The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is November 2025)
Want an ad-free experience plus several special genealogy resources? Check out the Platinum, Gold, and Silver Premium Programs at Premium
Fraternal orders, benevolent societies, and community clubs were a cornerstone of American life from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s. If your ancestor wasn’t listed in a census or newspaper that year, there’s a good chance they were recorded in the membership rolls of a lodge, union, or club. 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.
Download the Quicksheet PDF
To obtain a one-page Quicksheet pdf of this information, download it by clicking on the Download button below:
For all the previously published Quick Reference Guides, click on QuickSheets.
Genealogy QuickSheets – Frequently Asked Questions
- 100 Best Free Online Genealogy Websites
- Beyond the Search Engine: Using Google Databases for Genealogy Research
- 64 Genealogy Items to Collect from Your Home
- United States Genealogical and Historical Societies
- 24 Places Where You Can Find Your Ancestors Occupation
- 13 Types of Genealogical Information You Can Find in Old Yearbooks
- 16 Places Where You Can Find Genealogy and Family History Books
- Easy Cousin Relationship Chart