Fraternal Orders collection
MSS.010
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
August 23, 2012
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Historical Note............................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................4
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................5
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 7
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Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Title
Fraternal Orders collection
Date
1846-1976
Extent
0.2 Cubic feet 1 box
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Fraternal Orders collection, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries
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Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
Historical Note
The history of fraternal organizations in Delaware County began in the fall of 1842 when a number of
Masons met and petitioned the Grand Lodge of the State of Indiana for recognition as Delaware Lodge
No. 46. The lodge met in an upper room of the Dr. Samuel Anthony home at 116 S. High St. and Dr.
Anthony was appointed first master. A short time later, the Lodge moved its meeting rooms to the West
upper room of the Courthouse.
The second oldest lodge in Delaware County was that of the Odd Fellows. On November 9, 1849, nine
local men organized Muncie Lodge No. 74 in Anthony’s building, on the south side of Main Street,
one door east of the southwest corner of the square. Once the group was organized, the members met in
Galliher’s building, between Walnut and Mulberry and then for about a year in Masonic Hall. Finally, in
1853, a third floor was built on the Rady Building on the north side of Main Street, between Walnut and
Mulberry and the lodge moved their meeting place again.
Another popular lodge of the period was the Knights of Pythias, who organized Welcome Lodge No. 37
on August 14, 1873, in the Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street. The principles of the organization were to
promote Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence.
The first wigwam of a thoroughly American order, the Redmen, was instituted August 26, 1873. Meetings
were held in the Wysor Grand Opera House hall for about six years and in 1879, took up quarters on the
east side of Walnut, just north of Jackson. The officers were given names of supposedly Indian origin,
such as Sachem, Sagamore, Prophet, and Keeper of Wampum.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes pamphlets, clippings, and other documents related to the formation of the
following local lodges: the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Odd Fellows, and the Redmen.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by alphabetically.
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Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
The Fraternal Orders collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from
Althea Stoeckel on 1976/02/02.
Accruals
No additions expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 1992/03/02 by Nancy Turner. Finding aid created 1992/03/02 by Nancy
Turner. EAD finding aid completed 2009/01/11 by Maren L. Read. EAD finding aid revised 2012/01/17
by Bethany Fiechter.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
• Freemasons. Delaware Lodge. No. 46. (Muncie, Ind.)
• Freemasons. Masonic Temple Lodge. No. 744. (Muncie, Ind.)
• Independent Order of Odd Fellows. No. 74. (Muncie, Ind.)
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Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
• Independent Order of Red Men. Red Men Lodge. (Muncie, Ind.)
Genre(s)
• Clippings
• Documents
• Newspapers
Geographic Name(s)
•
•
•
•
•
Delaware County (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Delaware County (Ind.)--History--21st century--Sources
Muncie (Ind.)
Muncie (Ind.)--History--19th century--Sources
Muncie (Ind.)--History--20th century--Sources
Subject(s)
• Fraternal organizations
• Men--Societies and clubs
• Stoeckel Archives of Local History
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Fraternal Orders collection MSS.010
Collection Inventory
Free and Accepted Masons (F. and A.M.), Delaware Lodge No. 46, bylaws
Box
Folder
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
and pamphlet, 1905-1906
Knights of Pythias, Welcome Lodge No. 37, Golden Jubilee pamphlet and
Masonic Temple (520 E. Main St., Muncie) Lodge No. 744 newspaper
article, 1873-1923, 1976/11/28
Muncie Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar directory, Masonic
Temple, Lodge No. 744 newspaper clippings, and other material, 1931,
1976/11/28
Odd Fellows, The Golden Rule and Odd Fellows Family Companion, vol.
5, no. 24, 1846/12/12
Red Men Lodge, The Indiana Redmen, vol. 1, no. 10, 1905/11/15
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