Jacob Norton papers, 1844-1897

Collection

Identifier: A2011-017

Abstract

This collection includes correspondence sent to Jacob Norton, and a small number of letters that were sent by Norton. The correspondence provide insight into the lives of American Masons all over the United States in various positions of importance in Masonry. The collection also reveals the nature of relationships between American Masons and, especially, between these Masons and Norton himself. Norton’s collecting of research into American Masonic practices and early American Masonic history is prominent in this collection. Other research, such as Norton’s interest in Jewish and African American presence in Freemasonry, is not as prominent. Most of the correspondences address articles by Norton or Norton’s research on these subjects. Little is revealed about Norton’s life or business through these correspondences, as most of these correspondences are to Norton and generally do not discuss his personal or business life.

Dates

Creation: 1844-1897

Creator

Norton, Jacob, 1814-1897 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research except for various rituals. See the Ritual Access policy for more details.

Conditions Governing Use

Materials in this collection may be governed by copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Please contact the Archivist regarding permission to publish material.

Biographical / Historical

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Jacob Norton, of Polish ancestry and Jewish faith, was born in Middlesex, England in 1814. He began to work as a furrier and was initiated into Joppa Lodge (London, England) on June 3rd, 1839 as an Entered Apprentice when he was 25. From there, he was passed on July 1st, 1839 to the degree of Fellow Craft, and raised on August 5th, 1839 to the degree of Master Mason. Norton took his business to the United States, and in 1842, demitted from Joppa Lodge.

In 1844, after taking up residence in Boston, Massachusetts, Norton joined St. Andrew’s Lodge, and was made a member on November 14th. He remained a member of this lodge for almost 8 years until his petition to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for the revision of its ritual and removal of overt Christian allusions was denied in June 1852. The committee members who denied this petition also recommended that he and the other petitioners had to withdraw from St. Andrew’s. He subsequently resigned from St. Andrew’s Lodge and became increasingly discontent with American Freemasonry, writing critical articles until his death. Due to this, Norton was considered to be argumentative and opinionated by the Masons of the Massachusetts jurisdiction, and beyond. He collected some of these articles and new writings in a book called Masonic Fiction Exploded: Including the Pretended Grand Mastership of Henry Price, published in 1896. Before his death, Norton donated a copy of this book to Harvard University. Norton did not remove himself from Freemasonry altogether, however, as he continued to attend the meetings of Joppa Lodge in England when his trade took him there and also corresponded with Masons until his death. Additionally, he joined the Correspondence Circle of Quatuor Coronati Lodge in London in November 1887.

In his personal life, Norton was married to Miriam Norton (born 1829), and had three children, Edward, Rachel and George. Sometime between 1852 and his death he renounced his Jewish faith and considered himself an atheist. He lived in Boston until his death in March 1897, aged 83.