The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is one of the oldest and most storied fraternal organizations, with a history stretching back to the 18th century. For genealogists and family historians, the IOOF offers a wealth of records that can shed light on ancestors who were members. If you suspect your forebears were Odd Fellows, exploring IOOF genealogy research can reveal fascinating details about their lives, values, and communities. This guide will assist you in researching your IOOF ancestors, from understanding the organization to accessing its records.

The IOOF: A Brief Overview

Founded in England and established in the United States in 1819, the Independent Order Of Odd Fellows is a fraternal organization rooted in the principles of friendship, love, and truth. Our members, known as Odd Fellows, joined local lodges to engage in community service, mutual aid, and social activities. Our organization’s focus on brotherhood and charity foster tight-knit communities, and our lodge's records often include detailed personal information, making them a valuable resource for genealogists.

If your ancestor was an Odd Fellow, they likely left a paper trail that can provide clues about their life, family, and social connections. However, IOOF records can be scattered and vary by region, so knowing where to look and how to approach your research is essential.

Why Research IOOF Records?

IOOF records can offer unique insights into your ancestor’s life that may not appear in traditional genealogical sources like census records or vital statistics. These records might include:

• Membership Applications: Often containing birth date, birthplace, occupation, and family information.
• Lodge Minutes and Rosters: Documenting members’ activities, roles, and sometimes personal milestones like marriages or deaths.
• Financial Records: Dues payments or benefit claims that reveal economic status or life events like illness or death.
• Cemetery Records: Many IOOF lodges maintained cemeteries or sections within public cemeteries, which may include burial records.
• Correspondence and Newsletters: Providing context about the lodge’s activities and your ancestor’s involvement.

Exploring these records can help you build a more complete picture of your ancestor’s life, from their community involvement to their personal circumstances.

Steps for IOOF Genealogy Research

Here’s a step-by-step guide to navigate IOOF genealogy research effectively:

1. Confirm Your Ancestor’s Membership.
Before diving into IOOF records, verify your ancestor’s membership. Clues might appear in:

• Family Documents: Look for membership certificates, pins, medals, or regalia passed down through generations.
• Obituaries or Gravestones: IOOF membership was often noted in obituaries or marked on headstones with symbols like the three-link chain (representing friendship, love, and truth) or the letters “FLT.”
• Local Histories: Check town or county histories for mentions of IOOF lodges.
• Census or City Directories: Some directories listed fraternal affiliations, including IOOF membership.

If you find evidence of membership, note the lodge’s name, number, and location to guide your search for records.

2. Locate the Relevant Lodge.
IOOF lodges are organized locally, with each maintaining its own records. To find your ancestor’s lodge:

• Contact the Grand Lodge: Each state or region has a Grand Lodge overseeing local lodges. Find a Grand Lodge in our directory.
• The Sovereign Grand Lodge in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, can provide contact information for state Grand Lodges. Visit www.ioof.org to start.
• Search Historical Directories: The IOOF published directories listing lodges, officers, and sometimes members, available through libraries or archives like the Internet Archive or try our IOOF Lodge Directory.
• Check Local Historical Societies: Small-town historical societies often hold records or know the history of local IOOF lodges.

3. Access IOOF Records
Once you’ve identified the lodge, locate its records. IOOF records are not centralized, so explore multiple repositories:

• Local Lodge Archives: If the lodge still exists, contact current officers to inquire about historical records. Some lodges maintain archives dating back decades.
• State Grand Lodge Archives: Many Grand Lodges preserve records from defunct local lodges. Contact the Grand Lodge in your ancestor’s state to ask about access.
• Libraries and Archives: Check state or local libraries, historical societies, or university archives for IOOF collections. For example, the Indiana Historical Society holds extensive IOOF records for that state.
• Online Databases: Some IOOF records are digitized. Websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, or Fold3 may include membership lists or related documents. The Internet Archive also hosts IOOF publications, such as annual proceedings or ritual books.
• Cemetery Records: If your ancestor was buried in an IOOF cemetery, contact the cemetery office or check online databases like FindAGrave.com for burial records.

4. Understand Record Types
When accessing IOOF records, you may encounter various documents. Common ones and what they reveal include:

• Membership Applications: Include the applicant’s full name, age, occupation, residence, and sometimes family members or sponsors.
• Lodge Minutes: Detail meetings, events, and member activities, potentially mentioning your ancestor’s role or contributions.
• Benefit Records: The IOOF provided mutual aid, such as sick benefits or funeral expenses, noting health issues, disabilities, or death dates.
• Suspension or Expulsion Records: May explain why an ancestor left the lodge, such as non-payment of dues or relocation.
• Newsletters or Journals: IOOF publications like The Odd Fellow Review may include member profiles or lodge news.

5. Overcome Research Challenges
IOOF genealogy research can be challenging due to the decentralized nature of our Order and record loss over time. Tips to navigate obstacles:

• Incomplete Records: Many lodges closed or merged, and records may have been lost. If local records are unavailable, check Grand Lodge archives or nearby lodges for overlapping membership lists.
• Privacy Restrictions: Some lodges restrict access to recent records to protect member privacy. Provide proof of your relationship to the ancestor or request historical records (typically pre-1940).
• Multiple Lodges: If your ancestor moved frequently, they may have joined multiple lodges. Trace residences through census records or directories to identify all possible lodges.
• Rebekah Lodges: Women could join the Rebekah Degree, the IOOF’s female auxiliary. For female ancestors, look for Rebekah lodge records alongside IOOF records.

6. Contextualize Your Findings
To understand your ancestor’s IOOF involvement, research the historical context of their lodge and the organization’s community role:

• Lodge Activities: Was the lodge involved in charitable projects, like building orphanages or supporting widows? This can reveal your ancestor’s values and contributions.
• Historical Events: Did the lodge play a role during events like the Great Depression or World War I? This might explain changes in membership status or financial records.
• Symbols and Rituals: Familiarize yourself with IOOF symbols (e.g., the all-seeing eye, heart in hand) and rituals to interpret documents or artifacts.

Tips for Success

• Be Persistent: IOOF records are often scattered, so contact multiple repositories or visit archives in person.
• Network with Other Researchers: Join genealogy forums or groups like the IOOF Genealogy group on Facebook to share tips and resources.
• Document Everything: Keep detailed notes on where you found information, as IOOF records can be complex and fragmented.
• Explore Related Organizations: If your ancestor was an Odd Fellow, they may have been involved in other fraternal groups, like the Masons or Knights of Pythias, yielding additional records.

Resources for IOOF Genealogy Research

• The Sovereign Grand Lodge of the IOOF: www.ioof.org
• IOOF Lodge Directory: iooflodgedirectory.org
• FamilySearch: www.familysearch.org (search for IOOF records or fraternal organization collections)
• Ancestry.com: Search for IOOF membership lists or lodge publications
• Internet Archive: www.archive.org (search “Odd Fellows” for digitized journals, directories, or ritual books)
• FindAGrave: www.findagrave.com (search for IOOF cemeteries or headstones)
• Local Historical Societies and Libraries: Contact repositories in your ancestor’s area
• State Grand Lodges: Search online for your state’s Grand Lodge contact information

Please keep in mind the following when making genealogy requests:

• You will need the name of the individual.
• Town of residence.
• Years of residence.
• Year of death. A Member may keep Membership in one Lodge and participate in a Lodge of another city as a visitor or Associate Member.
• Odd Fellow or Rebekah Applications do not include information about the applicant’s parents.
• Each Jurisdiction keeps the annual reports from all of the Lodges under its jurisdiction, for as far back as the records survive. The annual reports list the current members and dates of membership change, such as when a Member joined the Lodge (by initiation or by transfer from another Lodge) and when a Members leaves the Lodge (by death, resignation, or transfer to another Lodge). Details, such as what Lodge the Member transferred to or from, are in the Lodge’s records. When a Lodge surrenders its Charter (closes), its records are to be transferred to the Grand Lodge or Rebekah Assembly Office of that Jurisdiction. If a Lodge amalgamates with another Lodge, its records transfer to the other Lodge.
• Searching for a name can take time and the more information provided to narrow the search, the more likely someone will be able to find confirmation of Lodge Membership.
• Unfortunately, our old records aren’t digitized and archiving hasn’t been done consistently from place to place, so once the Lodge closes the records may or may not be sent for any sort of storage. It’s a needle in a haystack search if the needle even exists anymore.

The Sovereign Grand Lodge, (this website), does not have information on an individual’s Membership in the Order. Please contact the local IOOF Grand Lodge or Rebekah Assembly for genealogy research information.

For a list of IOOF Grand Lodges and Rebekah Assemblies visit:

The IOOF lodge Directory

IOOF Grand Lodges
Rebekah Assemblies

For general information about The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, write to:

The Sovereign Grand Lodge
Independent Order of Odd Fellows

422 North Trade Street
Winston-Salem, NC. 27101-2830

For information about The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, write to:

Grand United Order of Odd Fellows

12th & Spruce Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-735-8774