Papers of George A. Newbury, 1948-1982

Newbury was born in Ripley, New York in 1895. He had a very prominent career, first as a lawyer and then as a banker. He met and married Eleanor Louise Murray in 1931. Unfortunately, Eleanor suffered a nervous breakdown after the death of her mother and never recovered. She spent most of her time in a nursing facility in Brattleboro, Vermont. Newbury maintained a home in Buffalo, New York. Newbury’s career as a banker prospered from 1945 until 1962 when he retired.

Newbury had a very active Masonic career which this collection documents. After becoming a Master Mason, Newbury joined the ranks of Scottish Rite in Buffalo in 1926. He received his 33° in 1940 and became an Active Member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, in 1947. Newbury was the Scottish Rite Deputy from New York state from 1952-1965, then appointed Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction from 1965-1975. Newbury had a special interest in committees concerned with relationships with Masons in foreign countries. This continued throughout his tenure as Sovereign Grand Commander and afterwards from 1975 through 1982.