Grand York Rite of Nebraska [RG0868.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG0868.AM:  Grand York Rite of Nebraska

Records:  c.1868-1954, mostly 1870-1920
Nebraska:  Fraternal organization
Size:  12.0 cu.ft.; 12 boxes

BACKGROUND NOTE

The organization of the American Rite (York Rite in America) features nine degrees, according to Mackey’s The Encyclopedia of Free Masonry.  The lodge, a meeting of the symbolic masons, gives three degrees:  Entered Apprentice; Fellow-Craft; and Master Mason.  The Chapter, a meeting of Royal Arch Masons, consists of four degrees for members:  Mark Master; Past Master; Most Excellent Master; Holy Royal Arch.  The High Priest serves as the presiding officer of a chapter of a Royal Arch Masons (RAM).  The Council, a meeting of Cryptic Masons, holds degrees as Royal Master and Select Master.  The Commandery, a meeting of the Knights Templar, also has degrees:  Knights of the Red Cross, Knight Templar, and Knight of Malta.  The Nebraska York Rite Collection contains items from the Chapter, Council, and Commandery levels.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Nebraska York Rite Collection consists of records of the organization arranged in five series:

1)  High Priesthood and Chapters, Correspondence 1868-1929; 2) Grand Councils and Councils, Correspondence 1876-1954; 3) Grand Officers and Commanderies, Correspondence 1870-1954; 4) State and International Correspondence, 1869-1920; and 5) Miscellaneous.

Furnas, Livingston, Deuel–names familiar in early Nebraska history transform into chapter names. A large portion of the materials relates to some 65 Nebraska York Rite Chapters.  The chapter, council, and commandery materials include demits, dispensation papers, charter copies, petitions, by-laws and amendments, officers and installations, invitations, designated seals, and other materials related to the individual groups.  Christmas observances, banquets, inspection reports, and account records are also included in the collection.  Members in military service in World War I are recorded as well.

The State/ International correspondence consists of communication between the Nebraska organization and 27 states and territories and 4 foreign nations.  Appointment of representatives to grand (state) commanderies, member deaths (including President Garfield), printed proceedings, Grand Conclave reports, and reports of impersonation of knights (warnings to other states) comprise the State/ International correspondence.  The Miscellaneous series consists of the correspondence regarding the printed electrotype plates and the formation of the Rocky Mountain (Colorado Territory) lodge.

INVENTORY

Series 1 – High Priesthood and Chapters, Correspondence
Box 1
Folder

1. Central Grand Chapter, U.S.A., Correspondence, 1871-1885
2. Central Grand Chapter, U.S.A., Correspondence, 1886-1893
3. Grand Chapter, Correspondence, 1903
4. Grand Chapter, Correspondence, 1903
5. High Priesthood (Documents), Correspondence, 1889-1890, 1897
6. High Priesthood (Sundry Documents by Date), Correspondence, 1890-1899
7. High Priesthood (Sundry Documents by Date), Correspondence, 1890-1897
8. High Priesthood (Records of sessions), Correspondence, 1886-1912
9. High Priesthood (Records of sessions), Correspondence, 1895-1897
10. High Priesthood, Correspondence, 1901-1904
11. High Priesthood, Correspondence, 1899-1901
12. High Priesthood, Correspondence, 1908-1913
13. High Priesthood, Correspondence, 1909-1913
14. New Chapters, Correspondence, 1893-1916
15. New Chapters, Correspondence, 1882-1892
16. Excelsior Chapter U D, Correspondence, 1873-1889
17. Omaha Chapter (No. 1), Correspondence, 1899-1919
18. Keystone Chapter (No. 2) (Nebraska City), Correspondence, 1902-1919
19. Nebraska Chapter (No. 3) (Plattsmouth), Correspondence, 1865-1900
20. Nebraska Chapter (No. 3), Correspondence, 1865-1920
21. Brownville Chapter (No. 4), Correspondence, 1889-1919
22. Brownville Chapter (No. 4), Correspondence, 1867-1888
23. Eureka Chapter (No. 5) (Falls City), Correspondence, 1869-1920
24. Eureka Chapter (No. 5), Correspondence, 1868-1898

Box 2
Folder

25. Lincoln Chapter (No. 6), Correspondence, 1890-1920
26. Lincoln Chapter (No. 6), Correspondence, 1870-1902
27. Lincoln Chapter (No. 6), Correspondence, 1886-1904
28. Bellevue Chapter (No. 7), Correspondence, 1872-1919
29. Signet Chapter (No. 8) (Fremont), Correspondence, 1870-1919
30. Furnas Chapter (No. 9) (Tecumseh), Correspondence, 1869-1918
31. Livingston Chapter (No. 10) (Beatrice), Correspondence, 1885-1919
32. Livingston Chapter (No. 10), Correspondence, 1870-1884
33. Deuel Chapter (No. 11) (Grand Island), Correspondence, 1871-1919
34. Ashland Chapter (No. 12), Correspondence, 1874-1908
35. Ashland Chapter (No. 12), Correspondence, 1873-1889
36. Ashland Chapter (No. 12) Extinct, Correspondence, 1873-1879
37. Adoniram Chapter (No. 13) (Blair), Correspondence, 1886-1919
38. Adoniram Chapter (No. 13), Correspondence, 1867-1885
39. Lebanon Chapter (No. 14) (Sutton), Correspondence, 1875-1919
40. Euphrates Chapter (No. 15) (North Platte), Correspondence, 1885-1919
41. Euphrates Chapter (No. 15), Correspondence, 1876-1884
42. Gayle Chapter (No. 16) (Hebron), Correspondence, 1874-1919
43. Mount Zion Chapter (No. 17) (Crete), Correspondence, 1889-1919
44. Mount Zion Chapter (No. 17), Correspondence, 1877-1888

Box 3
Folder

45. Orient Chapter (No. 18) (Columbus), Correspondence, 1878-1919
46. Red Cloud Chapter (No. 19), Correspondence, 1878-1920
47. Bethlehem Chapter (No. 20) (Pawnee City), Correspondence, 1878-1919
48. Hastings Chapter (No. 21), Correspondence, 1878-1920
49. Edgar Chapter (No. 22), Correspondence, 1881-1919
50. Kearney Chapter (No. 23), Correspondence, 1881-1920
51. Mackey Chapter (No. 24) (Tekamah), Correspondence, 1881-1919
52. Damascus Chapter (No. 25) (Norfolk), Correspondence, 1883-1919
53. Merrick Chapter (No. 26) (Central City), Correspondence, 1882-1919
54. Jordan Chapter (No. 27) (St. Paul), Correspondence, 1884-1919

***No records for Chapter No. 28**

55. Tyrian Chapter (No. 29) (Lexington), Correspondence, 1884-1919
56. King David Chapter (No. 30) (David City), Correspondence, 1882-1919
57. Palmer Chapter (No. 31) (Wilber), Correspondence, 1885-1919
58. Shekinah Chapter (No. 32) (Aurora), Correspondence, 1881-1919
59. Solomon Chapter (No. 33), Correspondence, 1884-1920
60. Jewel Chapter (No. 34) (Ashland), Correspondence, 1890-1913

Box 4
Folder

61. Jewel Chapter (No. 34), Correspondence, 1883-1889
62. Jewel Chapter (No. 34), “Returns,” 1901
63. King Cyrus Chapter (No. 35) (McCook), Correspondence, 1885-1919
64. King Darius Chapter (No. 36) (Indianola), Correspondence, 1885-1919
65. Tadmor Chapter (No. 37) (Superior), Correspondence, 1884-1919
66. Ophir Chapter (No. 38) (Schuyler), Correspondence, 1873, 1886-1917
67. Haggai Chapter (No. 39) (Wakefield), Correspondence, 1885-1920
68. Temple Chapter (No. 40) (Neligh), Correspondence, 1885-1919
69. Triune Chapter (No. 41) (Geneva), Correspondence, 1886-1919
70. Cyrene Chapter (No. 42) (Friend), Correspondence, 1885-1890
71. Cyrene Chapter (No. 42) (Holdrege), Correspondence, 1886-1919
72. Wahoo Chapter (No. 43), Correspondence, 1886-1919
73. Siloam Chapter (No. 44) (Fairbury), Correspondence, 1886-1919
74. Garfield Chapter (No. 45) (O’Neill), Correspondence, 1887-1913
75. Garfield Chapter (No. 45), Correspondence, 1885-1912
76. Garfield Chapter (No. 45), Correspondence, 1887-1900 (“Petition Papers”)

Box 5
Folder

77. Siroc Chapter (No. 46) (West Point), Correspondence, 1886-1919
78. Miriam Chapter (No. 47) (Oxford), Correspondence, 1888-1919
79. Occidental Chapter (No. 48) (Chadron), Correspondence, 1887-1919
80. Horeb Chapter (No. 49) (Broken Bow), Correspondence, 1888-1919
81. Doric Chapter (No. 50) (Ord), Correspondence, 1886-1919
82. Pine Chapter (No. 51) (Long Pine), Correspondence, 1888-1919
83. Joppa Chapter (No. 52) (Loup City), Correspondence, 1889-1919
84. Pentalpha Chapter (No. 53) (Genoa), Correspondence, 1893-1923
85. Pentalpha Chapter (No. 53), Correspondence, 1889-1923
86. Sheba Chapter (No. 54) (Alliance), Correspondence, 1896-1919
87. Chaldean Chapter (No. 55) (Bloomfield), Correspondence, 1897-1918
88. Cedar Chapter (No. 56) (Hartington), Correspondence, 1897-1913

***No records for Chapter No. 57***

89. Rabboni Chapter (No. 58) (Randolph), Correspondence, 1905-1918
90. Rabboni Chapter (No. 58), Petitions, 1905-1912
91. Valley Chapter (No. 59) (Alma), Correspondence, 1905-1919

Box 6
Folder

92. Delta Chapter (No. 60) (Omaha), Correspondence, 1920-1921
93. Florence Chapter (No. 61) (Omaha), Correspondence, 1923-1924
94. Leese Chapter (No. 62) (Seward), Correspondence, 1925
95. Rosebud Chapter (No. 63) (Valentine), Correspondence, 1926-1927

***No records for Chapter No. 64***

96. Oregon Trail Chapter (No. 65) (Gering), Correspondence, 1928-1929

Series 2 – Grand Councils and Councils
Box 6 (cont.)
Folder

1. Grand Council, 1900-1901
2. Grand Council, 1902-1903 (Sessions)
3. Grand Council, Proceedings (1892-1900)

***No records for Council No.1 (referred to in later Correspondence, as Omaha Council No.1)

4. Alpha Council (No. 2) (Nebraska City), Correspondence, 1876-1909
5. Furnas Council (No. 3) (Auburn, org. Brownsville), Correspondence, 1878–1920

***No records for Council No. 4***

6. Adoniram Council (No. 5) (Tecumseh), Correspondence, 1876-1920; 1925; 1949
7. Zabud Council (No. 6) (Lexington), Correspondence, 1886-1920
8. Hiram Council (No. 7) (Fremont), Correspondence, 1886-1920
9. Hastings Council (No. 8), Correspondence, 1886-1920; 1925
10. Raboni Council (No. 9) (Beatrice), Correspondence, 1886-1920; 1924; 1947
11. Solomon Council (No. 10) (Sutton), Correspondence, 1889-1911
12. Jacob A. Hood Council (No. 11) (Schuyler), Correspondence, 1886; 1891-1916
13. Gebal Council (No. 12) (Columbus), Correspondence, 1891-1920; 1925
14. Tyrian Council (No. 13) (York), Correspondence, 1891-1917

Box 7
Folder

15. Damascus Council (No. 14) (Superior), Correspondence, 1891-1920; 1925
16. Tuscan Council (No. 15) (Pawnee City), Correspondence, 1894-1909
17. Occonoxee Council (No. 16) (McCook), Correspondence, 1894-1920; 1924
18. Ionic Council (No. 17) (Ord), Correspondence, 1894-1919
19. Custer Council (No. 18) (Broken Bow), Correspondence, 1901-1919; 1925
20. Bloomfield Council (No. 19) (Norfolk, org. Bloomfield), Correspondence, 1902-1920; 1925; 1946-1947
21. Temple Council (No. 20) (Neligh), Correspondence, 1903-1920; 1924
22. Robert R. Livingston Council (No. 21) (Plattsmouth), Correspondence, 1902-1915
23. Cypress Council (No. 22) (Wymore), Correspondence, 1904-1920
24. George W. Lininger Council (No. 23) (Long Pine), Correspondence, 1907-1920
25. Lebanon Council (No. 24) (Central City, org. Central City U.D.), Correspondence, 1907-1920
26. Loup Valley Council (No. 25) (St. Paul), Correspondence, 1907-1920
27. Naomi Council (No. 26) (Geneva), Correspondence, 1911-1919; 1925
28. Zerubbabel Council (No. 27) (Chadron), Correspondence, 1912; 1916-1920
29. Arbor Lodge Council (No. 28) (Nebraska City), Correspondence, 1926; 1954
30. Tekamah Council U.D. (Not assigned a Council number), Correspondence, 1902-1909
31. Norfolk Council U.D. (Not assigned a Council number), Correspondence, 1903-1906

Series 3 – Grand Officers and Commanderies
Box 7 (cont.)
Folder

1. Grand Treasurer, Correspondence, 1917-1925
2. Other Grand Officers, Correspondence, 1918-1925
3. New Commanderies, Correspondence, 1893-1912

***No records for Commandery No. 1 (identified as Mount Calvary, Omaha)***

4. Mt. Olivet Commandery (No. 2) (Nebraska City), Correspondence, 1870-1903
5. Mt. Olivet Commandery (No. 2), Correspondence, 1904-1920

Box 8
Folder

6. Mt. Carmel Commandery (No. 3) (Auburn, org. Brownville), Correspondence, 1891-1920
7. Mt. Carmel Commandery (No. 3), Correspondence, 1874-1890
8. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4) (Lincoln), Correspondence, 1871-1888
9. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4), Correspondence, 1888-1895
10. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4), Correspondence, 1895-1900
11. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4), Correspondence, 1900-1906
12. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4), Correspondence, 1907-1917
13. Mt. Moriah Commandery (No. 4), Correspondence, 1917-1920
14. Mt. Zion Commandery (No. 5) (Plattsmouth), Correspondence, 1871-1894
15. Mt. Zion Commandery (No. 5), Correspondence, 1895-1920
16. Mt. Lebanon Commandery (Mo. 6) (Grand Island), Correspondence, 1899-1920
17. Mt. Lebanon Commandery (Mo. 6), Correspondence, 1891-1898
18. Mt. Hermon Commandery (No. 7) (Beatrice), Correspondence, 1897-1920
19. Mt. Sinai Commandery (No. 8) (Falls City), Correspondence, 1896-1919
20. Mt. Tabor Commandery (No. 9) (Fremont), Correspondence, 1894-1917

Box 9
Folder

21. Mt. Horeb Commandery (No. 10) (Tecumseh), Correspondence, 1880-1920
22. Mt. Nebo Commandery (No. 11) (Hastings), Correspondence, 1899-1920
23. Mt. Hebron Commandery (No. 12) (Kearney), Correspondence, 1893-1920
24. Palestine Commandery (No. 13) (North Platte), Correspondence, 1893-1920
25. Cyrene Commandery (No. 14) (Red Cloud), Correspondence, 1904-1920
26. Jordan Commandery (No. 15) (Blair), Correspondence, 1897-1920
27. St. John Commandery (No. 16) (McCook), Correspondence, 1886-1893
28. St. John Commandery (No. 16), Correspondence, 1893-1920
29. Joppa Commandery (No. 17) (York), Correspondence, 1886-1898
30. Joppa Commandery (No. 17), Correspondence, 1898-1920
31. Bethlehem Commandery (No. 18) (Hebron; moves to Gering in 1940), Correspondence, 1887–1903
32. Bethlehem Commandery (No. 18), Correspondence, 1903-1919; 1938-1939
33. Mt. Elias Commandery (No. 19) (Holdrege), Correspondence, 1888-1897
34. Mt. Elias Commandery (No. 19), Correspondence, 1898-1920

Box 10
Folder

35. Damascus Commandery (No. 20) (Norfolk), Correspondence, 1898-1921
36. Gethsemane Commandery (No. 21), Correspondence, 1889-1892; 1916–1920
37. Gethsemane Commandery (No. 21) (Columbus), Correspondence, 1896-1916
38. Melita Commandery (No. 22) (Chadron), Correspondence, 1889–1898
39. Melita Commandery (No. 22), Correspondence, 1899-1920
40. Mt. Ararat Commandery (No. 23) (St. Paul), Correspondence, 1893-1894
41. Mt. Ararat Commandery (No. 23), Correspondence, 1899-1920
42. Jerusalem Commandery (No. 24) (Bloomfield), Correspondence, 1900-1920
43. Shiloh Commandery (No. 25) (Broken Bow), Correspondence, 1902-1920
44. Bunah Commandery (No. 26) (Alliance), Correspondence, 1902-1920
45. Palmyra Commandery (No. 27) (Superior), Correspondence, 1905-1920
46. Bethel Commandery (No. 28) (Long Pine), Correspondence, 1909-1920
47. Sharon Commandery (No. 29) (Fairbury), Correspondence, 1910-1920
48. Temple Commandery (No. 30) (Sidney), Correspondence, 1953-1954

Series 4 – State and International Correspondence
Box 11
Folder

1. Arizona, Correspondence, 1893-1915
2. Arkansas, Correspondence, 1875-1919
3. California, Correspondence, 1916-1920
4. California, Correspondence, 1900-1916
5. California, Correspondence, 1872-1900
6. Dakota, Correspondence, 1885-1890
7. Illinois, Correspondence, 1878-1897
8. Illinois, Correspondence, 1872-1892
9. Iowa, Correspondence, 1881-1888
10. Iowa, Correspondence, 1873-1878
11. Iowa, Correspondence, 1873-1886
12. Iowa, Correspondence, 1880-1893
13. Iowa, Correspondence, 1874, 1890-1894
14. Kansas, Correspondence, 1915-1919
15. Kansas, Correspondence 1900-1918
16. Kansas, Correspondence 1874-1899
17. Louisiana, Correspondence 1872-1919
18. Maryland, Correspondence 1882, 1894-1913
19. Massachusetts/ Rhode Island, Correspondence 1890-1898
20. Massachusetts/ Rhode Island, Correspondence 1872-1889
21. Michigan, Correspondence, 1900-1919
22. Michigan, Correspondence, 1872-1899
23. Minnesota, Correspondence, 1869-1894
24. Mississippi, Correspondence, 1905-1919
25. Mississippi, Correspondence, 1872-1904

Box 12
Folder

26. Nevada, Correspondence, 1895-1919
27. Nevada, Correspondence, 1878-1894
28. New Mexico, Correspondence, 1899-1916
29. New Mexico, Correspondence, 1902-1918
30. New York, Correspondence, 1901-1905
31. New York, Correspondence, 1894-1900
32. New York, Correspondence, 1872-1893
33. New York, Correspondence, 1911-1919
34. New York, Correspondence, 1905-1910
35. State of North Dakota, Correspondence, 1890-1919
36. Oklahoma, Correspondence, 1911-1919
37. Oklahoma, Correspondence, 1896-1920
38. Utah, Correspondence, 1911-1920
39. Vermont, Correspondence, 1890-1917
40. Vermont, Correspondence, 1872-1889
41. Virginia, Correspondence, 1907-1918
42. Virginia, Correspondence, 1877-1906
43. Washington Territory, Correspondence, 1887-1920
44. West Virginia, Correspondence, 1900-1919
45. West Virginia, Correspondence, 1874-1899
46. Wisconsin, Correspondence, 1875-1919
47. Wyoming, Correspondence, 1909-1919

International

48. Ireland, Correspondence, 1877-1888
49. Victoria, Correspondence, 1897-1915
50. Canada, Correspondence, 1874-1901
51. England, Correspondence, 1875-1917

Series 5 – Miscellaneous
Box 12
Folder

1. Electrotype Plates
2. Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 8

Subject headings:

Fraternal organizations — Nebraska
Freemasons – Nebraska
Grand York Rite of Nebraska

Retyped, kfk/dco      04-18-2003