Chronological
Establishment of Fraternal Organizations in America
1733
Freemasonry
1765
Sons of
Liberty
1771
Saint Tamina
Society
1776
Phi Beta
Kappa
1783
Society of
the Cincinnati
1784
Prince Hall
Freemasonry (Af./Am), chartered
1789
Tammany
Society, or Columbian Order
1795
Loyal Orange
Legion
1797
Royal Arch
Masonry, International General Grand Chapter of
1801
Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction
Washington
Benevolent Society
1813
Ancient
Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction
Society of
Red Men
1819
Independent
Order of Odd Fellows
1834
Ancient Order
of Foresters
United
Ancient Order of Druids
Improved
Order of Red Men
1835
Knights of
the Golden Circle
Order of
Reubens
1840
Sons of
Hermann
1842
Independent
Order of Rechabites
Sons of
Temperance
Templars of
Honor and Temperance
1843
Independent
Order, B'nai B'rith
Grand United
Order of Odd Fellows (Af./Am.)
1844
American
Brotherhood
Order of
United Americans
1845
Ancient Order
of Hibernians
Order of
United American Mechanics
United
Daughters of Rechab
1846
Order of
Twelve (Af./Am.)
Patriotic
Order, Sons of America
United Order
of True Sisters
1847
Independent
Order, Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria (Af./Am.)
1849
Independent
Order, Free Sons of Israel
Actor's Order
of Friendship
1850
Knights of
Jericho
Independent
Order, Good Templars
1851
Ancient and
Illustrious Star of Bethlehem
Sons of "76,
or Order of the Star Spangled Banner
Good Templars
1853
Junior Order,
United American Mechanics
1854
Order of the
Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men
Sons of Malta
Molly
Maguires
Czechoslovak
Society of America
1855
Grand United
Order of Galilean Fishermen
Order of the
Eastern Star
1857
Fenian
Brotherhood
Rosicrucians
1859
Order of
B'rith Abraham
Order Knights
of Friendship
1861
United
Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten (Af./Am.)
1863
Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers
1864
Knights of
Pythias
1865
Ancient Order
of Freesmiths
Knights of
the Ku Klux Klan
Military
Order, Loyal Legion of the U.S.
North
American Swiss Alliance
Order of
Mules
1866
Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks
Grand Army of
the Republic
1867
Order,
Patrons of Husbandry (Grange)
Klu Klux Klan
1868
Ancient Order
of United Workmen
Independent
Order of Mechanics
St. Patrick's
Alliance of America
Ye Ancient
Order of Corks (Jolly Corks)
1869
Order of the
Star of Bethlehem
Degree of
Rebekah
Knights of
Pythias of North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa (Af./Am.)
Women's
Relief Corps
Knights of
St. Crispin
Noble Order,
Knights of Labor
1870
Ancient
Illustrious Order, Knights of Malta
Order of the
Red Cross of Constantine
P.E.O.
Sisterhood
Royal
Templars of Temperance
1871
Ancient
Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
Ancient
Order, Knights of the Mystic Chain
Order, Sons
of St. George
1872
Knights of
the Golden Eagle
Independent
Order of Immaculates of the USA
Independent
General Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters
International
Order of Twelve, of Knights and Daughters of Tabor (Af./Am)
Order of
Native Americans
1873
Brotherhood
of Locomotive Firemen
Degree of
Honor
Knights of
Honor
Order of
Amaranth
Order of the
American Union
Polish Roman
Catholic Union of America
1874
Independent
Order of Foresters
1875
German Order
of Harugari
Native Sons
of the Golden West
The Crescents
Daughters of
Liberty
1876
United Order,
Golden Cross
Sons of
Scotland Benevolent Association
1877
Knights and
Ladies of Honor
Royal Arcanum
Order of
Shield of Honor
Independent
Order, Sons of Benjamin
Catholic
Knights of America
1878
American
Legion of Honor
Improved
Order of Heptasophs, or Seven Wise Men
Knights of
the Maccabees
Order of
Mutual Protection
Order of
Mutual Protection
Order of
Scottish Clans
Royal Order
of Scotland
United Order
of Pilgrim Fathers
1879
Catholic
Association of Foresters
Czech
Catholic Union
The Home
Circle
Knights and
Ladies of the Golden Rule
Order of
Chosen Friends
Order of
Sparta
Knights of
the Sherwood Forest
Knights of
St. John
Knights of
the Red Cross
National
Haymakers' Association (PofH)
Sons of Adam
1880
Patriarchal
Circle of America
Polish
National Alliance of US of N.A.
Portuguese
Union of the State of California
Societas
Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis
1881
Benevolent
Order of Buffaloes
Order of the
Golden Chain
Order of
United Friends
Catholic
Benevolent Legion
Catholic
Knights of St. George
Danish
Brotherhood in America
Danish
Sisterhood
Golden Star
Fraternity
Grand United
Order, True Reformers
Independent
Order of Svithiod
Knights and
Ladies of Honor
Loyal Knights
and Ladies
Order of Iron
Hall
Sons of
Veterans, USA
(name changed to Sons of Union
Veterans of the Civil War in 1922)
Templars of
Liberty
1882
Independent
Order of Mystic Brothers
Knights of
Columbus
Patriotic
League of the Revolution
Travelers
Protective Association of America
1883
Modern
Woodmen of America
Mosaic
Templars of America
Royal League
1884
American Star
Order (Roum. Jews)
Ancient and
Illustrious Order, Knights of Malta
Bavarian
National Association of N.A.
Free and
Regenerated Palladium
Knights and
Ladies of the Golden Star
Northwestern
Legion of Honor
Order of
American Freemen
1885
Fraternal
Mystic Circle
Degree of
Pocohontas
Legion of the
Red Cross
1886
Lithuanian
Alliance of America
National
Order of Videttes
Native
Daughters of the Golden West
Order of the
Golden Circle
Verhovay
Fraternal Insurance Association
William Penn
Association
1887
American
Protective Association
Ancient Order
of Osiris
Independent
Order of Chosen Friends
Independent
Order of B'rith Abraham
Improved
Order of B'nai B'rith
Knights and
Ladies of the Round Table
New England
Order of Protection
Polish
Falcons of America
1888
American
Order of Druids
Ancient
Essenic Order
Daughters of
America
International
Association of Machinists
Knights of
the Ancient Essenic Order
Knights of
the Blue Cross of the World
Loyal Order
of Moose
Loyal Women
of American Liberty
Modern Order
of Chaldeans
Order of
Pente
Order of the
Red, White and Blue
Order of
Select Friends
Pythian
Sisterhood
Rathbone
Sister of the World
Sexennial
League
1889
Foresters of
America
Knights of
the Globe
Order of
Equity
Order of
Unity
Royal
Neighbors of America
United
Confederate Veterans
1890
Ahavas Israel
Brotherhood
of America
Independent
Order of Owls
Knights of
Reciprocity
Loyal Knights
of America
Order of
United Commercial Travelers of America
Polish Union
of America
Social Order
of the Beauceant
Woodmen of
the World
1891
Catholic
Workmen
Daughters of
America
Home
Palladium
Modern
Knights Fidelity League
Zivena
Beneficial Society
1892
Concatenated
Order of Hoo-Hoo
Independent
Order Sons of Abraham
Loyal Mystic
legion of America
Mystic
Workers of the World
Mystic Order,
Velied Prophets of the Enchanted Realm
Order of
Amaranth
Order of
Aegis
Pioneer
Fraternal Association
1893
Ancient
Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North and South America (Af./Am.)
Daughters of
Isis
Indian
Republican League
Knights and
Ladies of Azar
Pennsylvania
Slovak Catholic Union
Union
Fraternal League
1894
American
Benevolent Association
American
Hungarian Catholic Society
American
Knights of Protection
Croatian
Fraternal Union of America
Dramatic
Order, Knights of Khorassan
Imperial
Order of Muscovites
Order of the
Golden Rod
Order of the
White Shrine of Jerusalem
Royal Tribe
of Joseph
Tribe of Ben-Hur
Ukranian
National Association
United Order
of Foresters
Workmen's
Circle
1895
Ancient
Mystic Order of Bagmen of Bagdad
Ancient Order
of Sanhedrims
Court of
Honor
Improved
Order of Knights of Pythias
Independent
Order, Knights of Labor
Knights of
Equity
Knights of
the Loyal Guard
National
League of the Armenian Race in America
Order of the
Daughters of Scotia
Order of the
Little Red School House
Protestant
Knights of America
Sons of
Norway
A special "Thanks" to Mark Tabbert
of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial for submitting the above
chronology. Mark is the Curator of the George Washington Museum and
invites you to visit his on-line museum at:
