GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF
YUMA ARIZONA

An unusual source for genealogical records are memberships and other records of lodges and secret societies.

During the 19th and early 20th century, these organizations were quite popular.

Do not let "secret" mislead you. Lodges and other exclusive groups have always tried to keep secret their initiation rites, their membership (at times) and their rituals. Other that, they are no more secretive than the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. It was always an open secret as to who was a member of the various lodges, as they usually gathered in bodies for such events, as parades, funerals, and other public functions.

The following addresses are for possible help in finding the records of your appropriate local chapter in which your ancestor belonged:

Fraternal Order of the Eagles (FOE)
2401 West Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53233 organized in 1898

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)
2750 Lake View Dr.
Chicago, IL 60614 founded in 1868

Knights of Columbus (KofC)
Columbus Plaza founded in 1882
New Haven, CT 06507 for Catholic men over 18

Supreme Lodge, Knights of Pythias
Room 201, Pythias Building
47 North Grant St.
Stockton, CA 95202 founded in 1864

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry "Masons"
33 Marrett Rd.
Lexington, MA 02173 founded in 1813

Loyal Order of Moose
Mooseheart, IL 60539 founded in 1888

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF)
Sovereign Grand Lodge IOOF
16 West Chase St.
Baltimore, MD 21201 founded in 1819

Improved Order of Red Men
Box 683
Waco, TX 76703

Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America "Shriners"
2900 Rocky Point Dr.
Tampa. FL 33607 founded in 1872