An altruistic and benevolent fraternal organization, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) was originally organized in England in the 18th century. Established in the United States in 1819, it was the first national fraternity to include both men and women (beginning in 1851). Branches of the I.O.O.F. were started in Phoenixville, Chester County, Pennsylvania in 1847. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Phoenixville lodges records, 1847-1974, document the Phoenixville iterations of the I.O.O.F. over a 125-year period. The collection includes records of Phoenix Lodge No. 212, Phoenix Encampment No. 79, Adelaide Rebekah Lodge No. 42 (women's auxiliary), and the local Three Link Club (junior division). Minutes form the largest portion of the collection, but there are also membership records, financial records, ephemera, and other related materials.
Held at: Historical Society of the Phoenixville Area [Contact Us]