1865
The Christian Mission founded after William Booth holds a series of evangelistic meetings in London’s East End
1868
1884
The East London Evangelist, which eventually becomes The Salvationist, is first published
Women’s social work inaugurated
1878
The name “Salvation Army” is introduced after a conversation among William Booth, George Scott Railton and Bramwell Booth; the first corps flag is presented and brass instruments first used during a service
1878
Lieutenant Eliza Shirley and her parents begin the Army’s work in Philadelphia
1861-1865 1865
First US transcontinental rail route completed
Slavery abolished in US; President Abraham Lincoln assassinated
William Booth makes first visit to US; speaks publicly in Jackson, MI
1880
George Scott Railton and the Seven Hallelujah Lassies arrive in the U.S.
1880
Salvation Army officially begins international work in India, Ireland, Australia and U.S.
1881
First American War Cry written and published in St. Louis
1881
Railton recalled to England
1884
Moore copyrights the crest (with crown) forcing Booth’s Army to use an eagle in the crest in the USA until 1976.
1885
Captain & Mrs. William Evans and Lieutenant Ed Gay open work of The Salvation Army in Chicago; first meeting conducted at Bush Temple (Chicago Ave. and Clark St.)
1877
Queen of England proclaimed the Empress of India
1885
Princess Rink Chicago #1 Corps opens
1886
First convert under George Scott Railton and the Hallelujah Lassies: James Kemp, better known as ‘Ash Barrel Jimmy’ a homeless, helpless drunk found by police in a barrel, his hair frozen to the bottom. He was dragged this way to the police court and the night was ‘gloriously saved’ at an Army meeting.
Ballington Booth leaves Army to form “Volunteers of America”
1888
1897
Salvage programs start in the Central Territory
1894-1895 Japan defeats China
1893
First Christmas relief program held at Princess Rink Chicago #1 Corps; over 5,000 people fed
Railton moves National Headquarters from Philadelphia to St. Louis
War between British and Boers (Dutch-speaking farmers) in South Africa
1896
President Grover Cleveland warmly receives a delegation of Army officers on the sixth anniversary of Railton’s landing
Bombing at Haymarket Square First Scandinavian corps in Chicago; seven policemen open in Minneapolis, killed, many others injured St. Paul and Chicago
1880
1880-1881
William Booth’s In Darkest England and The Way Out published
1886
1880
1869
American Civil War
1886
1884
Major Thomas Moore secedes and forms ‘The Salvation Army of America’; this results in similar splinter groups.
1890
1884
First commissioned band in US at Grand Rapids Citadel Corps. Case De Blond first convert in Grand Rapids, named Drum Major
1885
First corps building built in Maquokata, IA
1885
First meeting of Indian National Congress (created to form platform for civic and political dialogue of educated Indians with the British Raj
1898
Spanish-American War Starts
1928
1912
Order of the Founder instituted, award for those Officers and Soldiers who give “exemplary service”; Salvation Army “doughnut girls” serve WWI troops in France
1901
First High Council held; Edward Higgins elected General
Salvation Army Bands first appear in Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade
Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service instituted (award for exceptional service rendered to the Army by non-Salvationists who’ve helped further its work)
Salvation Army active in 82 countries
Sunbeams inaugurated
1907
1907
1904
First fresh air camp purchased in Glen Ellyn, IL (a large farm and big house 22 miles west of Chicago on the DuPage River). Wealthy Chicago men (later becoming first Advisory Board) would bring mothers and children out to camp
Home League inaugurated in London; starts in the US in 1913
1907
Army responds with service after the San Francisco earthquake
1900-1901 1903
1933
Orville and Wilbur Wright fly first plane (powered, controlled, heavier-than-air) at Kitty Hawk, NC
Mabel Broome, first Central Territory African American commissioned; she became a soldier in the Chicago #3 Corps and is buried in Glen Oak Cemetery in the Salvation Army section
World War I
1906
Muslim League is formed in India
1914
Panama Canal Opens
1912
The Qing dynasty collapses in China; republican government established
1917
U.S. Declares war on Germany, enters WWI
Central Territory officially created and Department of the West disbanded
1920
First annual Chicago Staff Band thanksgiving concert led by Bandmaster J. Arthur Fynn
1920
Mahatma Ghandi launches Non-cooperation Movement
First Central Music Institute held
Camp Wonderland founded in March 1924; officially opened July 4, 1924, by Brigadier and Mrs. Richard Wiseman. The 60 acres of field and woods cost $21,000; first camp was for crippled children
Central Territory “doughnut girls” Helen Purviance and the McAllister sisters among 109 women, 132 men sent to France during WWI to nurse the wounded, write letters for the injured, sew and mend, sing songs and offer prayers at the grave sides of fallen soldiers
1920
1935
1924
1918
1914-1918
The Union of South Africa becomes independent from Britain
Henry Ford introduces Model-T car
Commander Evangeline Booth conducts a Congress in Chicago
1911
1910 1908
The Penny Ice Program helps needy families buy the amount of ice needed for one day (25-pound block)
1920
Tilt Mansion in Chicago purchased by Salvation Army; School For Officer Training officially created
1919-1933 U.S. Prohibition
1938
1925
Howard Carter discovers King Tutankhamen’s tomb
1929
1921
1927
Chinese Communist Party forms
First official Doughnut Day celebration held
Emergency Lodge for families opens in Chicago, IL
1922
1926
Milwaukee Citadel Corps first to have Girl Guard troop in Central Territory
1948
Salvation Army becomes charter member of World Council of Churches (a global inter-church organization)
1941
The Salvation Army, National Traveler’s Aid Association, National Catholic Community Service, the Jewish Welfare Board, Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) and Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) together start the United Service Organizations (USO)
1948
United Nations establishes Israeli independence; official State of Israel formed
1948
1941
Apartheid introduced in South Africa
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, U.S. enters WW II
1932
Japan invades Manchuria Stock Market crashes, Great (Northern China) Depression starts
The Jazz Singer, first “talkie” movie released
1925
1899
1941
1930
1921
The first Territorial Staff Band formed in Chicago by Colonel John Thomas Fynn; 17 musicians led by Bandmaster William Broughton
Boxer Rebellion in China
International Headquarters destroyed in London blitz during WWII
1929
1920
1917
Salvation Army active in 36 countries; first extensive Emergency Disaster work performed after Galveston, TX hurricane First Home and Hospital serving unwed mothers opens in St. Louis
International Training College cornerstone laid
William Booth promoted to Glory
1900
1941
1938
Kristallnacht pogrom (series of coordinated deadly attacks) start against Jews throughout Nazi Germany, Austria
Glen Oak Cemetery plots first used; a section becomes official cemetery for the Central Territory; 13 officers and Salvationists were moved there from other cemeteries during first five years
1947
Tree of Lights started by Major Olin Brigman in St. Louis
1947
Brengle Institute starts
1947
Partition of India and independence from British rule
1946
First Harbor Light opens in Chicago, IL
1965
International Centenary Congress held in London to celebrate 100 years of service
2004
1970
William Himes becomes first layman (and longest serving) Chicago Staff Band bandmaster; retiring in 2015, Himes served for 38 years
Annual Territorial Bible Leadership Institute starts; now known as Central Bible Leadership Institute Prison Toy Lift (CBLI) Program started by Salvation Army Captain Raymond active in 92 Cameron at Green countries Bay, WI Reformatory
1953
1950
1977
1959
1963
Hispanic Ministry started by Corps New International Treasurer Raul Headquarters opened by Guerrero at the Queen Mother Elizabeth Chicago Temple Corps
1952
Queen Elizabeth II becomes Monarch of Commonwealth realms
1965
1963
Vietnam War
President John F. Kennedy assassinated
1949
Mao captures Beijing, founds People’s Republic of China
1986
First ever Hispanic Leadership Institute held in Chicago
Astronaut Neil Armstrong walks on moon
1968
Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated
1967-1970
1960
New two-year training program implemented at the College for Officer Training; as a result, no cadets were commissioned in 1961
1992 1995
First issue of The Salvationist, an international Salvation Army magazine, is published
New USA National Headquarters opens in Alexandria, VA
1989 1989
1991
“Desert Storm” (first Iraq war)
Violent suppression of Tiananmen Square protests in China
1988
1976
Major Patrick McPherson (then disaster coordinator in Heartland Division) organizes, launches the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN)
International crest (with the crown) reinstated in US
1982
Central Territory Historical Museum dedicated at the College for Officer Training; in 1994 the Museum moved to Territorial Headquarters at 10 W. Algonquin in Des Plaines.
1976
Mao dies; Chinese Cultural Revolution ends
Fall of the Berlin Wall
1979
Boys Adventure Corps started by the Central Territory
1979
Iran hostage crisis
1988
Korean Ministry started by Majors Paul & Anna Kim (now the Chicago Mayfair Community Church)
Army serves with distinction after Hurricane Katrina
2005
Eastern Europe Command designated a Territory
2001
UK Territory separated from International Headquarters
1984
1976
1950-1953 NATO established
1991
First woman admitted to Chicago Staff Band— Peggy (Paton) Thomas
Eva Perón, Argentina’s beloved First Lady and “Spiritual Leader of the Nation,” dies at age 33
1949
Salvation Army withdraws from World Council of Churches
1969
Civil War in Nigeria
1952
Korean War
First issue of Central News (now Central Connection) published
Civil Rights Bill signed
1964-1975
1981
1971
Last issue of the Scandinavian Division’s Stridstropet published on August 28, 1965
1964
1958
Scandinavian Department becomes its own division in the Central Territory
Men’s Social Services officially changes to Adult Rehabilitation Centers; originally called The Salvation Army Industrial Department
2005
Envoys Steve & Latdavanh Kounthapanya open first Laotian Corps in Central Minneapolis
Salvation Army active in 91 countries; after fall of Berlin Wall, Army work commences and recommences in several formerly Communist countries
1977
1949
1998
1989 Holy Land tour program starts for officers 1990
Salvation Army active in 71 countries (many closures occurred 1950-1970 due to advance of Communism)
New International Headquarters building opens
Married women officers now receive their own rank
1997
Nelson Mandela becomes president of South Africa
“I’ll Fight Day” started by Eric Himes in Metro Division as way for young adults to share the Gospel through practical acts of kindness; he later takes it to the Territorial level in 2008
2004
Hong Kong reverts to China
1994
2006
Salvation Army recognized for distinguished service at World Trade Center and Pentagon following 9/11 attacks
Huge tsunami devastates Asia; 200,000 killed
1999
2003
Second war in Iraq starts
Kosovo War
2015
2009
Salvation Army First Kroc Center opens active in 126 in the Central Territory in countries, Omaha, NE; Joan Kroc left celebrates 150 $1.5 billion to the Army for the years of service development of Kroc Centers across the country
2010
2015
Pathway of Hope program starts
THQ moves to Hoffman Estates
2014
2008
Fidel Castro resigns as Cuba’s president
2013 2011
Ebola epidemic in West Africa
Pope Benedict XVI becomes first pope to retire since 1415; Pope Francis I elected
“Arab Spring Movement” topples several Middle East governments
2010
Earthquake (7.0 magnitude) devastates Haiti, 200,000 killed