Order of the Amaranth Brooklyn Court No. 4 records

Call Number

2008.023

Date

1897-1961, inclusive

Creator

Order of the Amaranth. Brooklyn Court No. 4 (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

Extent

2.75 Linear Feet

in 5 manuscript boxes and one half manuscript box

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection contains the administrative, financial, and regulatory records of Brooklyn Court No. 4 of the Order of the Amaranth of the State of New York, a women's social and philanthropic society closely affiliated with the Freemasons.

Historical note

The Order of the Amaranth, an international women's social and philanthropic society closely affiliated with the Freemasons, was officially organized on June 14, 1873 in New York City by Robert Macoy, Master Mason and first Supreme Royal Patron of the Order. The name and theme of the society is taken from the Court of Queen Christina of Sweden (1632-1654), though there is no direct connection between the two entities. Originally part of the Order of the Eastern Star, a fraternal organization open to both men and women, the Order of the Amaranth became an independent organization in 1921. Membership in the Order of the Amaranth was limited to Master Masons and their female familial relations.

Brooklyn Court No. 4 of the Order of the Amaranth, one of many courts in Brooklyn and New York at the turn of the 20th century, was established in 1897. Regular meetings for Brooklyn Court No. 4 were held at the Johnston Building at 6 Nevins Street in Brooklyn. The court held regular fundraisers to benefit both the Order of the Amaranth and selected charities.

Sources:

Order of the Amaranth. "The Order of the Amaranth." Accessed October 25, 2011. http://www.amaranth.org/NewHistory.asp

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by type into four series:

Series 1: Administrative and financial records, 1897–1961

Series 2: Constitutions, bylaws, rules and regulations, 1898-1935

Series 3: Minutes, 1897-1941

Series 4: Annual session transactions of the Grand Court, 1908-1940

Scope and Contents

The records of the Order of the Amaranth Brooklyn Court No. 4 contain administrative, financial, and regulatory documents, ledgers, and reports, as well as ephemera, relating primarily to the functional operations of Brooklyn Court No. 4. The records date back to 1897, the year of the Order's inception, and record the activities of Brooklyn Court No. 4 through 1941. The inclusive dates of the collection are 1897 to 1961.

Subjects

Conditions Governing Access

Open to users without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); Order of the Amaranth Brooklyn Court No. 4 records, 2008.023, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Ben Baxt, 1975. Formerly owened by Selma Manzella. As its provenance was previously lost, this collection was formally accessioned in 2008. It originally comprised part of accession M1991.205, which now solely describes some of the artifacts associated with these materials.

Separated Materials

49 artifacts separated to the museum collection. See accessions M1991.205, M1991.912, M1992.233, M1991.590, and M1991.464 for more information.

Related Materials

Fraternal organizations of Brooklyn collection (ARC.147)

Collection processed by

Diana Garcia under the supervision of Leilani Dawson

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-06-05 16:00:02 +0000.

Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

Originally minimally processed to the series level, this collection was processed to the box level by Dee Bowers in June 2026. The collection was originally processed by Diana Garcia under the supervision of Leilani Dawson in 2008. It was also described as part of the project "Uncovering the Secrets of Brooklyn's 19th Century Past" in 2010-2011. The finding aid was revised to include updated provenance information, the incorporation of a previously separated item, and rehousing by Dee Bowers in May 2026.

Revisions to this Guide

May-June 2026: Revised by Dee Bowers to reflect rehousing and incorporate additional provenance information

Repository

Center for Brooklyn History

Series 1: Administrative and financial records, 1897-1961, inclusive

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

This series consists primarily of Brooklyn Court No. 4's annual reports, official certificates of petition for initiation and membership as well as dimits (written certifications of honorable resignation and sometimes transfer from one court to another), notices, invitations and summonses to regular meetings, and financial records and transactions.

In addition, the series contains a register of Brooklyn Court No. 4 with membership entries and status spanning the full timeline of the collection. A one-time commissioned "Historian's Scrapbook," containing loosely collected ephemera related to Brooklyn Court No. 4, documents the period from December 15, 1920 to November 20, 1922.

Of special interest is an edict from Mrs. Marvel M. Hicks, Supreme Royal Matron (Cleveland, OH), and Alfred D. Schorr, Supreme Royal Patron, on Bill of Rights Day (December 15th) in 1941, documenting the Order's response to the United States' entrance into the Second World War.