Copper Country Masonic Lodge Collection
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.
- 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