# What is the secret organization "PEO" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750 "2004-01-10T00:19:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AJCook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@AJCook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AJCook)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/1 "2004-01-10T00:19:09Z")
My grandma grew up, lived, and died in Nebraska. When she died a few years ago, during her euology, it was mentioned that she was a member of “PEO”. Recognizing an acronym when I hear one, I later asked my dad (her son) what “PEO” was. All I could find out from anyone was: - NONE of the men in the family knew what “PEO” was (as an organization OR an acronym) - My mom is a member of PEO, too - The men don’t know because they’re not allowed to know. The members swear a secrecy oath to take it to their grave - The only thing anyone outside the “membership” is allowed to know is that someone is a member So this, of course, leads to great curiosity. When I ask my mom what it’s all about, she just smiles and says she can’t tell me. Tonight, on a lark, I googled “PEO”, and found a web page ([www.peointernational.org](http://www.peointernational.org)) for an organztion calling itself “PEO”, that apparently started in 1869 in Des Moines, IA (pretty darn close to Nebraska, and old enough). In fact, somewhere on the page is a picture of a brass five-point star with the letters P. E. O. (and nothing else). I’ve seen this stuck on a rod in the ground at graves where my grandma is buried. The web page flashes the phrase “Promoting Educational Opportunities for women” over and over. So, that phrase fits “PEO”, and its age, geography, and “for women” orientation all fit in. However, no where on the web site (that I could find in a cursory scan) specifically STATED what PEO stood for, nor did it refer to any kind of secrecy, and the very presence of the web site, with descriptions of projects, etc., sort of bely any secrecy. So, I don’t know if I found the answer to my quest, or not. Does anyone know what PEO is? Thanks, Andy ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/2 "2004-01-10T00:55:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*PEO Sisterhood - There is an unusual degree of secrecy regarding the P.E.O., their name, and rituals. It is not for certain, but their initials are thought to stand for Protect Each Other. The P.E.O. Sisterhood is considered a woman’s secret society with it’s main purposes as social and educational. It was was founded in 1869 in Iowa. \*\* [ul]😛 [sup] **I can’t cite the source of this information, because they’d kill us both.** [/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/3 "2004-01-10T02:18:34Z")
There’s a phone number on the web site for their headquarters in Des Moines. Why don’t you just call them? Haj ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/4 "2004-01-10T02:25:23Z")
[Here’s a link](http://home.earthlink.net/~promethean/secrets.html) to **kniz** ’s cite. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/5 "2004-01-10T03:47:10Z")
The P.E.O. owns and operates Cottey College, a two-yr. girls school located in Nevada, Mo. A teacher of my daughter suggested she applied to Cottey and she was accepted but decided to go to a closer school. Anyway, that’s why we visited the campus back in then. I had never heard of it before that and when I was told there were only about 350 kids I didn’t expect much. Well,was I shocked! The campus must have covered 10-12 city blocks and several of the buildings could have individually housed the entire student body at least once. ---
**Author:** ![AJCook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5daacb/32.png) [@AJCook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AJCook)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/6 "2004-01-10T15:21:45Z")
Sounds like Kniz essentially confirms (and suplements) what I learned. I guess I was closer than I tought. Thanks everyone. Andy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/7 "2004-01-10T16:07:03Z")
When I was at University of Missouri - Rolla we would do an occasional road trip to Cottey College for some of their socials. This was a good mix with Cottey as an all girls school, and UMR a science/engineering school with a male-female ratio of about 7-1 when I was there in the early 80’s. The only ‘answer’ we got about the meaning of PEO was “Pigs Eat Onions”. I suspect the meaning is quite mundane but they keep it secret to drive us crazy. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/8 "2004-01-10T18:59:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alereon \* > \*\*[Here’s a link](http://home.earthlink.net/~promethean/secrets.html) to **kniz** ’s cite. \*\* [ul]:smack: [sup] **You had to go and do it, didn’t you. Beware of any midwestern women who kiss you on the cheek.** [/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/9 "2004-01-10T21:04:52Z")
Hmm… being female and living in central Iowa (I work in Des Moines), I’ve never heard of this. The HQ is actually right on my commute. I guess I could check to see if it looks anything like a Masonic temple. 😉 Seriously, though – would a local be of help here? ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/10 "2004-01-10T21:32:48Z")
Pssst… come close and I will tell you what I know. I can only post this now because my wife is currently taking a nap. If she finds this post, well… I might have counted my last bean. According to my wife, P.E.O. stands for Philanthropic Education Organization. It’s main goal is to promote education for women. It has already been listed that they run a college. They also give scholarships and aid to women in school. Their meetings are secretive. They actually had one at our house in our basement. I was banished to the upstairs during the meeting but I could hear some things. Mostly it involved laughing and giggling. I am sure it was brought about by some nefarious means. My father-in-law, whose wife is also a member, refers to them as the penis envy organization. ---
**Author:** ![Tusculan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Tusculan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tusculan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2004, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/11 "2004-01-10T21:50:18Z")
Yes, but do they have a song? ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/12 "2004-01-11T02:10:18Z")
I was just kidding, but **Bean Counter** I believe you just may be a _dead man_ if your wife ever finds out about your post. [ul]😃 [sup] **But all dopers salute you!** [/sup][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/13 "2004-01-11T04:05:19Z")
Damnit, just because it’s a junior college doesn’t make it a “girl’s school.” Call it a woman’s college, because that’s what it is. The P.E.O isn’t _that_ secretive. I mean, it may keep many of its details secret, but they don’t go to efforts to hide or deny its existence. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/14 "2004-01-11T04:21:55Z")
A little **Cranky** today, are we? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/15 "2004-01-11T08:09:42Z")
I’m moved to tears. So many of you risking being Lorena Bobbitted by the wife, just to help fight ignorance. Then again, maybe you’re just ticked off at the wives… ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/16 "2004-01-11T14:46:14Z")
Because he had to leave the house on the nights my Mom hosted the meetings, my father called it Phil Eats Out. ---
**Author:** ![ljpne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/76d3ee/32.png) [@ljpne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ljpne)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/17 "2017-05-16T15:11:47Z")
PEO is a service organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities and is most notably associated with Cottey College in Missouri. The only requirement for membership is to believe in God and, although the group is thought to be primarily Protestant, all religions are accepted. Historically, the primary reason for “secrecy” was that the members seek to do their good works without regard to publicity or other public recognition. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/18 "2017-05-16T15:20:01Z")
> [@ljpne](#): > > PEO is a service organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities and is most notably associated with Cottey College in Missouri. The only requirement for membership is to believe in God and, although the group is thought to be primarily Protestant, all religions are accepted. Historically, the primary reason for “secrecy” was that the members seek to do their good works without regard to publicity or other public recognition. Thank you, although most of this was already covered in this thread…almost a decade and a half ago. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-secret-organization-peo/223750/19 "2017-05-16T15:30:51Z")
> [@kniz](#): > > [ul]:smack: [sup] **You had to go and do it, didn’t you. Beware of any midwestern women who kiss you on the cheek.** [/sup][/ul] 🙂 Is that how the brother got it at the airport?