Loyal Orange Association of British America

Loyal Orange Association of British America : Orange Associations collection. -- [ca. 1853]-[ca. 1970]. -- 1.2 m of textual records.

The Loyal Orange Association of British America was founded in January 1830 by Colonel Ogle G. Gowan who became its first Grand Master. The Association takes its name from William, Prince of Orange, who was crowned William III of Great Britain in 1689. In Canada, the Orange Association dedicated itself to the promotion of British Protestantism. Orangemen played an active part in local political affairs, church activities, and public education until well into the twentieth century.

The collection consists of over four hundred charters for disbanded lodges in Canada and the records for the Grand Orange Lodge of Ontario West, consisting of Bothwell and Moraviantown. The collection is supplemented by pamphlets published by the Loyal Orange Association of British America as well as by Orange Associations in Britain, Ireland, and other countries in the former British Empire. The collection also contains minute books, cash books and correspondence.

Researchers may also wish to consult the pamphlet collection which contains Loyal Orange Association pamphlets.

Title based on content of the collection.
Some of the pamphlets, particularly those from Ireland, were purchased from Kennys Bookshops, Galway, Ireland, possibly in late 1971. The charters were donated by the Grand Orange Lodge of Canada in November 1977. The records of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ontario West were purchased from Gord Russell in December 1990. This purchase included additional pamphlets.
Finding aid is available in hard copy and electronically. There are index cards describing the charters. There is no finding aid for the pamphlets.
There are no access restrictions.
No further accruals are expected

Contact: archives@mcmaster.ca
Last Reviewed: May 28, 2003
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