| Dates: | 1916-1927 (Bulk dates, 1917-1919) |
| Size: | 2 linear feet in 4 boxes |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Collection number: | nnhc.wcl |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Brenda Weigelt donated this collection in 1989. It had been in the possession of her late husband, Johnnie Weigelt, who purchased the 3910 North Damen building from the Constellation Lodge in the early 1950s. The records were left in the building when it was sold. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred Citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Constellation Lodge Records, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library. |
| Finding Aid Author: | Processed by Becky Haglund Tousey, 1990. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Allyson Smally, 2021. |
Abstract
The majority of the collection consists of letters from lodge brothers serving in World War I, with updates on their lives and activities. It also contains a small amount of historical information about Lodge #892 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Biographical/Historical
At the time of World War I, there were approximately 80,000 masons (Ancient Free & Accepted Masons) in the Chicago District. The District was divided into at least 200 smaller units or lodges, operating independently but under the same fundamental principles and procedures. The mason motto was "Service to God and Humanity," and their tenants were "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth."
Constellation Lodge #892 was probably organized in the first decade of the twentieth century and by 1917 had about 850 members. Over 100 of these members served in World War I and two died in action.
This lodge has since disbanded and its lodge hall at 3910 N. Damen Avenue sold. Since the masons are a secret fraternal organization, very few additional details are available, other than these records, regarding this lodge's membership, activities or dissolution.
Scope and Contents
The Constellation Lodge Papers contain records of Lodge #892 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The collection includes general historical files such as bulletins, by-laws, schedules, invitations, and reports; newsletters sent out to lodge brothers by National Service Committee Chairman Henry Kallenbach, Jr.; and letters from lodge brothers serving in the First World War sent to Kallenbach.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 3 series:
Series 1: General Historical Files, 1916-1927
Series 2: National Service Committee Records, 1918-1919
Series 3: Letters to Henry Kallenbach, 1917-1919
Subject Headings
- Freemasons.
- World War, 1914-1918.
- Fraternal organizations -- United States.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: General Historical Files, 1916-1927
Scope and Contents
This series contains organizational files such as monthly schedules, reports, tickets and invitations, general correspondence, forms, by-laws, and other records. It includes items from both Lodge #892 and other Chicago-area lodges and mason organizations.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Austin Lodge #850: War Service Bulletin, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Chicago Liberty Loan Committee: business card, circa 1917-1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Chicago Liberty Loan Committee: form for Plus Certificate, circa 1917-1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Constellation Lodge #892: Christmas cards, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | Constellation Lodge #892: correspondence, 1917-1920 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Constellation Lodge #892: Honor Roll, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | Constellation Lodge #892: invitations, 1918-1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Constellation Lodge #892: monthly schedules, 1918-1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | Constellation Lodge #892: receipts, 1918-1921 |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | Constellation Lodge #892: resolution, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Constellation Lodge #892: War Service Committee, pledge card, circa 1917-1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Constellation Low Twelve Club: assessment notice, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Constellation Low Twelve Club: by-laws, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Constellation Low Twelve Club: letter, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Craftsman Bowling League: schedule, 1917-1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Cut Stone Contractors Association of Chicago: code of practice, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | Euclid Club: Invitation, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | Good-fellowship Lodge #1043: schedule of meetings, 1927 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Illinois Commercial Men's Association: by-laws, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Illinois Commercial Men's Association: notice of 10th anniversary meeting, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Illinois Masonic Hospital Association: booklets, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | Illinois Masonic Hospital Association: notice of 10th anniversary meeting, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | International Federation of Technical Engineers, Architects & Draftsmen's Unions, Local #14: booklet, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Kallenbach, Henry, family correspondence, 1918-1920 |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Masonic Board of Relief of Chicago: 15th annual report, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: address of A.M. Millard, president, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: annual report, 1916 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: booklet/statement, 1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: monthly notice of meetings, 1916-1919 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: monthly report, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Masonic Employment Bureau: membership form (blank), 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | Masonic National Defense Fund/Illinois: booklet, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Order of the Eastern Star, Constellation Chapter #681: letter, 1917 |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Park Manor Lodge #899: invitation, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Pythagoras Lodge #1018: Masters Address & Annual Reports, 1918 |
Series 2: National Service Committee Records, 1918-1919
Scope and Contents
This series consists primarily of newsletters sent out by Henry Kallenbach, Jr., chairman of the lodge's National Service Committee. These newsletters, sent to lodge brothers in the service, are arranged chronologically and contain local and national news as well as news of fellow lodge brothers in the armed forces.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | Annual report, 1918 |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Data sheet for brothers in the service (blank), undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Newsletters, 1918 March-July |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Newsletters, 1918 August-December |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Newsletters, 1919 January-September |
Series 3: Letters to Henry Kallenbach, Jr., 1917-1919
Scope and Contents
This series consists primarily of letters from lodge brothers serving in World War I sent to Kallenbach in response to his newsletters. Some of the folders also contain personal data sheets and ephemera. The letters contain many personal insights into the First World War and the signing of the armistice.
Arrangement
Alphabetically according to the last name of the sender.
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Alstrom, M.L., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Askelof, Alex C., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Augustin, William E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | Beckman, Theodore M., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | Blauert, Bert P., Jr., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Bock, John, 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | Boehme, Fred A., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | Boney, Charles M., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Borgeson, Walter H., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | Brossman, Charles F., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | Brownlie, Robert B., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | Bruns, Jacob H., 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Bruns, William E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Clansky, Roy Walter, 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 15 | Cook, Frank M., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 16 | Crowther, Frank H., 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 17 | Damman, O.H., 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 18 | Dausch, Robert G., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 19 | Dechent, William, 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 20 | Eberspacher, Walter H., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 21 | Fick, Charles R., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 22 | Fleischmann, Julius, 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 23 | Forrest, Robert L., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 24 | Freundlich, Herman, 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 25 | Frieberg, Alvin A., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 26 | Gasser, J.E., 1918 |
| Box 2 | Folder 27 | Glover, Rodney C., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 28 | Griebenow, Walter W., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 29 | Griess, Roy W., 1917-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 30 | Gruebnaw, Max R., 1918-1919 |
| Box 2 | Folder 31 | Gruschow, John C., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | Haase, G.R., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | Hackhel, Norman, 1917-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | Hafferkamp, Archie, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | Hartman, Otto L., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | Heim, Walter E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | Heitman, August Gordon, 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | Henning, Herman, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | Jennings, Ben, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | Johanson, Axel E., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | Johanson, Carl, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | Johnson, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | Jones, Arthur L., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 13 | Koch, Arthur A., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 14 | Koch, Walter J., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 15 | Krell, Fred, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 16 | Kricke, Henry, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 17 | Kusch, Walter L., 1917-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 18 | Larson, Charles D., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 19 | Larson, Romie J., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 20 | Larson, Walter, 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 21 | Lewis, Jacob, 1917 |
| Box 3 | Folder 22 | Libal, William, 1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 23 | Lindstrom, Clarence, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 24 | Loe, John N., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 25 | Loe, Martin, 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 26 | Lueders, Walter E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 27 | Lund, K.R., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 28 | McCarron, Edward T., 1917-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 29 | Mahnke, Charles J., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 30 | Mandeville, Orrin E., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 31 | Marquiss, Clare M., 1917 |
| Box 3 | Folder 32 | Matschke, Arthur L., 1918, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 33 | Merker, Arthur C., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 34 | Miller, Joseph A., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 35 | Mueller, E.W., 1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 36 | Nelson, Leonard F., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 37 | Newman, S.O., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 38 | Nicoll, George, 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 39 | North, Harry S., 1918-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 40 | North, Thomas B., 1917-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 41 | Oschmann, Henry C., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 42 | Otto, Walter H., 1917-1919 |
| Box 3 | Folder 43 | Overbach, Donald C., 1918 |
| Box 3 | Folder 44 | Paschen, Henry W., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Paul, Robert J., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Pearson, Louis M., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Reich, Fred A., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | Rettke, Samuel E., 1917-1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | Risch, Rudolph, 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | Roennow, Peter, 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | Rogers, Cecil D., 1917-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | Ruckstaetter, Anthony E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | Runge, George C., 1917 |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | Schmick, Emil G., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 11 | Schrader, William C., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 12 | Schulz, Hugo M., 1917-1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 13 | Schwartz, Charles F., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 14 | Smith, Donald F., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 15 | Sprenger, Harold J., 1917-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 16 | Stauber, Robert L., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 17 | Steinbach, Peter, 1917 |
| Box 4 | Folder 18 | Strohmeyer, Arthur E., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 19 | Swanson, Arthur B., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 20 | Taylor, Allen R., 1917-1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 21 | Theede, Charles A., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 22 | Timm, John E., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 23 | Tovstein, Louis B., 1917-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 24 | Tyre, Arthur C., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 25 | Tyre, William L., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 26 | Ulmer, Dalton C., 1917-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 27 | Umenhofer, Arthur H., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 28 | Vahlteich, Hans Walter, 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 29 | Wallace, Edward, 1917-1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 30 | Walters, Fred G., 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 31 | Weber, George H., 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 32 | Willert, Walter William, 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 33 | Yest, Henry, 1918-1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 34 | Zimmerman, Edwin F., 1919 |
