What’s in a name?

The formal, legal name of the organization (which as we know is commonly referred to as “the Grange”) including all of its chapters, divisions and affiliated entities, as created in the original constitution in 1868 and carried forward to this day is “The Order of Patrons of Husbandry.”  The term “Grange” was originally sup-posed to be used as the designation of a specific chapter of the organization.  Thus, for example, the full and legal name of the District of Columbia chapter of the organization is Potomac Grange (chapter) #1 of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.  The full legal name of the national organization is The National Grange (chapter) of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry.  Use of the term “Grange” was originally intended in the 1860’s and early 1870’s as a means of allowing a shortened, truncated version of the full legal name of any particular chapter because once you saw the term Grange in the title of the local state or national chapter, it was supposed to be implicitly understood that the phrase “of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry” automatically followed.

Well, common usage in the English language (especially American English of the 19th century) being fluid and dynamic, the meaning of the word “Grange” to imply reference to the full, formal name of each local chapter quickly became completely truncated in common speech and usage.  Thus, the term “Grange” which was supposed to be a reference to a specific chapter of the organization quickly evolved in common usage to be a reference to the en-tire organization, with the “ of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry” phrase basically falling into limited use only as a formal, legal reference to the entire organization.  There were some attempts by early Grange (see I do it, too) leaders to create a short hand reference to the entire organization by using references to “the Order” in their writings and communications.  And while this version of the short hand reference to the entire organization is still understood and accepted by members of the organization, outside of the organization, such as in the press or other popular commentary, “the Order” just never caught on.

By 1876, Grange leaders finally gave up trying to define how the rest of the world would designate and define the name of their organization and formally applied for US trademark protection for the term GRANGE, so that they could protect the intellectual property that was being created by popular association with the word Grange and their organization.  If you can’t beat them, join them.  Early Grange leaders were nothing if not flexible in trying to manage the various cross currents of expectations and objectives that the massive wave of new members placed on the organization in its first decade of existence.