With over 65,000 volumes, the Van Gorden-Williams Library is one of the premiere repositories in the United States for the study of Freemasonry and fraternalism. Its other major collecting area is American history.
The Masonic collection contains primary and secondary resources dating from the 1700s to the present. The rare book collection includes some of the most important Masonic titles published in English, including The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, the first Masonic book published in North America, printed by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia in 1734. The Masonic collection includes material written by and for Masons as well as current publications on Freemasonry.
Strengths of the Library’s Masonic collections include material on the history of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, published annual Proceedings of various Masonic organizations, individual lodge histories, anti-Masonic publications, rituals, and early Masonic ritual exposés. The library’s Masonic periodical collection contains rare Masonic magazines and newspapers as well as a large number of contemporary Masonic magazines. In addition to collecting material on predominantly white, male-only Masonic organizations, the library also collects material related to historically Black Masonic organizations, mixed gender Masonic groups, women-only Masonic organizations, and various Masonic youth groups.
The fraternal collection features material on a wide variety of fraternal organizations from the 1800s to the present, from groups such as the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Patrons of Husbandry, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Loyal Orange Institution, Knights of Columbus, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and various temperance organizations. The collection also includes books by or about smaller organizations such as Black abolitionist and civil rights leader Moses Dickson’s the International Order of Twelve Knights and Daughters of Tabor, the United Order of Independent Odd Ladies, to larger global organizations such as the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The collection contains published annual proceedings of various fraternal organizations, as well as rituals, histories, periodicals, newspapers, and more.
The U.S. History collection comprises books and periodicals from the 1600s to the present day. Strengths of the collection include materials on American history from the 1700s through the 1900s, and biography, decorative and applied arts, as well as a collection of historical maps.
The Gage Collection consists of nearly 700 books about Freemasonry. This collection – which duplicates material already in the research collection – was donated in 2001 by Wallace M. Gage, 33°, of Tenants Harbor, Maine. Interested Masons may browse the Gage Collection shelves or locate books through our online catalog.
Masons who live within a two-hour drive of the museum may borrow books from the Gage Collection. Masons interested in borrowing books simply need to show proof of current Masonic membership by presenting a dues card at the reference desk to sign up. Up to five books may be checked out at a time. Books must be borrowed and returned in person. Loan period is 4 weeks with renewals possible.
