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Collection Number: 05194

Collection Title: Freemasons. Eagle Lodge No. 19 (Hillsborough, N.C.) Records, 1791-circa 1950 (bulk 1819-1900)

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This collection has use restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


expand/collapse Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size 2.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 1,000 items)
Abstract Eagle Lodge No. 19 (Hillsborough, N.C.), Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, chartered in 1791, is one of the first Masonic lodges chartered under the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. In 1793, members helped lay the cornerstone of Old East building at the University of North Carolina in a ceremony marking the birth of public higher education in the United States. The collection includes minute books, receipts, petitions for membership, correspondence, membership rosters, member and visitor registers, and related items. Also included are materials relating to R. B. Studebaker's The History of Eagle Lodge, No. 19 and a biography of A. H. Graham.
Creator Freemasons. Eagle Lodge No. 19 (Hillsborough, N.C.).
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research use.
Restrictions to Use
All users must sign a form promising to notify the Donor of any published references to, quotations from, or reproduction of materials in the collection.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Freemasons. Eagle Lodge No. 19 (Hillsborough, N.C.) Records #5194, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Gift and loan from Eagle Lodge No. 19, Hillsborough, N.C., in December 2004 (Acc. 99986 and 99987).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Ashley Doar, 2005

Encoded by: Lynn Holdzkom, January 2005 and Ashley Doar, May 2005

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Historical Information

Eagle Lodge No. 19, chartered in 1791, is one of the first Masonic lodges chartered under the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. In 1793, members helped lay the cornerstone of Old East building at the University of North Carolina in a ceremony marking the birth of public higher education in the United States. Around the turn of the century, the records indicate a lull in activity, though the reason is not indicated. In 1819, activity resumed, but because of the inactivity of the Lodge the original charter was lost. On 24 December 1819, a new charter was issued by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, declaring Eagle Lodge, No. 71. Eagle Lodge was known by this number until 19 April 1933 when the Grand Lodge granted the request by petition of the Eagle Lodge to restore the original number 19. In 1820, the Lodge was granted permission by the State of North Carolina to sell lottery tickets to raise funds for the construction of the Lodge, which is still used today and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

R. B. (Robert Bruce) Studebaker was Master Mason of Eagle Lodge in 1931 and 1932. He was later appointed historian of the Lodge and used these materials to write a book about the history of the Lodge, entitled The History of Eagle Lodge. The book covers the history of the Lodge from 1791 through 1937. There is an accompanying volume II written by Master Mason J. Frank Ray, in 1993. This second volume continues where Studebaker's left off, summarizing important events of each year since 1937 and listing elected officers.

For more information, see the Eagle Lodge No. 19 website (http://www.eagle19.org/).

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The records of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Eagle Lodge No. 19 (Hillsborough, N.C.) include minute books, account books, receipts, documentation about the lottery for building the Lodge, petitions for membership and advancement, correspondence, documentation of trials heard by the Lodge, membership dismissals, member and visitor registers, a public address by William M. Green, and related items.

Other materials relate to R. B. Studebaker and his notes for his book, The History of Eagle Lodge. These items are mostly handwritten by Studebaker and include drafts of chapters, and notes on certain time periods. There is also information on a possible written biography of A. H. Graham, correspondence relating to inquires about the membership of particular people, and related material.

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Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Governance, 1791-1950.

About 300 items.

Materials relating to the rules and regulations kept by Eagle Lodge. Subseries include by-laws, membership requests, documentation of charges and trials against brothers, and expulsion letters.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.1. By-laws and related materials, 1791-1950.

7 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Handwritten rules adopted by Eagle Lodge, 12 October 1791; letter to the Secretary of the Lodge requesting permission to compile a Masonic Register or Digest, 3 July 1850; by-laws adopted 4 January 1852 and 22 November 1852; printed by-laws of the Masonic Mutual Life Assurance Association of Norfolk, Va., 26 February 1876; handwritten notes regarding by-laws making reference to the year 1908; and a list of names with dates ranging from 1886 through 1950.

Folder 1

By-laws and related material

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.2. Petitions for Induction and Advancement, 1791-1891 and undated.

About 80 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Requests, mostly handwritten, for initiation into, or advancement within, the Lodge.

Folder 2

1791-1891

Folder 3

Undated

The majority of the undated petitions are assumed to be after 1820, when the Lodge number was changed from No. 19 to No. 71.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.3. Charges and Trials, 1841-1901 and undated.

About 40 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Testimonies, reports, and related correspondence regarding charges and subsequent trials brought against members of Eagle Lodge. When possible, individual items concerning a particular trial are grouped together.

Folder 4

1841-1901

Folder 5

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.4. Expulsions and Suspensions, 1820-1873 and undated.

About 200 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Notices of members expelled or suspended for unmasonic conduct or non-payment of dues. Also included are notices from other lodges.

Folder 6

1820-1850

Folder 7

1851-1873, 1917

Folder 8

Undated and preprinted blank forms

Folder 66

Expulsions and suspensions, 1917

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Minutes and Reports, 1792-1908.

About 100 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Minute books, 1819-1908.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Papers, 1792-1899.

About 100 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Loose papers recording meeting minutes or committee reports.

Folder 18

1792-1854

Folder 19

1855-1899

Folder 20

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Correspondence, 1792-1937 and undated.

About 60 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Correspondence includes letters from the Grand Lodge in Raleigh regarding resolution notices, member appointments and other business; letters from members of Eagle Lodge regarding their inability to pay dues or tardiness in doing so; requests from members, widows, and other lodges seeking donations for various reasons (disasters, fund raising, dire need); meeting summons for Eagle Lodge and invitations from other lodges for celebrations or funerals; and other business, such as requesting withdrawal from Eagle Lodge.

Folder 21

1792-1873

Folder 22

1874-1937

Folder 23

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. Financial Records, 1792-1919.

About 200 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 4.1. Account books, 1792-1919.

5 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Five volumes of account books.

Folder 24

Volume 12: Account book, 1792

[Includes minutes dated 7 September 1848]

Folder 25

Volume 13: Account book, 1792-1794

Folder 26

Volume 14: Account book, 1849-1859

Folder 27

Volume 15: Account book, 1858-1874

Folder 28

Volume 16: Account book, 1893-1919

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 4.2. Papers, 1791-1917 and undated.

About 200 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Account summaries, lists of dues, and receipts of payments.

Folder 29

1791-1820

Folder 30

1821-1850

Folder 31

1851-1917

Folder 32

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 4.3. Lottery, 1823-1825, 1836 and undated.

About 15 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Items documenting the activities of Eagle Lodge in setting up a lottery to raise funds for the building of a Lodge Hall. Included are account statements, receipts, committe reports and a letter from the Secretary of State of North Carolina authorizing the sale of tickets.

Folder 33

1823-1825, 1836 and undated.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 5. Miscellaneous Papers, 1844-1900 and undated.

About 55 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.1. Public adresses and prayers, 1844, 1851, and undated.

3 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

A handwritten address by Rev. William M. Green, delivered at the laying of the cornerstone of a New Court House in Hillsborough 7 September 1844, and a typed transcript; a published address titled "Address to the Subordinate Lodges upon the Subject of The Masonic College," 1851; and a prayer, handwritten, undated and unsigned.

Folder 34

1844, 1851, undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.2. Printed materials, 1856-1900.

12 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Printed forms for various purposes, including nine certificates, 1869 bearing the signature of D. W. Bain, Grand Secretary, which are otherwise blank.

Folder 35

1856-1900

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 5.3. Other papers, undated.

40 items.

Fragments, envelopes, and other miscellaneous materials.

Folder 36

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 6. R. B. Studebaker Material, 1934-1939, mostly undated.

About 250 items.

Notes and drafts mostly undated and handwritten, of R. B. Studebaker, former Master and Historian of Eagle Lodge, for The History of Eagle Lodge No. 19 A.F. & A.M., 1937, a short biography of A. H. Graham and a bound copy of The History of Eagle Lodge No. 19 A.F. & A.M. Other materials include correspondence regarding the book and past members.

Folder 37-38

Folder 37

Folder 38

History copy

Copy or draft of the printed history.

Folder 39

Manuscript short history, 1935-1936

Copies of letters and chapters 1-7 sent to editor F. M. Pinnix of Oxford, N.C.

Folder 40

History of Eagle Lodge notes, Chapter 5

Drafts and notes for printed history.

Folder 41

Notes for chapter 5

Folder 42

Notes for chapter 6

Folder 43

Notes for chapter 7

Folder 44

Notes for chapter 8

Folder 45

Notes, 1872-1916

Folder 46

Notes, 1926-1937

Folder 47

Bound copy of The History of Eagle Lodge No. 19 A.F. & A.M., by R. B. Studebaker and J. Frank Ray.

Folder 48

A. H. Graham Biography

Folder 49

Correspondence, 1932-1939

Folder 50

Special Items

Letters to Studebaker between 1931-1937; a handwritten copy of an 1821 letter (original not found); and a copy of the petition to reinstate the Lodge's original number 19.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

Oversize Volume (SV-5194/1)

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