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Copper Country Masonic Lodge Collection

 Collection — Box: 1-66
Identifier: MS-035

Collection Scope and Content

Collection, 1861-1996, of records from numerous Masonic lodges which have operated in Michigan's Copper Country. Includes membership lists, formal record and minute books describing rites and rituals, financial records, and organizational bylaws as well as partial records of Masonic building associations in Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet. Some ledgers containing minutes are identified in the finding aid as "minutes", while others are identified as "records" or "records book."

Dates

  • 1861-1996

Language of Material

English

Conditions Governing Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Conditions Governing Use

Various copying restrictions apply. Guidelines are available from Michigan Technological University Archives & Copper Country Historical Collections.

Historical Note

The Free and Accepted Masons (F&AM) have operated fraternal lodges in Michigan's Copper Country since 1861. Along with related Masonic organizations such as the Royal Arch Masons (RAM) and the Youth Order of DeMolay, regular F&AM lodges operated at different times in Hancock, Houghton, Calumet, Laurium and at the mining locations on Quincy Hill and in Keweenaw County. In addition, Masonic organizations created independent building associations to fund, construct and manage Masonic lodge buildings in several communities. As of 2008, the Copper Country Lodge No. 135 continues as the descendant Freemason lodge of all previous historic lodges that have operated along the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Extent

21.97 Cubic Feet (66 manuscript boxes)

Abstract

Collection, 1861-1996, of records from numerous Masonic lodges which have operated in Michigan's Copper Country. Includes membership lists, formal record and minute books describing rites and rituals, financial records, and organizational bylaws as well as partial records of Masonic building associations in Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet.

Arrangement

MS-035 is divided into three series with seven subseries in series 3.

Series 1, Records of Free and Accepted Masonic Lodges, 1861-1996 Series 2, Records of Masonic Buildings Associations, 1888-1976 Series 3, Records of other Masonic Organizations, 1865-1982 Subseries 3.1, Masonic Fraternal Organizations Subseries 3.2, David S. Kendall No. 71 R&SM Subseries 3.3, Gate of the Temple RAM No. 35 Subseries 3.4, Calumet RAM No. 153 Subseries 3.5, Order of the DeMolay, Friendship Chapter Subseries 3.6, Michigan Grand Lodge Subseries 3.7, Miscellaneous Lodges

Immediate Source of Acquisition

An initial gift of 14 cubic feet consisting of records from masonic lodges in Houghton, Hancock (Quincy), Calumet, Laurium (Keweenaw) and Lake Linden (John Duncan) was donated to the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections from the Copper Country Masonic Lodge, No. 135 on May 24, 2002.

Related Materials

Several printed items, including rosters and bylaws for the Calumet and Keweenaw Lodges and a program for the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Calumet Lodge, are cataloged to the Archives’ book collection.

Title
Copper Country Masonic Lodge Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Elizabeth Russell, revised by Rachael Bussert
Date
8/23/2011
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English
Sponsor
Funding provided by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US