For centuries, fraternal orders have been influential forces in cities and towns across North America. However, for many of these organizations, preservation of their legacy has been inconsistent, and much of their valuable history remains in the basements and attics of members or their families. The Center for Fraternal Collections & Research at Indiana University wishes to celebrate the role that these organizations played in members' lives and in communities large and small by collecting and preserving fraternal materials and making them accessible to scholars and the public.
If you believe that you have fraternal materials that might help us fulfill this mission, we'd love to hear from you. To discuss whether we are the right home for your fraternal materials, please contact us.
We'd appreciate it if you would include your contact information, including email address and phone number, as well as a brief description of the materials in question, including any relevant information you may have about the history, ownership, and origins of the materials. We especially welcome materials related to women's orders and orders who represent diverse communities of North America.
Although we cannot accommodate all donations, we welcome the opportunity to assess how well your material matches with our collecting and research goals. If your materials are not appropriate for our collections, we may be able to provide recommendations for other repositories that might be worth contacting.
Please note that the Center for Fraternal Collections & Research cannot provide appraisal services to determine the worth of your collection.
If you are interested in supporting our mission with a financial contribution, you can click on the "Give Now" button below or contact our staff.
