_logo%2c_formerly_Daughters_of_Isis.png) Egyptian goddess Isis withcow horn symbol | |
| Formation | August 24, 1910; 115 years ago (1910-08-24) |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Detroit |
| Type | Masonic women's auxiliary |
| Headquarters | 2239 Democrat Road Memphis, Tennessee 38132 |
| Location |
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| Website | doipha.org |
Formerly called | Daughters of Isis |
TheImperial Court organization serves as thefemale auxiliary to theAncient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, thePrince Hall affiliatedShriners.[1] The group previously used the nameDaughters of Isis.[2]
Local groups of the Imperial Court were founded by African American women in the early years of the twentieth century inMaryland,Rhode Island andWashington, D.C. In 1909, representatives of these locals met with a committee from the Prince Hall Shriners and formally requested the formation of a national organization of female relatives of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The establishment was approved at the annual convention of the Shrine held inDetroit, Michigan, on August 24, 1910. At the group's inception, it had twelve local chapters.[3]
In 2010, the group held their centennial celebration.[4] In 2014, the organization changed names toavoid confusion with an unrelated terrorist group.[2]
Local organizations are called "courts" and the national organization is called the Imperial Court. There were 12,000 members in 184 courts in 1979.[5] The international organization includes courts in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Japan."[4]
The organizations' rituals are based on theEgyptian legends ofIsis.[2] Local courts hold events to raise money for charity.[6][7]
