Local Freemasonry Lodges Collection
Scope and Content Note
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; Ancient Craft Lodge. The materials date from 1862 to 1951.
Dates
- Creation: 1862-1951
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Administrative History
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)
Ancient Craft Lodge No. 943
Extent
1.0 Cubic Feet (2 boxes, 1 OS folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection consists of 2 boxes.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
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.
Cultural context
Topical
- Title
- A Guide to the Local Freemasonry Lodges Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Brandon Fess
- Date
- 2020-03-06
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- February 5, 2025: Materials from the Ancient Craft Lodge added to collection.
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org