose members were known as "The Jolly Corks." It was established to elude New York City municipal laws governing the opening hours of public taverns, particularly on Sundays.

The Elks have since evolved into a major fraternal, charitable, and service organization with more than a million members, both men and women, throughout North America. Currently, with younger generations seeking a very different kind of leisure, the Elks have steadily suffered a decrease in numbers. Its membership is simply dying out without replacement.

As the face of the contemporary BPOE is changing with a new generation, some of the eldest and most loyal members are passing away, and departing with them are their personal stories of compassion, loyalty, and brotherhood of the past century.

Our desire to create a record of the present-day Elks communities grew from our shared experiences of visiting lodges encountered during a cross-country road trip. As unexpected strangers, we were continually welcomed with fanfare and acclaim, since our combined age was less than the average age of the typical Elks member. What was initially perplexing became polarized by acute sensations of familiarity and disconnect, echoing impressions of home and belonging.

We want to protect the history of as many lodges as possible through pictures and interviews—meeting and talking to as many members as possible. While primary source information through interviews is most important, we are also photographing the architecture of the lodge, making portraits of the active lodge members, and archiving any ephemera collected over the lodge’s history.

Rachel Gargiulo is a current student of the Museum School.
Matthew Gamber (MFA '04) is currently Editor-in-Chief of Big RED and Shiny, an online arts journal for the visual arts in New England.