The Grand Lodge of Alabama, which serves as Alabama's Masonic State Headquarters, is the repository for Alabama Masonic Records where local lodges wish to deposit records for safe keeping. I'm not sure if they refer to their records as "public records", because this is a fraternal organization and not a government agency. Therefore, they do have a right to limit access to their records. I have had access to the vaults at the Alabama Grand Lodge over the years, but here in the past couple years, access as be limited to only Masonic Members due to security and staffing reasons. None of their records are organized in a manner for research. It was only trial and error and pure luck in finding something of use for research. I was trying to prove a burial of a High Degree Mason in Blount Co., but it was impossible to locate any records needed, because two local 19th century Lodges in Remlap and Village Springs folded, and the records are hard to find. Now, I have been told by staff at the Grand Lodge in Montgomery, that these old records are not available to the general public because of condition and lack of staff. Robert Johnston -----Original Message----- From: KAREN D SMITH [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 9:43 PM To: Robert C. Johnston, Jr. Subject: Re: [ALBLOUNT-L] Free Mason Grand Lodge Is that for the entire state of Alabama? I have been to the main Mason Lodge in Louisville, KY and they allow you to look through their records and I found very helpful information. It is interesting that the old Alabama records are not considered public record. Just entering a thought. Karen Smith ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert C. Johnston, Jr." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2003 2:17 PM Subject: RE: [ALBLOUNT-L] Free Mason Grand Lodge > The Grand Lodge in Montgomery does have TONS on records from all > inactive lodges, but they don't allow non-Masons to have access to > them, and they don't do research for people either. It's very sad. > I've tried many times. Most active Lodges maintain their own records > and should have all of their original records, but finding a contact > to a particular lodge is very hard. Once you find a contact, there is > no guarantees that they can help you with a lookup either because of > the lack of time and manpower. > > Hope this helps, > > Robert > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Donald Pruitt [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 5:14 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [ALBLOUNT-L] Free Mason Grand Lodge > > > There is a website for the Alabama Grand Lodge of Free Masons at: > > http://alagl.org > > Should be able to find out just how you would do research on your > grandfather and g-grandfather. Would imagine it is in Montgomery. > > Yes, Melba, I think that is why most of the churches in Forsyth Co., > GA where I was raised had become Missionary Baptists in the mid 19th > century because they were able to be Free Masons. The Rowan County, > NC (Salisbury) Courthouse has intact records back to 1750 because > General Stoneman was talked out of burning the courthouse in 1865 when > he overran the Confederate Prison Camp in Salisbury. He was a mason > and the mayor(a mason) asked him as a mason not to burn the CH and he > did not torch it. > > Don Pruitt > > ______________________________ > >