Oneida Community

Oneida Community. The Oneida Community was a utopian community that existed from 1848 to 1880 in Kenwood, New York, founded by John Humphrey Noyes, a Yale University-educated theologian and social reformer. The community was known for its perfectionist ideals, which emphasized the attainment of spiritual perfection and the creation of a heaven on earth. The community's members, including George Washington Noyes and Harriet Noyes, were influenced by the Second Great Awakening and the socialist and feminist movements of the time, such as the Brook Farm and the New Harmony, Indiana communities.

● History

The Oneida Community was established in 1848 by John Humphrey Noyes and a group of his followers, who had previously been part of the Putney, Vermont community. The community was initially known as the Bible Communists and was influenced by the Christian socialism movement, which included figures such as Charles Fourier and Robert Owen. The community's early years were marked by persecution and harassment from outsiders, including the American Presbyterian Church and the New York State Legislature. Despite these challenges, the community thrived, attracting members from across the United States, including Ernestine Rose, a feminist and abolitionist.

● Beliefs and Practices

The Oneida Community was based on a set of perfectionist principles, which emphasized the attainment of spiritual perfection and the creation of a heaven on earth. The community's members believed in the importance of communal living, shared property, and free love, and they practiced a form of complex marriage, in which all members were considered married to each other. The community was also known for its critique of capitalism and its emphasis on social justice, which was influenced by the Labor movement and the women's suffrage movement. Members of the community, including Tirzah Miller, were also involved in the Underground Railroad and the American Anti-Slavery Society.

● Social and Economic Structure

The Oneida Community was a self-sufficient community that was based on a system of communal ownership and shared labor. The community's members worked together to manage the community's farms, factories, and businesses, which included the Oneida Limited silverware company. The community was also known for its innovative approaches to education and childcare, which were influenced by the Froebel education movement and the kindergarten system developed by Friedrich Fröbel. The community's social and economic structure was also influenced by the cooperative movement and the mutual aid societies of the time, such as the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers.

● Notable Members and Leadership

The Oneida Community was led by John Humphrey Noyes, who was the community's founder and spiritual leader. Other notable members of the community included George Washington Noyes, Harriet Noyes, and Tirzah Miller, who were all involved in the community's leadership and decision-making processes. The community was also influenced by a number of outside figures, including Charles Fourier, Robert Owen, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who were all associated with the utopian and transcendentalist movements of the time. Members of the community, including Ernestine Rose, were also involved in the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Woman Suffrage Association.

● Legacy and Preservation

The Oneida Community's legacy can be seen in its influence on the utopian and communitarian movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Arden, Delaware community and the Twin Oaks Community. The community's emphasis on social justice and feminism also influenced the women's suffrage movement and the Labor movement, which included figures such as Susan B. Anthony and Eugene Debs. The Oneida Community's historic site, which includes the Oneida Community Mansion House, is now a National Historic Landmark and is operated by the Oneida Community Mansion House museum. The community's archives are also housed at the Syracuse University library, which includes the Special Collections Research Center.

● Criticism and Controversy

The Oneida Community was not without its critics and controversies, including accusations of cult-like behavior and authoritarianism. The community's practice of complex marriage was also criticized by some, who saw it as a form of polygamy or free love. The community's emphasis on communal ownership and shared labor was also seen as a threat to the capitalist system, and the community was subject to persecution and harassment from outsiders, including the American Presbyterian Church and the New York State Legislature. Despite these challenges, the Oneida Community remains an important part of American history and a significant influence on the utopian and communitarian movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the Hutterite communities and the Bruderhof Communities.

Category:Utopian communities