Communism Texas-Style
During the late nineteenth century, a commune known as the Woman's Commonwealth (Sanctified Sisters) began to change the way women functioned in society. During the 1880s, American values existed within a nuclear family, with men maintaining ownership of private properties and living within a class system.[i]The traditional ideas of marriage, politics, social, and economic power became the foundation on which men stood as representatives for an American way of life. In the late 1800s, a small group of women in the town of Belton, Texas, banded together and formed the Woman's Commonwealth. Their founder, Martha McWhirter, believed the Lord placed upon her the task of becoming a sanctified woman allowing her to lead others to their own purification. The establishment of the commonwealth threatened the very foundation on which American values existed and dissolved the nuclear family image within their small town. The ideas of capitalism within a male world no longer applied to the sisters; instead they adopted communistic doctrine embedded with socialism. The Sanctified Sisters' adoption of communism in a capitalist world gave the women financial power not seen by other communes.
McWhirter created a society of women using a doctrine strongly based on communism. Communism is the idea that society exists without a class system and all monetary earnings and properties are considered community property with every citizen working collectively for the common good of society.[ii] The Sanctified Sisters began in the 1870s with a donation of twenty dollars from a school teacher who believed in the Sisters’ organization. McWhirter and several members of the sisterhood began hiring themselves out for household work in and around Belton, Texas. They began with a laundry service but soon hired out cooks, sold milk, butter, and wood.[iii] The Sisters’ earnings by 1893 amounted to 50,000 dollars according to George P. Garrison, editor of the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association.[iv] The women often received property upon the deaths of their husbands which became community property. Some of the property was converted into boarding houses and the first Central Hotel. Receipts ascertained under the name of Martha McWhirter document transactions between 200 to 500 dollars per day, for the occupation of rooms at the Central Hotel.[v] Under the guidance of McWhirter, the women within the commune learned trades such as dentistry, education, and hotel management.
Through the various disciplines of the Sanctified Sisters, a communist utopian society was born in Belton, Texas. The Sanctified Sisters not only were able to separate themselves from their overbearing husbands and gain independence, they were also able to establish a financially-abundant society. By the year 1890, they grossed 800 dollars per month, and by 1898 earned an estimated total of 100,000 dollars per year.[vi]The Sanctified Sisters not only used their earnings for personal growth, but also contributed to the community by donating 500 dollars to the railroad of Belton in addition to donating too other organizations within their community.
The Sanctified Sisters were recognized as sound and reliable businesswomen, which lead to the promised donation of 10,000 dollars for the construction of a free public library for the city of Belton. The donation was given by Mr. Andrew Carnegie in 1903, a well-known American philanthropist.[vii] In their struggle for a utopian society, the women often faced tremendous obstacles from local townspeople, family members, and husbands. Although the women donated thousands of dollars and remained peaceful within the town, they were often met with violence. On several occasions, the women were accused of insanity, and threatened with violence, having their children ripped from their homes by angry mobs lead by their estranged husbands.
Although McWirther was the founder of the Sanctified Sisters, there is documentation proving that each woman owned shares, all properties, and certificates of stock owned by the commune. The hard work that was contributed by all the women of the commune, allowed the women to maintain “a happy home without husbands”.[viii]
The Sanctified Sisters’ commune contributed to the Women’s Rights Movement, which began in the 1840s with their work in creating independence for women within their commune and throughout community. The determination of the women of Belton, Texas, to separate them from the tainted society of the nineteenth century, allowed them to find peace, friendship, and independence coupled with lifelong companionship. The women strongly believed in following their doctrine of sanctification, which lead them to move their successful commune from the small town of Belton, Texas, to Washington D.C.[ix] Upon departing Belton, the women continued to prosper financially by selling their properties for a total of 23,000 dollars.[x] Their departure from Belton was met with sadness, due to the fact that the Sanctified Sisters had gained recognition and achievement within the community.[xi]
Although the Sanctified Sisters were viewed by their community as irrational and insane individuals at the beginning of their established commune, they were able to overcome this adversity and establish a successful and prosperous commune within their community.
Endnotes
[i] Sally Kitch. "Chaste Liberation: Celibacy and Female Cultural Status." Urban
University Press, [1989]: 2.
[ii]Gwendolyn Wright. "The Women's Commonwealth: Separation, Self, Sharing." The
Architectural Association Quarterly, [1974]: 40-41.
[iii]Ernest G Fischer. "The Sanctified Sisters." Marxists
and Utopias in Texas. 186.
[iv]Ibid.173.
[v]Martha McWhirter. Receipt presented by owner Martha McWhirter for services rendered at the Central Hotel: Belton Texas. Found at the Bell County Museum. [July 25, 1894]
[vi]Ibid., 174-75
[vii]Geo. W. Tyler, letter to Martha McWhirter, February 10, 1903. Found at the Bell County Museum.
[viii]Frieda Werden. "Martha White McWhirter and the Belton Sanctificationists." Texas
Foundation for Women's Resources, 121.
[ix]
Ibid., 121.
[x]Ibid., 121.
[xi]Gwendolyn Wright. "The Women's Commonwealth: Separation, Self, Sharing." The
Architectural Association Quarterly, [1974]. 40.
McWhirter created a society of women using a doctrine strongly based on communism. Communism is the idea that society exists without a class system and all monetary earnings and properties are considered community property with every citizen working collectively for the common good of society.[ii] The Sanctified Sisters began in the 1870s with a donation of twenty dollars from a school teacher who believed in the Sisters’ organization. McWhirter and several members of the sisterhood began hiring themselves out for household work in and around Belton, Texas. They began with a laundry service but soon hired out cooks, sold milk, butter, and wood.[iii] The Sisters’ earnings by 1893 amounted to 50,000 dollars according to George P. Garrison, editor of the Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association.[iv] The women often received property upon the deaths of their husbands which became community property. Some of the property was converted into boarding houses and the first Central Hotel. Receipts ascertained under the name of Martha McWhirter document transactions between 200 to 500 dollars per day, for the occupation of rooms at the Central Hotel.[v] Under the guidance of McWhirter, the women within the commune learned trades such as dentistry, education, and hotel management.
Through the various disciplines of the Sanctified Sisters, a communist utopian society was born in Belton, Texas. The Sanctified Sisters not only were able to separate themselves from their overbearing husbands and gain independence, they were also able to establish a financially-abundant society. By the year 1890, they grossed 800 dollars per month, and by 1898 earned an estimated total of 100,000 dollars per year.[vi]The Sanctified Sisters not only used their earnings for personal growth, but also contributed to the community by donating 500 dollars to the railroad of Belton in addition to donating too other organizations within their community.
The Sanctified Sisters were recognized as sound and reliable businesswomen, which lead to the promised donation of 10,000 dollars for the construction of a free public library for the city of Belton. The donation was given by Mr. Andrew Carnegie in 1903, a well-known American philanthropist.[vii] In their struggle for a utopian society, the women often faced tremendous obstacles from local townspeople, family members, and husbands. Although the women donated thousands of dollars and remained peaceful within the town, they were often met with violence. On several occasions, the women were accused of insanity, and threatened with violence, having their children ripped from their homes by angry mobs lead by their estranged husbands.
Although McWirther was the founder of the Sanctified Sisters, there is documentation proving that each woman owned shares, all properties, and certificates of stock owned by the commune. The hard work that was contributed by all the women of the commune, allowed the women to maintain “a happy home without husbands”.[viii]
The Sanctified Sisters’ commune contributed to the Women’s Rights Movement, which began in the 1840s with their work in creating independence for women within their commune and throughout community. The determination of the women of Belton, Texas, to separate them from the tainted society of the nineteenth century, allowed them to find peace, friendship, and independence coupled with lifelong companionship. The women strongly believed in following their doctrine of sanctification, which lead them to move their successful commune from the small town of Belton, Texas, to Washington D.C.[ix] Upon departing Belton, the women continued to prosper financially by selling their properties for a total of 23,000 dollars.[x] Their departure from Belton was met with sadness, due to the fact that the Sanctified Sisters had gained recognition and achievement within the community.[xi]
Although the Sanctified Sisters were viewed by their community as irrational and insane individuals at the beginning of their established commune, they were able to overcome this adversity and establish a successful and prosperous commune within their community.
Endnotes
[i] Sally Kitch. "Chaste Liberation: Celibacy and Female Cultural Status." Urban
University Press, [1989]: 2.
[ii]Gwendolyn Wright. "The Women's Commonwealth: Separation, Self, Sharing." The
Architectural Association Quarterly, [1974]: 40-41.
[iii]Ernest G Fischer. "The Sanctified Sisters." Marxists
and Utopias in Texas. 186.
[iv]Ibid.173.
[v]Martha McWhirter. Receipt presented by owner Martha McWhirter for services rendered at the Central Hotel: Belton Texas. Found at the Bell County Museum. [July 25, 1894]
[vi]Ibid., 174-75
[vii]Geo. W. Tyler, letter to Martha McWhirter, February 10, 1903. Found at the Bell County Museum.
[viii]Frieda Werden. "Martha White McWhirter and the Belton Sanctificationists." Texas
Foundation for Women's Resources, 121.
[ix]
Ibid., 121.
[x]Ibid., 121.
[xi]Gwendolyn Wright. "The Women's Commonwealth: Separation, Self, Sharing." The
Architectural Association Quarterly, [1974]. 40.