Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), or simply the Elks, is an American fraternal order, founded by Charles Vivian and fellow theatrical professionals of the minstrel scene at New York City in early 1868, initially as a purely social order (and possibly as a means to skirt New York liquor laws) patterned after the Buffaloes, before eventually expanding to offer insurance benefits to members and other fraternal work.