United Ancient Order of Druids, Negaunee Grove No. 3 records

The collection, MSS-120, United Ancient Order of Druids, Negaunee Grove No. 3 records, is separated into five series arranged by subject and arranged chronologically within each series. The collection materials date from 1913 to 1997 and some of the early materials are written in Italian.

Series 1 – Cash Book, 1937-08 – 1970-06, contains one bound ledger identified on the flyleaf as “Libro del Tesoriere.” The entries dated August 1937 through April 14, 1955 are written in Italian. The entries dated May 12, 1955 through June 1970 are in English. This ledger documents revenue and expenses (Entrate e Spese) of the Negaunee Grove No. 3. Expenses shown relate to pay outs to members for illness, injury, and death.

Series 2 – Ceremonies and Proceedings, 1913-1997, contains seven items. The materials in this series document the procedures for conducting meetings: Past Arch Degree; Ceremony for Draping Charters; Prayer Card of the Opening and Closing Prayers; and Forms for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the Conferring of Ovates, Bards, and Druids Degree, the regulations for installation of officers, and for opening new Groves. Also in this series is the Mortgage Burning Celebration pamphlet, the Certificate of Commission for the Negaunee Grove No. 3 and Negaunee Circle No. 2, the Commencement Journal for the 50th Biennial Session in 1983 and the Letter of Disbanding for Negaunee Grove No. 3 in 1997.

Series 3 – Constitution and By-Laws, 1913, 1915, 1977, contains three items containing the Constitution and By-Laws of the organization. There is a copy of the Franklin Grove No. 2, Dayton, Ohio Constitution and By-Laws from 1977. There are two versions of the Negaunee Grove No. 3 Constitution and By-Laws. The 1913 version is in English and the 1915 version is in Italian.

Series 4 – Membership, 1975, contains a blank Membership Application and a Membership Roster dated August 4, 1975.

Series 5 – Minutes, Ledger, 1913-09-28 – 1985-09-05, consists of four items. This series contains four ledgers documenting membership, membership dues payments, and meeting minutes covering the years since the organizations establishment on September 28, 1913 through September 5, 1985. The first ledger dated September 28, 1913 through August 1932 is written entirely in Italian. The second ledger dated September 1932 through December 1956 is written in Italian through May 12, 1955 when minutes started being written in English. The ledgers dated January 9, 1969 through December 14, 1978 and December 14, 1978 through May 9, 1985 are written in English.