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(This page's most recent update is December 2025)
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One of the more interesting parts of our ancestors’ lives that we often discover only via their obituary, is their membership or attachment to a fraternal, ethnic, religious, or service organization or society. The Quicksheet contains 25 of the more common ones in the United States.
Why is this important? – 20% of men in 1900 belonged to a lodge or club; their membership was often cited in Obituaries. Knowing their membership in a society, lodge, or club helps complete their family “story” and possibly understand them better. Here are some examples of the more well-known, with links to more information about them.
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