3. Provenance 4. Inventory 5. Subjects |
Independent Order of Odd Fellows Beneficial society, Rhode Island branch. Records, 1849-1992 Size: 5.5 linear feet Catalog number: MSS 507 Processed by: Rick Stattler, July 1998 ©Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts Division |
Historical note:
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was a fraternal organization founded in Baltimore in 1819. The first lodge in Rhode Island was the Friendly Union Lodge #1 in Providence in 1829. The first encampment, consisting of members who had received the Patriarchal honors of the Order, was the Narragansett Encampment #1, founded in 1844. The Order of the Daughters of Rebekah, which operated the women's auxiliary lodges, was well established by 1871. All lodges and encampments reported to the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island, located in East Providence. An Odd Fellows Temple was also located at 100 Elmwood Avenue. Providence.
The Odd Fellows' Home Association of Rhode Island was founded in 1903 to manage a retirement home for indigent Odd Fellows. In 1905, land was purchased in East Providence, and the home was opened with nine residents at 2936 Pawtucket Ave. in the Riverside neighborhood in 1913. The Odd Fellows' Home was sold in 1974, and the last two former residents died in nursing homes in 1978. However, the Odd Fellows' Building Association of Rhode Island remains listed at 100 Elmwood Ave. in the 1998 telephone directory.
Scope and content:
This collection includes records from several men's lodges and Rebekah lodges, mostly from Providence and Pawtucket, spanning 1849 to 1992. It also includes a complete file of annual statewide encampment reports from 1937 to 1953; and a box of records from the Odd Fellows' Home Association dating from 1938 to 1980. The collection does not include any of the records of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. Also, the large majority of lodges and Rebekah lodges are not represented.
Provenance:
Ten volumes, comprising all of the men's lodge records in series 2, were donated by Millie Longo in 1978, 1984 and 1996. The remaining records, including all of the Rebekah lodge records, encampment reports, canton records, and Odd Fellows Home records, were purchased from Ted Loddi in 1998.
Inventory:
Box 1, folder 1. Narragansett Encampment #1 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 2. Moshassuck Encampment #2 annual reports, 1937-1949
Box 1, folder 3. Sholom Encampment #3 annual reports, 1937-1938
Box 1, folder 4. Manchester Encampment #4 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 5. Aquidneck Encampment #5 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 6. Sagamore Encampment #6 annual reports, 1937-1938, 1946-1948
Box 1, folder 7. Niantic Encampment #7 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 8. Massasoit Encampment #8 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 9. Wampanoag Encampment #9 annual reports, 1937-1951
Box 1, folder 10. Miantonomoh Encampment #10 annual reports, 1937-1940
Box 1, folder 11. Mazeppa Encampment #12 annual reports, 1937-1948 (incomplete)
Box 1, folder 12. Weetamoe Encampment #18 annual reports, 1937-1958
Box 1, folder 13. Massatuxet Encampment #19 annual reports, 1937-1958
Series 2: Men's lodges
Good Samaritan Lodge #8 (Pawtucket)
Box 1, folder 14. Minutes, 1849-1858
Box 1, folder 15. Minutes, 1881-1885
Oversized volume 1. Minutes, 1885-1890
Oversized volume 2. Minutes, 1903-1909
In box 2. Minutes, 1909-1915
Unity Lodge #20 (Providence)
Box 1, folder 16. Minutes, 1881-1885
Enterprise Lodge #22 (Pawtucket)
In box 2. Minutes, 1911-1920
In box 2. Minutes, 1935-1953
Eureka Lodge #28 (Woonsocket)
Box 1, folder 17. Treasurer's book, 1910-1927
Manchester Unity Loyal Prosperity Lodge #6615 (Pawtucket)
Box 1, folder 18. Memorandum book re watch fobs, 1916-1918
Series 3: Rebekah Order lodges (women)
Naomi Rebekah Lodge #1 (Providence)
Box 3, folder 1. Minutes and treasurer's accounts, 1876-1883
Box 3, folder 2. Minutes and treasurer's accounts, 1897-1902
Box 3, folder 3. Minutes, 1915-1924
Box 3, folder 4. Minutes, 1925-1933
Box 3, folder 5. Minutes, 1954-1965
Box 3, folder 6. Minutes, 1971-1975
Box 3, folder 7. Minutes, 1979-1983
Box 3, folder 8. Minutes, 1987-1992 (also Florence Lodge minutes, 1982-1986)
Box 3, folder 9. Memorial register, 1909-1921
Florence Rebekah Lodge #2 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 1. Minutes, 1982-1990
Box 4, folder 2. Membership dues book, 1966-1990
See also Naomi and Leah lodges.
Charity Rebekah Lodge #3 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 3. Membership 1873-1914
Ruth Rebekah Lodge #8 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 4. Membership 1873-ca.1966
Rose Standish Rebekah Lodge #9 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 5. Membership 1876-ca.1958
Leah Rebekah Lodge #16 (Pawtucket)
Box 4, folder 6. Membership, 1881-ca.1972
Box 4, folder 7. Membership, 1902-1965 (also one page for Florence Lodge, 1976-1979)
Arline Rebekah Lodge #25 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 8. Minutes, 1954-1957 (2 vol.)
Box 4, folder 9. Minutes, 1967-1970
Priscilla Rebekah Lodge #30 (Providence)
Box 4, folder 10. Membership, 1898-1987
Series 4: Canton records
Box 4, folder 11. Canton Providence #1, Patriarchs Militant. Minutes 1930-1973
Box 4, folder 12. Canton Providence #1 Ladies Auxiliary. Minutes, 1939-1940
Series 5: Odd Fellows' Home Association of Rhode Island records
Box 5, folder 1. Cash journal, 1954-1966
Box 5, folder 2. Constitutions, 1913, 1928, 1950; rules, 1954; "A Few Facts", undated.
Box 5, folder 3. Donation Day accounts, 1965-1975
Box 5, folder 4. Floral Fund accounts, 1965-1978
Box 5, folder 5. Minutes, 1938-1944
Box 5, folder 6. Minutes, 1946-1959
Box 5, folder 7. Minutes, 1956-1967
Box 5, folder 8. President's reports, 1965-1978
Box 5, folder 9. Real estate reports, 1967-1972
Box 5, folder 10. Stock cards, 1903-1953
Box 5, folder 11. Treasurer's reports, 1954-1979
Box 5, folder 12. Trustees' reports, 1968-1977
Box 5, folder 13. Utility fund reports, 1965-1978
Box 5, folder 14. Miscellaneous, 1958-1967
Box 5, folder 15. Miscellaneous, 1968-1971
Box 5, folder 16. Miscellaneous, 1972-1975
Box 5, folder 17. Miscellaneous, 1976-1980
Box 5, folder 18. Miscellaneous, undated
Subjects:
East Providence, R.I. - Buildings, structures, etc.
Odd Fellows' Home Association of Rhode Island
Old age homes - Rhode Island - East Providence
Pawtucket, R.I. - Societies and clubs
Providence, R.I. - Societies and clubs
Rebekah Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Societies - Rhode Island
Women - Societies and clubs
Woonsocket, R.I. - Societies and clubs
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RIHS1822