Fact check: Harriet Tubman was part of the Eastern Star

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analysis of multiple sources, there is no evidence that Harriet Tubman was ever a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. All sources examined ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]} consistently fail to mention any connection between Harriet Tubman and the Eastern Star organization.

The sources provide extensive biographical information about Tubman's life, including her escape from slavery, her work with the Underground Railroad, her role as a suffragist, and her humanitarian efforts ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}. However, none of these detailed accounts include membership in the Eastern Star among her affiliations or activities.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks crucial historical context that emerges from the analysis. Most significantly, one source reveals that the Harriet Tubman Chapter of the Order of The Eastern Star was chartered in 1925, more than 10 years after Harriet Tubman's death ^[1]. This timing makes it impossible for Tubman herself to have been a member of this particular chapter.

The statement also fails to acknowledge that:

• Multiple comprehensive biographical sources covering Tubman's extensive activism and organizational involvement make no mention of Eastern Star membership ^{[2] [4]}
• Historical records and museum sources dedicated to preserving Tubman's legacy do not include Eastern Star affiliation ^[5]
• The naming of an Eastern Star chapter after Tubman appears to be a posthumous honor rather than evidence of her membership

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement appears to contain factual inaccuracy based on the available evidence. The claim conflates the existence of a Harriet Tubman Chapter of the Eastern Star with Tubman's actual membership in the organization. This represents a common form of historical confusion where posthumous honors or dedications are mistakenly interpreted as evidence of the honoree's direct involvement.

The statement may perpetuate misinformation by:

• Presenting an unsubstantiated claim as fact without acknowledging the lack of historical evidence
• Potentially confusing the naming of an Eastern Star chapter after Tubman with her actual membership, as revealed by the timing discrepancy ^[1]
• Omitting the extensive documentation of Tubman's actual organizational affiliations and activities, which are well-documented in historical sources but do not include Eastern Star membership