Knights of Pythias (Bowling Green, Ohio) records

Collection

Identifier: MS-1185

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The Knights of Pythias Collection consists of mostly member information and material related to membership history of the organization.

Dates

Creation: 1888-1983, undated

Extent

1.38 Cubic Feet (3 legal manuscript boxes)

1 Volumes (1 ledger)

Creator

Knights of Pythias. Kenneth Lodge No. 158 (Bowling Green, Ohio) (Organization)

Scope and Contents

The Knights of Pythias Collection consists primarily of leather-bound books containing meeting minutes, membership applications and rosters, and dues paid by members, most of which is from the early half of the 1900s. This collection also contains some correspondences, including one regarding the 1983 consolidation of lodges; reports and receipts; general organization printed material such as an organization history; and an unidentified group photograph.

Biographical / Historical

The Knights of Pythias was founded in 1864 and was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the U.S. Congress. The Pythian motto is “Friendship, Charity, Benevolence.” There are over 2,000 Pythian lodges, sometimes referred to as “castles,” around the world with over 50,000 total members. Notable members have included Louis Armstrong, Warren G. Harding, William McKinley, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

There were originally three lodges of the Knights in Northwest Ohio: McClure, Weston, and Bowling Green. In time the Weston lodge folded into the McClure lodge, and then in 1983 the McClure lodge consolidated with the Bowling Green lodge to form Grand Lodge 158, also known as Kenneth Lodge.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.