Barbara Lott Order of the Amaranth collection, 1901-2014

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: A2005-030

Scope and Contents

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This collection contains programs, photographs, annual returns, account ledgers, minute books, directories of members, petitions for membership, visitations, and other material. This collection documents the history and daily activities of the Grand Court of Connecticut, and also the function of officers and individuals within the organization. Much of the collection is on the Order of the Amaranth, with the largest collection on the Grand Court of Connecticut and its subordinate courts followed by the Supreme Council and the Grand Court of Maryland and its subordinate courts. Thirty-two states’ grand courts are represented with a myriad of subordinate courts as well as several international courts. The collection also contains materials from other Masonic organizations including International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, Order of the Eastern Star, Grand Lodge of Connecticut, Maine and New York, Shriners International, Social Order of the Beauceant, Eastern Connecticut York Rite Festival, Knights Templar, York Rite, and DeMolay.

Dates

Creation: 1901-2014

Creator

Lott, Barbara, 1945- (Person)
Lott, William, 1944- (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open with some restrictions. See Ritual Access Policy for more information.

Folder 3: Syllabus and rituals in Box 11 is restricted.

Seven ledgers are restricted because of PPI concerns and possible mold contamination. These restricted ledgers are listed below: -Secretary’s Cash book, Grand Court of Connecticut, 1977-1987 -Secretary’s Cash book, Grand Court of Connecticut, 1987-1991 -Account ledger, Grand Court of Connecticut, 1987-1989 -Secretary’s cash book, Harmony Court, no. 12, 1925-1935 -Visitor’s register, Harmony Court, no. 12, 1925-1949 -Minute book, Harmony Court, no. 12, 1960-1964 -Minute book, Harmony Court, no. 12, 1964-1969

Conditions Governing Use

The collection and any images are presented for research and educational purposes only, and may not be distributed or re-published without permission from the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library. Please contact the Museum for more information on access procedures and reproduction services.

Biographical / Historical

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The Order of the Amaranth is a fraternal organization is based off the Order of Amarante created by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1653. The Masonic Order of the Amaranth was initially created by Robert Macoy in 1873 as the third degree in the Order of Eastern Star. The Order of the Eastern Star rejected this plan, and the Order of Amaranth was formed independently, though the two organizations were closely linked, as all members of the Order of the Amaranth were required to be a part of the Order of the Eastern star until 1921. In 1897, the Supreme Council of the Order of the Amaranth was created. The Order of Amaranth has three levels: the Supreme Council, Grand Courts, and subordinate courts. The organization’s main philanthropic project is the Amaranth Diabetes Foundation.

Barbara Lott, Supreme Grand Matron from 2001 to 2002, began collecting Order of the Amaranth materials from her decades in the organization and became known as the organization’s collector. Lott is active in the leadership of the Supreme Council and in the Grand Court of Connecticut, as she was Grand Royal Matron from 1993 to 1994. Barbara Lott’s husband, William, was also involved in the Order of the Amaranth, acting as Grand Royal Patron from 1995 to 1996 and 2009 to 2010, and other masonic organizations such as the Grand Lodge of Connecticut and the York Rite. Many of the courts that went dark sent their records to Barbara Lott. Lott began donating records to the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library in 2005.

Additional brief histories on Evergreen Court No. 2, Charity Court No. 17, Grand Court of Maryland, and Candlewood Court No. 25 written by Barbara Lott are available in the control files for this collection, MA 300.007.

Full Extent

23.48 Linear Feet (18 LTA boxes, 1, LGA box, 2 LTA-B boxes, 1 LTA-N box, 4 oversize boxes (see below), 4 charter tubes, 2 oversize folders, and 148 ledgers. Box 23: 16.75x3x12.75; Box 24: 15.25x3.25x11.75; Box 25: 12. 75x3.25x9.75; Box 26: 20.75x3.25x16.5)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Series 1: The Order of the Amaranth

___Subseries 1: Supreme Council

___Subseries 2: Grand Court of Connecticut and subordinate courts

___Subseries 3: Grand Court of Maryland and subordinate courts

___Subseries 4: Other Grand Courts and subordinate courts

Series 2: Non-Amaranth Orders

The ledgers are arranged by size and condition for preservation.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Barbara Lott

Processing Information

This collection contains the following accessions: 2005/30; 2007/29; 2007/036; 2008/014/1-4; 2009/087/1-13; 2009/091; 2016/002/001-018. A part of this collection, Grand Court of Connecticut and subordinate courts, was separated and processed by Catherine Swanson between 2007 and 2014. This collection, titled MA 049, has been reunited with the other materials. FR 035: Minutes of Supreme Trustees, Order of the Amaranth, 1968-1991 was also merged with the collection. Amaranth Circle, a published newsletter, and other published books, were separated and given to the library.

The collection was arranged by court to keep the original context of the materials. The ledgers were physically arranged by size, volume, and condition for preservation purposes.