Suggested books and resources

INDIANA MASONIC HISTORY BOOKS

The Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana is pleased to make available online the full text of several important histories pertaining to Indiana Freemasonry for the benefit of researchers.  These books are long out-of-print, but shed light on Freemasonry as it was practiced during Indiana’s first century.

Please note that these are in PDF format.  It is recommended that you right-click the links and download the files to your local computer, and read them locally.

The History of Freemasonry in Indiana, by Daniel McDonald (Historian of the Grand Lodge) – published 1898

A History of Masonry in Indianapolis, by William E. English (Centre 23; GM 1903-04) – published 1901

History of Raper Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar


Goodly Heritage: One Hundred Fifty Years of Freemasonry in Indiana, by Dwight L. Smith (1968).

The most comprehensive historical account ever written about the Freemasons in the state of Indiana. It was originally published in 1968 in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the 1818 founding of the Grand Lodge of Indiana F&AM in Madison, and is widely considered to be the most authoritative historical reference work for the state’s fraternity. It contains a wealth of early photographs of historic lodges and influential men within the Masonic community, along with exhaustive reference lists of lodges, grand lodge officers, and more. This facsimile reprint ebook edition was authorized in 2018 in conjunction with the Grand Lodge’s Bicentennial celebration and through the assistance of the Masonic Library and Museum of Indiana, Inc.

Hardback edition $36.00 (20% off of $45 retail)

E-Book edition $1.99


Heritage Endures: Perspectives on Two Hundred Years of Indiana Freemasonry (2018) by Christopher L. Hodapp

Commissioned by the Grand Lodge for 2018, this new book (by the author of Freemasons For Dummies) is an updated chronicle of the Hoosier state’s unique Masonic history, especially examining the last 50 years, and other important events overlooked in the state’s earlier Masonic histories.

Now available in hardback only, directly from the Grand Lodge of Indiana’s Grand Secretary’s office ($25+shipping), from Amazon.com ($35), or at the author’s website HERE.


MASONIC LIBRARY & MUSEUM RESOURCES

Masonic Library & Museum of Indiana website

MLMI Online Collections Portal

INDIANA FREEMASON MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

The Indiana Freemason Magazine 1923-2012 on the Indiana Memory Project site of the Indiana State Library