Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America. Tadmore Light Lodge #6184 (Blacksburg, Va.)
Ms.1988.009
3.4 Cubic Feet
4 boxes
1902-1969
The Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records consist of financial records, correspondence, minute books, brochures of several annual conferences, by-laws and odd issues of the Odd Fellows Journal for the men's lodge, Tadmore Light Lodge No. 6184 of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows. The collection also contains correspondence, minutes and financial records for the women's group, the Household of Ruth.
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records, 1902-1969, Ms1988-009, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to Special Collections and University Archives in 1988. The uniform coat was acquired in 2002.
Existence and Location of Copies
Some of this collection has been digitized and is available online.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records was completed in 2000. Minimal description was completed prior to 1998.
Administrative History
The Blacksburg Odd Fellows Lodge is the Tadmore Light Lodge No. 6184 and was probably formed in December of 1904. It was a branch of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal and mutual relief society for people of color. The Household of Ruth was an auxiliary for wives of fellows.
Read more on the SCUA blog posts, "Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Tadmore Light Lodge, No. 6184 (Blacksburg, VA)" and Household of Ruth, No. 5533, both by archivist Anthony Wright de Hernandez.
Scope and Content
The Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records consist of financial records, correspondence, minute books, brochures of several annual conferences, by-laws and odd issues of the Odd Fellows Journal for the men's lodge. There are also correspondence, minutes and financial records for the women's group - the Household of Ruth.
Arrangement
The records are arranged in two series - Tadmore Light Lodge and Household of Ruth, and then arranged chronologically with undated items at the end.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Blacksburg [Virginia] Odd Fellows Records by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
African Americans -- History
Blacksburg (Va.)
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Montgomery County (Va.)
Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America. Tadmore Light Lodge #6184 (Blacksburg, Va.)
Series I. Tadmore Light Lodge Records1902-1969"Funeral Ceremony of the Use of the Lodges of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America"190211Tadmore Light Lodge minute book1904-191112"Third Quarterly Circular: Sub-committee of Management"190513Payment Records1905-190614Correspondence1905-190615Correspondence190716"First Quarterly Circular: Sub-committee of Management190717Payment records190718Receipts190719Receipts1908-1909110Correspondence1908-1909111Application for membership, Plymouth Christian1910112Meeting minutes1910113Correspondence1910114Receipts1910115Proceedings of the Fifth General MeetingSeptember 12-17, 1910116Tadmore Light Lodge financial records1910-1922117Payment records1911118Receipts1911-1919119Tadmore Light Lodge minute book1912-1914120Tadmore Light Lodge dues record book1912-1922121Ritual of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Book Second1914122Correspondence1915123The King's Messengers (magazine), October1916124Ritual of The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Book First1916125Ledger--Officers roll 1916-1919; meeting minutes, 1942-1962126Members and semi-annual dues notebook1917127"Second Semi-annual Circular: Sub-committee of Management"1919128Checkbook stubs1920-1921129Envelopes1921130"Extract of the Biennial Report of A.T. Shirley, District Grand Secretary"1921131Correspondence1921132Committee of Management (correspondence)1921-1925133W.E. Floding catalogs, lodge ephemera1922134Miscellaneous192221Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Electric Light Department payment stubs1922-1965135"Proceedings of the 10th Biennial Session and 33rd General Meeting;" Richmond, VirginiaAugust 18-30, 1923136"First Semi-annual Circular: Sub-committee of Management"1924137"Second Semi-annual Circular: Sub-committee of Management"1924138Correspondence1926139Dues records book1926-1936140District Grand Lodge--correspondence1927141Correspondence1929142Applicant's agreement1929143"First Semi-annual Circular: Committee of Management"1930144[Folder removed from collection]145"Proceedings of the 14th Biennial Session and 37th General Meeting of District Grand Lodge #15," Fredericksburg1931146Correspondence1931-1932147Proceedings of the 15th Biennial Session and 38th General Meeting of District Grand Lodge #15, Petersburg1933148Committee of Management correspondence1933-1934149Odd Fellows Journal1934150Correspondence1934151District Grand Lodge Correspondence1934-1937152Endowment Department reports1935-1937153Odd Fellows JournalMarch 5, 1936154Odd Fellows JournalMay 7, 1936155Odd Fellows JournalJuly 2, 1936156Correspondence1936157Correspondence1937158Thanksgiving services and Ogden Day celebration programMay 9, 1937159Committee of Management correspondence1937-193916028th Biennial Movable Conference, souvenir program; Charlotte, North CarolinaAugust 8-13, 1938161Correspondence1938162District Grand Lodge correspondence1938-1941163Envelopes1930164Correspondence1941165Payment records1942166Correspondence1943167Quarterly BulletinFebruary-May 1943168Committee of Management correspondence concerning death of Edward H. MorrisFebruary 3, 1943169Committee of Management correspondence1944-1945170District Grand Lodge correspondence1944-1947171Quarterly BulletinFebruary-May 1945172Correspondence1945-1946173Endowment Department Report1946174Membership Drive announcement1946175District Grand Lodge correspondence1947176Correspondence1947177Committee of Management correspondence1948-194917822nd Biennial Session and 45th General Meeting, correspondence; Newport News, VirginiaAugust 23-25, 1949179Envelopes1940-1949180Committee of Management correspondence1950-195218123rd Biennial Session and 46th General Meeting, correspondence; Richmond, VirginiaAugust 28-30, 1951182Correspondence1951183District Grand Lodge correspondence1952184Correspondence1952185Petition for membership1953186Ritual of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, Book First1953187Committee of Management Correspondence1953-1955188Correspondence1954189Odd Fellows Bulletin, Spring1954190Grand Lodge Session, CorrespondenceAugust 5-6, 195719126th Biennial Session of District Grand Lodge #15 and District Grand Household #11, souvenir program; Norfolk, VirginiaAugust 5-8, 1957192Correspondence1957193Envelopes1950-1959194Receipts1963195Correspondence1969196Envelopes1960-1969197Dues records, receiptsn.d.22Tadmore Light membership ribbons;Odd Fellows membership badgen.d.23Floding Company brochuresn.d.24Ritual Cardsn.d.25Gospel Hymnsn.d.26Clearance Cards, as member credentialsn.d.27Thanksgiving service programn.d.28Tadmore Light Lodge 27th anniversary announcementn.d.29Envelopesn.d.210Black wool uniform coatee with buttons with ensignia BOOFn.d.4Series II. Household of Ruth Records1904-1951Membership Questionnaire1904-194331Correspondence191632"General Laws and Regulations of the Household of Ruth Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America"191833Minute Book1918-192134Finance Book1918-192135Order for Masonic Supplies191936Correspondence192137Receipt192138Financial Records1921-192739First Annual Banquet invitation1922310Record Book of Minutes and Roll of Officers1923-1935311District Grand Household correspondence1924312Correspondence1925313Diary, author unknown (probably from Blacksburg, VA), written during a convention in Farmville [VA]1927314"General Laws and Regulations of the Household of Ruth Grand United Order of Odd Fellows in America"1927315Record Book of Taxes Collected1934316Bill for Odd Fellows Journal Subscription1935317Meeting Minute Book1935-1946318Financial Records1937319Receipt1938320Correspondence1940321Correspondence1947322District Grand Household #11 correspondence1949323Membership Credential1950324Excerpts from District Grand Household District Convention1951325Applicant's Agreementn.d.326Dues Cardsn.d.327