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Independent Order of Oddfellows Elgin Lodge No. 32 fonds
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Independent Order of Oddfellows Elgin Lodge No. 32 fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1854 – 2000.
- Accession Number
- 2015-58
- Storage Location
- M1 S3 Sh5 B1-3
- M1 S1 Sh3 B7
- Museum / Archive
- Elgin County Archives
- Part Of
- Independent Order of Oddfellows Elgin Lodge No. 32 fonds
- Creator
- Independent Order of Oddfellows Elgin Lodge No. 32
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Accession Number
- 2015-58
- Storage Room
- Archives 4th Floor Storage Room
- Storage Location
- M1 S3 Sh5 B1-3
- M1 S1 Sh3 B7
- GMD
- textual records
- Date Range
- 1854 – 2000.
- Physical Description
- 40.6 cm of textual records.
- 1 plaque.
- 3 maps.
- History / Biographical
- The first Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) in North America was established by Thomas Wildey in 1819, creating Lodge #1 of Baltimore. In 1825, four state Grand Lodges in America established the “Grand Lodge of the United States”, with John Pawson Entwistle as its first Deputy Grand Master. Upon successful petitioning to the Grand Lodge of the United States, the first IOOF lodge was formed in Canada in 1843 and was called the Prince of Wales Lodge #1 in Montreal, Quebec. Soon after in 1844, the Grand Lodge of Canada was formed under the leadership of Grand Master W. M. B. Hartley, but it was the Grand Lodge of British North America that was granted quasi-independent jurisdiction from the Grand Lodge of the United States. This Canadian governing body was ultimately unsuccessful and in 1854 Canadian Odd Fellow Lodges were brought back under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the United States. A new Grand Lodge was established in 1855 in Canada West, which was later re-named Ontario. The Grand Lodge of Ontario helped sustain other lodges in Ontario following the disbandment of the Grand Lodge of British North America.
The Elgin Lodge #32 was opened May 5, 1852 by P.G. Connor of St. Catharines. Due to dissension, the lodge disbanded in 1862 and remained closed until 1878, when it reopened with ten charter members including the Noble Grand, Brother A.J. Clark.
The purpose of the IOOF is to act as a “co-ed international fraternal order” that works to promote personal and social development of its members. Odd Fellows support each other and raise each other up to be better people. They also help make the world a better place by supporting their environment and their community. The IOOF is a fellowship that radiates positive energy and support. grandlodgeofontario.ioof.net, ioof.net
- Custodial History
- The Independent Order of Odd Fellows St. Thomas Lodge #32 records were donated on December 17th, 2015 by Brian Farhall. An accrual was brought in on January 8, 2016 (donor unknown). Another accrual was brought in by Wayne Ferguson March 2, 2016.
- Scope and Content
- This fonds contains records pertaining to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) St. Thomas Lodge #32 (Elgin Lodge). Records include membership and financial records, historical documents, meeting minutes, bylaws, and facility records.
Records are organized into the following series:
1.Meeting Minutes, 1949-1993
2. By-Laws, 1922-1952
3. Membership Records, 1854-2000
4. Officers’ Roll Book 1926-2000
5. Financial Records, 1854-1997
6. Historical Documents, 1854-1878, 1978, 2000
7. Facility, 1951-1953
8. Cemetery, 1951-1979
- Name Access
- Indpendent Order of Odd Fellows, Elgin Lodge, No. 32 (St. Thomas, Ont.)
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Elgin Lodge No. 32, St. Thomas
- St. Thomas (Ont.)
- Subject Access
- Community Service
Less detail