{"id":3122,"date":"2026-07-25T20:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-26T00:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/?page_id=3122"},"modified":"2026-07-25T21:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T01:08:50","slug":"foresters-of-america","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/index.php\/foresters-of-america\/","title":{"rendered":"Foresters of America"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Foresters of America<\/h4>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Foresters of America<\/strong> was a national fraternal benefit society founded in 1874. Like many fraternal organizations, it organized local chapters known as Courts<\/strong>. Paterson, New Jersey, had several active Courts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the city’s large immigrant and working-class population.<\/p>\n

Foresters of America in Paterson<\/h3>\n

Research shows that Paterson was home to multiple Foresters of America Courts, including:<\/p>\n

Court Garfield No. 4<\/strong> was one of the earliest New Jersey courts of the Foresters of America<\/strong>, organized in Paterson, New Jersey<\/strong>, during the 1880s. It appears to have been named in honor of President James A. Garfield, who was assassinated in 1881. The numbering (“No. 4”) indicates it was the fourth Foresters court chartered in New Jersey<\/strong>, making it one of the state’s oldest.<\/p>\n

Court Liberty<\/strong> \u2013 An English-speaking court organized in Paterson during the late 19th century. It frequently appeared in local newspapers and Grand Court proceedings.<\/p>\n

Court Passaic<\/strong> \u2013 A Paterson-based court that served members from the city and surrounding Passaic County communities. It was active during the early 1900s.<\/p>\n

Court Cavour No. 133<\/strong> <\/a>\u2013 An Italian-American Foresters of America court organized in Paterson. It became the subject of the landmark New Jersey court case Grand Court of Foresters of America v. Court Cavour No. 133<\/em> (1913\u20131914), making it one of the best-documented Foresters courts in the state. More<\/a><\/p>\n

These Courts provided:<\/p>\n