Regional History Center Regional Collections International Organization ... Finding AidTitle: International Organization of Good Templars Collection, 1865-2003
ID: RHC/RC/066
Extent: 32.5 Linear Feet
Arrangement:
The materials are arranged in five series: International Lodge; National Lodge; Central States Lodge (Scandinavian Grand Lodge); Local Lodges; and Books and Memorabilia. All materials related to the same lodge within the organization are housed together.
The folders with the generic label of Central States Grand Lodge or the Jupiter Lodge are arranged chronologically
Date Acquired: 06/07/1979. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Borggren, Hilmer, Emigration and immigration--Societies, etc., Forsyth, Jessie, Geneva (Ill.), International Order of Good Templars, International Organization of Good Templars, Prohibition, Rockford (Ill.), Swedish Americans, Swedish Americans- Illinios- Rockford
This collection documents the activities of various organizational levels found within the International Organization of Good Templars (I.O.G.T). The records date from 1865 to 1979. The materials are arranged in five series: International Lodge; National Lodge; Central States Lodge (Scandinavian Grand Lodge); Local Lodges; and Books and Memorabilia. All materials related to the same lodge within the organization are housed together. Included in these materials are constitution/by-laws, correspondence, minutes, journals of proceedings and officer's reports, program booklets, periodical publications, and financial accounts. Items in the fifth series relate indirectly to the entire organization and include books of ritual and degree, certificates, songbooks, photographs, Swedish and English publications, scrapbooks, and memorabilia.
Because this collection was created by the Central States organization, the bulk of the materials relate to that unit. Since Good Templar Lodges in the midwest were social centers for many Scandinavian immigrants, much of the earlier documentation is in the Swedish language.
The addendum dates from 1884 to 2003 and consists of minutebooks, financial records, membership information, correspondence, programs, and newspaper articles. The folders with the generic label of Central States Grand Lodge or the Jupiter Lodge are arranged chronologically and contain correspondence, meeting minutes, newspaper articles, programs, and speeches.
Researchers should note the existence of a major collection of I. O. G. T. materials in the Michigan Historical Collections at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. An inventory of Michigan's holdings is available: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/b/bhlead/umich-bhl-851519?cginame=findaid-idx;id=navbarbrowselink;subview=standard;view=reslist
On July 9, 1851, in Utica, New York, a small group of men from the Knights of Jericho met to establish a temperance order. The order would be successively know as the Grand Lodge of New York, the Right and Worthy Grand Lodge of North America, the Independent Order of Good Templars, and the International Organization of Good Templars.
The order's emphasis on education in its work undoubtedly did much to shape the character of the order and to determine its growth. Under the leadership of John B. Finch, Frances Willard, Leverett Coon, and Reverend Backus, the Good Templars expanded rapidly into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. By 1869, the order became international when the work of the Good Templars reached Great Britain. The order continued to spread into various European countries but no where did it have greater influence than in Scandinavia.
During the 1880's, many Scandinavian Good Templars migrated to the Mid-West. Because of language and cultural barriers, they frequently formed separate organizations within the Good Templars movement. By 1892 the International Supreme Lodge allowed for the organization of Scandinavian districts under every Grand Lodge of every state. In 1907, the Scandinavian district under the Illinois Grand Lodge obtained its own charter and the name Illinois Scandinavian Grand Lodge was adopted. While the Illinois Grand Lodge gradually disappeared, the Scandinavian Grand Lodge continued to absorb new members and serve as a social and cultural center for many immigrants from Sweden and Norway. The Illinois Scandinavian Grand Lodge was later renamed the Central States Grand Lodge. Today the Central States Regional Council of IOGT includes 14 active chapters and lodges in the northern Illinois region.
The International Organization of Good Templars continues to work for the goals of temperance through education and promotion of individual total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. Included under the National Grand Lodge in America are the Atlantic Seaboard Grand Lodge, the California Grand Lodge, the Central States Grand Lodge, the Connecticut Grand Lodge, the Eastern Grand Lodge, the New York Grand Lodge, the Northwest Grand Lodge, the Pacific Northwest Grand Lodge, the Tri-state Grand Lodge, Butte City Lodge, and the Washington Grand Lodge.
Borggren, Hilmer
Emigration and immigration--Societies, etc.
Forsyth, Jessie
Geneva (Ill.)
International Order of Good Templars
International Organization of Good Templars
Prohibition
Rockford (Ill.)
Swedish Americans
Swedish Americans- Illinios- Rockford
Repository: Northern Illinois University
Accruals: Addenda were added at later dates by Per Hugo Kristensson.
Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to materials in the collection.
Use Restrictions: Property rights in the collection are held by the Central States Regional Council of the International Organization of Good Templars; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source: Hilding Fornell
Acquisition Method: Hilding Fornell deposited the International Organization of Good Templars records in the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on June 7, 1979. Addenda were added at later dates by Per Hugo Kristensson.
Separated Materials: Researchers should note the existence of a major collection of I. O. G. T. materials in the Michigan Historical Collections at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. An inventory of Michigan's holdings is included in this collection.
