Colorado State Grange

The Colorado State Grange was established in the Colorado Territory in 1874 as the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, to give support and encouragement to rural and agricultural communities. This fraternal society remains active in supporting communities through education, emergency relief, and legislative activism.

Originally called the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, the Colorado State Grange was established in 1874, seven years after the National Grange was formed and two years before Colorado became a state. The National Grange, oldest national agricultural organization in the United States, supervises State Granges in thirty-seven states.

Upon establishing a state charter, the Colorado State Grange organized forty-six subordinate Granges and applied for membership to the National Grange. The establishment of district or county Granges occurred in 1889 with the first Pomona Grange in Darden, Colorado.

The Grange organization is a fraternal society based on both Christian and Greek thought. Privately, those who become members are taught the secret rituals of the organization. Through the fraternal rites, members can move up in the organization. Publicly, the club supports the community. Because farming and ranching was widely a family and independent industry, the primary goal of the Grange was to unite and organize these private agricultural businesses and create united rural communities. During monthly meetings, the Colorado Grange addressed the needs of Colorado's agricultural communities and worked to better the lives of those living within these rural areas.

Colorado Grange's activism peaked during and following World War II. In the 1940s and 1950s, the Grange spear-headed many military support programs while maintaining the rural communities' interests. Membership and interest in the Grange slipped during the 1970s, causing the Grange to re-evaluate the need for agricultural industry support and shift their focus to both rural and urban needs.

Also included in this collection are files from Subordinate and Pomona Granges that have discontinued their association with the Colorado State Grange. The Pomona Granges are district or county Granges which supervised and supported the local Subordinate Granges. The Subordinate Granges served their neighborhoods by offering activities such as potluck suppers and dances to bring together members of the community. Both Pomona and Subordinate Granges were active in assessing their communities' needs and appealing to the State Grange for support.