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(This page's most recent update is November 2025)
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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.
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