Local Freemasonry Lodges Collection, 1862-1951

Summary

Extent:
1.0 Cubic Feet 2 boxes, 1 OS folder
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Local Freemasonry Lodges Collection. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection is an artificial collection consisting of materials from various Freemason groups in the Rochester, New York area. Approximately 10 local orders are included. The materials include pamphlets, ephemera, roll books, certificates, events, etc. Includes collective and general groups; Temple Fund; Damascus Temple; Genesee Falls Lodge No. 507; Monroe Commandery No. 12; Hamilton Royal Arch Chapter 62; Knights Templar; Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. The materials date from 1862 to 1951.

Biographical / historical:

Rochester, New York has been home to numerous Freemason groups over the past two centuries. Freemasonry is an ancient system of secret, fraternal organizations rooted in medieval stone mason guilds. Freemason groups were popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, and played a major social role in America from colonial times onward. Rochester's first Freemason group, the Hamilton Chapter 62 of the Royal Arch Masons, was founded in 1819. While the nature of Freemasonry as a secret society has limited public records of Masonic groups, this collection brings together materials on many of Rochester's Masonic organizations from 1862 to 1951.

Masonic groups included in this collection:

Damascus Temple
Genesee Falls Lodge No. 507
Monroe Commandery No. 12
Hamilton Chapter 62, Royal Arch Masons
Knights Templar
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Temple Fund (for the erection of a Masonic Temple in Rochester)
Acquisition information:
The provenance of this collection is uncertain. It is an artificial collection, and the contents appear to have come from materialsdeposted in the pamphlet file over an extended period of time.
Arrangement:

This collection consists of 2 boxes.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Local Freemasonry Lodges Collection. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org