DigitalNC has recently added some new materials online from The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina, including meeting proceedings from the years 1866-1890, other types of documents, various physical objects (medals and commemorative jewelry), and large panoramic photographs. One of the photographs shows the members of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina in Washington D.C. with President Calvin Coolidge.

Royal Order of Jesters membership diploma

The meeting proceedings provide a view into the history of Freemasons in North Carolina, particularly in the Raleigh area. The other documents in this batch include a diploma, a membership certificate and a membership patent from various groups within the Grand Lodge of North Carolina. All of these documents contain delicate script and detailed images full of masonic symbolism. Many of the jewels also contain such symbolism.

Engraved Jewel Representing the Seal of King Solomon Lodge No. 56

To see more of the physical objects recently added, take a look at the Grand Lodge’s selection of aprons and badges that have been digitized by DigitalNC. For more information about the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, you can visit their website, or for more on what items have been digitized, see our previous blog post.

Betsy Bowman (center): Sponsor of the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory

The Chapel Hill Historical Society has recently provided for digitization a photo album and the preserved champagne bottle from the christening of the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory in 1944. The photo album pictures the christening event and also provides information on the making of Victory and LST ships during World War II in the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland. Betsy Bowman, pictured above and below, was the sponsor for the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory, and so she was invited to Baltimore to perform the christening on December 4, 1944.

The christening of the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory by Betsy Bowman

Before the christening took place, the sacrificial bottle of champagne was placed in a brightly colored bag so that no pieces of glass would be lost during the christening. The bottle was then smashed against the bow of the ship, and the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory was ready to be launched! After the ceremony, the champagne-covered bag was allowed to dry, and is now in the care of the Chapel Hill Historical Society.

The sacrificial bottle of champagne from the christening of the S.S. Chapel Hill Victory

Certificate of Membership

New materials from The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina have now been made available online, including photographs, documents, and various physical objects. These materials provide a glimpse into the activities of North Carolina Masons from the past 200+ years.

Two names that appear multiple times in this bath of materials are Alexander Boyd Andrews Jr. and Grand Master William Polk. Andrews was a lawyer who took an active role in a number of North Carolina institutions: the Masons, the University of North Carolina, and the Episcopal Church. The Southern Historical Collection in the Wilson Library house some of his papers.

Andrews’ Past Potentate Shriner’s Fez

William Polk was a Revolutionary War hero who went on to have an active career in politics. His roots were on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to being a representative in the North Carolina House of Commons, Polk was a trustee for the University of North Carolina, serving as president for three years, as well as the Masonic Grand Master of the state. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.

You can view all of the Grand Lodge’s items on DigitalNC here.