This collection consists of a signed Band of Hope Temperance Pledge. Mary Jane Scholes signed the pledge on June 18th, 1887, overseen by James Stevens. The pledge is printed with full-color illustrations and anti-alcohol slogans. The Band of Hope Union was a British Temperance organization founded in 1847 and still operates today under the name of Hope UK as a drug and alcohol abuse prevention charity.

The Salem Congregational Branch of the Band of Hope on this pledge potentially refers to the Martin Top Salem Congregational Chapel in Rimington, UK; the Band of Hope is recorded to have demonstrations in association with the chapel in the late 19th century. Or, it could refer to the now-closed Salem Congregational Church in Burnley, UK, which combined with another congregation in 1969. An exact location is not confirmed. 

The Band of Hope was a temperance organization that formed in 1847 after the Reverend Jabez Tunnicliff allegedly promised a dying alcoholic that he would educate children about the risk of alcohol use. Outside of this specific inspiration, the United Kingdom dealt with high rates of childhood drinking and a larger culture of heavy alcohol use throughout the 19th century, prompting temperance unions and clubs to spring up across the country. The first Band of Hope meeting took place in November of 1847 in Leeds, where hundreds of school-aged children signed temperance pledges.

By 1855, the Band of Hope expanded into a union of other children-focused temperance groups. These temperance clubs generally operated independently of each other, however, the union was able to increase their effectiveness by sharing resources and costs among hundred of clubs. By 1887, when the pledge in this collection was signed, there were 1.5 million members. By Band of Hope’s 50th anniversary in 1897, the organization had over 3 million members and earned the support of Queen Victoria.

This collection is a single signed temperance pledge dating to the late 19th century. The pledge certificate features full-color lithographic printed artwork, anti-alcohol slogans, and publication information. Pledges like the one included in this collection were used by temperance organizations as a part of their strategy in childhood alcohol education and use prevention. 

Aside from temperance pledges, the Band of Hope and other organizations used sermons, nursery rhymes, field trips, and lectures as part of their outreach. The organization was also involved with the creation and passage of several pieces of British legislation that added a drinking age and purchase restrictions on underage individuals. The Band of Hope targeted children, typically under the age of 16, with their messaging in response to a large proportion of working children visiting public houses to drink.