The Grand Lodge’s collection was started by California’s first Masons in the 19th century. Unfortunately, many historic materials – including detailed membership records – were destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. In the years since, the collection has been rebuilt, primarily through donations by members and their relatives. Today, its location inside the California Masonic Memorial Temple in San Francisco contains around 800 aprons; ritual objects and jewelry; a rare book collection, including first editions of early Masonic texts; a large bible collection (the oldest dating back to 1599); a significant collection of sheet music and songbooks; and even an organ. It also houses an extensive archival component, containing manuscripts, letters, ledger books, and even diaries.

“Within these documents is the history of a community,” says Collections Manager Joseph Evans. “As a total body of work, this material reveals the stories that make up Freemasonry throughout the state.”

One such story is that of United States Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren, who spearheaded some of this country’s most historic decisions – including Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which ruled racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. In 1935, before serving as California’s governor and on the Supreme Court, Warren was grand master of Masons in California. The museum’s collection includes some of his correspondence, datebooks, and other writings. It also houses personal items from such famous Californians as Charles Crocker and Leland Stanford – two of the “Big Four” railroad giants. As Evans points out, almost all prominent early Californians were also Freemasons.

The collection stretches beyond California, too. This is especially true of its Masonic aprons, many of which originated in France, England, Scotland, and throughout the United States. Some date back to the mid-1700s, and one belonged to famed explorer Davy Crockett, circa 1820. The museum’s regalia collection includes swords and capes from Knights Templar commanderies and Shriner fezzes, as well as trowels, pitchers, cups, and utensils embossed with Masonic symbols.