Guide to the Foresters of America. Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.) and Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento,
Calif.) records
Lynn Aiello
Center for Sacramento History
551 Sequoia Pacific Blvd.
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Phone: (916) 808-7072
Fax: (916) 264-7582
Email: csh@cityofsacramento.org
URL: http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/
© 2013
Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Foresters of America. Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.) and Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento,
Calif.) records
Collection number: MS00016
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, CA
- Processed by:
- Lynn Aiello
- Date Completed:
- 07/08/2019
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 Center for Sacramento History. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Foresters of America. Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.) and Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento, Calif.) records
Dates: 1881-1960
Collection number: MS0016
Creator:
Foresters of America. Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Creator:
Foresters of America. Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Collection Size:
13 linear feet
(14 boxes + 6 volumes)
Repository:
Center for Sacramento History
Sacramento, California 95811-0229
Abstract: The Foresters of America Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.) and Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento, Calif.) collection
is comprised primarily of meeting minutes and financial records of the Foresters of America, Court Concordia No. 119 and Court
Sacramento No. 12 from 1884-1960. The Foresters of America (F of A) was an American fraternal and benevolent organization
that supported its membership with medical assistance, weekly sick benefits, burial benefits and support during times of unemployment
or hardship. The Foresters of America also had social benefits, along with the financial. Its motto was “Liberty, Unity,
Benevolence and Concord.”
Physical location: 2:A:2-4
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
German
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Publication Rights
All requests to publish or quote from private manuscripts held by the Center for Sacramento History (CSH) must be submitted
in writing to the archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of CSH as the owner of the physical items and
is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the patron. No permission
is necessary to publish or quote from public records.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item and/or item number], [box and folder number], Foresters of America. Court Concordia, No. 119 (Sacramento,
Calif.) and Court Sacramento, No. 12 (Sacramento, Calif.) records, MS0016, Center for Sacramento History.
Acquisition Information
This collection was donated by Heinz Ludke and the Sacramento Turn Verein. It includes administrative records, ledgers, minutes,
financial records, photographs and certificates dating from 1884 -1960. Accession number: 2008/036.
Processing Information
Processing and finding aid by Lynn Aiello, 2019.
Biography / Administrative History
The Foresters of America (F of A) was an American fraternal and benevolent organization that supported its membership with
medical assistance, weekly sick benefits, burial benefits and support during times of unemployment or hardship. The Foresters
of America also had social benefits, along with the financial. Its motto was “Liberty, Unity, Benevolence and Concord.”
A member of a Court became a member of the organization regardless of location, meaning that benefits moved with the member,
a novel feature at the time and one that inspired the inception of the Royal Foresters at Knaresborough Castle, England in
1745. In 1834, its name was changed to the Ancient Order of Foresters. By 1874, the Canadian and American branches separated
from the Ancient Order of Foresters to form the Independent Order of Foresters, headquartered in Canada. Separation from British
friendly society administration was completed by 1889 when became the Ancient Order of Foresters of America. It then changed
its name to Foresters of America in 1895. This is shown by the seamless transition from Court Concordia No. 8393 to Court
Concordia No. 119 on the same day as Court Sacramento No. 6742 became Court Sacramento No. 12 in the minute books.
According to Stacy C. Hollander (2016) in her exhibition label for an Foresters of America ceremonial axe, the stories surrounding
the Robin Hood legend and the biblical Garden of Eden influenced the rituals, regalia and props of the Ancient Order of Foresters,
and thus that of the Foresters of America.
The terminology used come from the British medieval forest courts: court instead of lodge, for example, and officers called
Chief Ranger (President) or Woodwards.
Today, the Foresters and Foresters Financial are trademarks and trade names of the Independent Order of Foresters. Foresters
Financial is an international financial services provider for life insurance, savings, retirement, and other financial products.
These companies operate in the US, Canada and the UK.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection is comprised primarily of meeting minutes and financial records of Foresters of America Court Concordia No.
119 and Court Sacramento No. 12 from 1884-1960. Membership materials include medical information. Among the artifacts is a
tasseled velvet Court Concordia collar/shawl (undated), ribbons and medallions, and a container with different colored stones.
Also included are some poster-sized certificates and a Foresters card with odes and the words to songs dating to circa 1906.
Three group photographs can be found under Administrative records—membership—photographs, box 12.
The collection has been organized into three series, Administrative records, Artifacts and Financial records Series 1 Administrative
records is composed primarily of large minute books in large books and ledgers. Court Concordia minutes are mostly in German
although membership information is in both English and German. Court Sacramento materials are entirely in English. One box
of documents (Box 11) contains correspondence, newsletters, event flyers and recruitment information and other ephemera mostly
dating from the 1938 to 1949, although the range is 1894-1959. Membership information is contained in ledgers. Also included
are applications for membership along with medical forms; three group photographs; certificates; and three records of proceedings
of annual sessions of the Grand Court of California dating from 1949-1959.
Series 2 Artifacts. Apart from the velvet collar/shawl and a wooden box with different colored stones, this series is comprised
of a variety of committee ribbons, pins and medallions.
Series 3 Financial Records. These records span the period 1894-1960 and included ledgers, cash books, reports, stock ledgers
and certificates, as well as cancelled checks.
Arrangement
Series 1: Administrative records
Subseries 1.1 Meeting minutes
Subseries 1.2 Correspondence and other related
Subseries 1.3 Membership
Subseries 1.4 Certificates
Subseries 1.5 Medical
Subseries 1.6 Photographs
Subseries 1.7 Proceedings
Subseries 1.8 Reports
Series 2: Artifacts
Series 3: Financial records
Subseries 3.1: Financial records
Subseries 3.2: Reports
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Ancient Order of Foresters
Independent Order of Foresters
Foresters of America
Foresters of America. Court Concordia No. 119 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Foresters of America. Court Sacramento No. 12 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Fraternal organizations
Benevolent societies
Friendly societies
Mutual aid societies
Stacy C. Hollander, “Foresters of America Axe,” exhibition label for Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk
Art from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection. Stacy C. Hollander, curator. New York: America Folk Art Museum, 2016.
Series 1: Administrative records
Series Scope and Content Summary
Administrative records are composed primarily of large minute books in large books and ledgers. Court Concordia minutes are
mostly in German although membership information is in both English and German. Court Sacramento materials are entirely in
English. One box of documents (Box 11) contains correspondence, newsletters, event flyers and recruitment information and
other ephemera mostly dating from the 1938 to 1949, although the range is 1894-1959. Membership information is contained in
ledgers. Also included are applications for membership along with medical forms; three group photographs; certificates; and
three records of proceedings of annual sessions of the Grand Court of California dating from 1949-1959.
Subseries 1.1: Meeting minutes
Box 11 Folder 4
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
01/11/1898-05/19/1903
Box 11 Folder 3
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
01/03/1893-01/04/1898
Box 1 Folder 1
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/23/1942- 04/10/1959
Box 1 Folder 2
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 6861
04/05/1888-12/27/1892
Box 4 Folder 4
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
04/20/1884-10/15/1897
Box 4 Folder 5
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacrmento No. 12
05/26/1903-12/08/1908
Box 14 Folder
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
05/27/1910-06/23/1916
Box 1 Folder 3
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
06/15/1923-02/28/1930
Box 2 Folder 2
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
06/22/1900-10/28/1904
Box 4 Folder 3
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
06/30/1916-11/07/1919
Box 6 Folder 1
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 6861
07/14/1882-12/11/1884
Box 7 Folder 1
Foresters of America minute book #12, Court Sacramento No. 12
07/25/1916- 08/06/1918
Box 8 Folder 1
Foresters of America minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
08/03/1926-08/05/1930
Box 8 Folder 2
Foresters of America minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
08/19/1930-10/02/1934
Box 7 Folder 2
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
08/20/1918-07/19/1922
Box 8 Folder 3
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
10/16/1934-11/15/1938
Box 4 Folder 1
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
10/22/1897-06/15/1900
Box 5 Folder 5
Board of directors minutes
10/28/1889-12/12/1898
Box 3 Folder 1
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
11/04/1904-05/20/1910
Box 2 Folder 1
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
11/14/1919-06/08/1923
Box 2 Folder 6
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
12/15/1908-07/18/1916
Box 2 Folder 1
Order of Foresters minute book, Court Sacramento No. 6861
12/18/1884-03/27/1888
Box 1 Folder 2
Minutes record book, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
3/14/1930 - 01/09/1942
Box 7 Folder 3
Foresters of America minute book, Court Sacramento No. 12
8/01/1922-07/20/1926
Subseries 1.2: Correspondence and other related
Box 11 Folder 7
Papers found in Minutes Record Book
12/01/1924; 03/09/1928;12/15/1928
Box 11 Folder 13
Papers, Court Sacramento No. 12
1940
Box 11 Folder 15
Papers, Court Sacramento No. 12
1941
Box 11 Folder 33
Correspondence and checks, Court Concordia No. 119
1949
Box 11 Folder 11
Papers, Court Sacramento No. 12
1938-1939
Box 11 Folder 12
Papers, Court Sacramento No. 12
1939-1942
Box 11 Folder 14
Papers, Court Sacramento No. 12
1940-1942
Box 11 Folder 4
Forester's of America card with opening ode, others
circa 1906
Box 11 Folder 8
Notes found inside Minutes Book
10/16/1934
Box 11 Folder 6
Annotated amendments to Court by-laws and resolutions
12/16/1919
Box 11 Folder 9
Constitution, Court Concordia No. 119
1906, 1913
Subseries 1.3: Membership
Box 2 Folder 3
Membership ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/01/1900-12/07/1906
Box 3 Folder 3
Membership ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/01/1906-01/13/1911
Box 15 Folder
Membership ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/01/1911-01/01/1959
Box 10 Folder 12
Foresters of America Visitor's register: Record of visitors to Concordia No. 119
04/02/[1915]-05/04/1916
Box 11 Folder 3
Application register A. O. F of A., Court Concordia No. 119
04/14/1894-01/20/1911
Box 9 Folder 3
Membership ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
04/20/1894-09/24/1941
Box 9 Folder 2
Membership Ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
04/20/1894-12/01/1899
Box 5 Folder 6
Officer's roll book, Court Concordia No. 119
06/30/1894-01/1910
Box 10 Folder 11
Record of beneficiary, Court Sacramento No. 12
07/20/1926-06/01/1937
Box 6 Folder 3
Protocol Buch des Club Concordia (German)
11/11/1898-12/28/1935
Box 10 Folder 1
Order of Foresters initiation book, Court Sacramento No. 12
11/23/1897-?
Box 5 Folder 1
Order of Foresters membership roster, Court Capitol of California No.6742
1881-1929
Subseries 1.4 Certificates
Box 12 Folder 2
Certificates -Ancient Oder of Foresters of America Dispensation, Court Concordia No. 8393
04/20/1894
Box 12 Folder 3
Certificates - Deputy Grand Chief Ranger's Commission
1915, 1931, 1932, 1940
Box 12 Folder 5
Membership certificates (3), Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Box 11 Folder 1
Medical Examination forms, Court Concordia No. 119
10/30/1913-12/26/1913
Box 11 Folder 2
Medical Examination forms, Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Subseries 1.6 Photographs
Box 12 Folder 1
Photograph " Orden der herman Sohne"
circa 1954
Box 12 Folder 4
Photographs- Drill Team of Court Schiller No. 120 F. of A., Court Schiller No. 120
undated
Subseries 1.7 Proceedings
Box 11 Folder 35
Proceedings of the 70th annual session of the Grand Court of California, Santa Rosa, California
05/21/1959-05/23/1959
Box 11 Folder 34
Proceedings of the 63rd Annual Sessions of the Grand Court of California, Sacramento, California
05/15/1952-05/17/1952
Box 11 Folder 32
Proceedings of the 60th Annual Sessions of the Grand Court of California, Marysville, California
05/19/1949-05/21/1949
Box 10 Folder 4
Foresters of America investigating committee reports, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
03/12/1915-03/26/1915
Series 2: Artifacts
Series Scope and Content Summary
Apart from the velvet collar/shawl and a wooden box with different colored stones, this series is comprised of a variety of
committee ribbons, pins and medallions
Box 16 Folder 1
Committee ribbons, Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Box 16 Folder 2
Stag head medallions
undated
Box 16 Folder 3
Official members regalia badges
undated
Box 16 Folder 4
Foresters of America badges with motto
undated
Box 16 Folder 5
Assorted medallions, Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Box 16 Folder 6
Velvet, tasseled "collar/shawl," Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Box 16 Folder 7
Container with drawer, Court Concordia No. 119
undated
Series 3: Financial records
Series Scope and Content Summary
These records span the period 1894-1960 and included ledgers, cash books, reports, stock ledgers and certificates, as well
as cancelled checks.
Subseries 3.1 Financial records
Box 6 Folder 2
Order of Foresters ledger
01/01/1924-01/01/1939
Box 9 Folder 1
Cash book
01/03/1950-06/02/1959
Box 11 Folder 30
Financial-Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
02/10/1950-06/09/1950
Box 11 Folder 29
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
02/25/1949-06/24/1949
Box 11 Folder 20
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
02/26/1943-06/25/1943 ; 04/25/1947-05/23/1947
Box 11 Folder 21
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
03/24/1944-03/23/1945
Box 11 Folder 25
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
04/12/1946-06/28/1946
Box 11 Folder 27
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
06/13/1947-06/27/1947; 06/09/1950-09/08/1950
Box 11 Folder 22
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
06/22/1945-09/28/1945
Box 11 Folder 19
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
09/25/1942-12/11/1942
Box 11 Folder 26
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
09/27/1946-12/27/1946
Box 11 Folder 28
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
10/10/1947-12/26/1947
Box 11 Folder 10
Sacramento-San Joaquin Bank cancelled checks
10/12/1928-12/28/1928
Box 11 Folder 23
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
10/12/1945-12/14/1945
Box 11 Folder 20
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
12/11/1942-03/26/1943
Box 11 Folder 24
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
12/14/1945-03/22/1946
Box 11 Folder 19
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
01/14/1944-03/24/1944
Box 11 Folder 18
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
06/12/1942-09/25/1942
Box 11 Folder 17
Bank of America cancelled checks, Court Concordia No. 119
12/26/1941-03/27/1942
Box 11 Folder 16
Documents found in Stock certificates #2010-2259: Buffalo Brewing Co.
08/26/1940-05/11/1945
Box 11 Folder 31
Documents found inside Cash Book 01/03/1950-06/02/1959
05/22/1953; 02/01/1955; 05/24/1955; 06/24/1958
Subseries 3.2 Financial reports
Box 13 Folder
Monthly and quarterly reports to the Grand Court of California, Foresters of America, Court Concordia No. 119
01/1948-12/31/1949
Box 13 Folder 2
Monthly and quarterly reports to the Grand Court of California, Foresters of America, Court Concordia No. 119
01/1950-12/31/1953
Box 13 Folder 3
Monthly and quarterly reports to the Grand Court of California, Foresters of America, Court Concordia No. 119
01/1954-12/31/1955
Box 13 Folder 4
Monthly and quarterly reports to the Grand Court of California, Foresters of America, Court Concordia No. 119
01/1956-12/31/1957
Box 13 Folder 5
Monthly and quarterly reports to the Grand Court of California, Foresters of America, Court Sacramento No. 12
01/1958-12/31/1959
Box 11 Folder 5
Reports and receipts
12/13/1913;09/22/1929;12/27/1933; 08/1934
Box 6 Folder 4
Ledger, Court Concordia No. 119
001/06/1899-01/12/1917
Box 10 Folder 5
Ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/01/1910-01/01/1929
Box 10 Folder 13
Auditor's reports, Court Concordia No. 119
01/01/1941-03/31/1950
Box 4 Folder 2
Financial Ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
01/03/1902-09/25/1908
Box 10 Folder 16
Report of the financial secretary, Court Concordia No. 119
03/31/1931-12/31/1954
Box 5 Folder 3
Order of Foresters stock ledger
04/01/1897-01/13/1937
Box 10 Folder 2
Stock book : Ancient Order of Foresters
04/01/1897-10/07/[19]38
Box 5 Folder 2
Order of Foresters stock journal
04/01/1897-10/07/1939
Box 10 Folder 3
Cash book
04/01/1959-07/1960
Box 10 Folder 14
Treasurer's cash, Court Concordia No. 119
04/20/[1894]-01/01/1910
Box 10 Folder 7
Financial Secretary's Reports A. O. F. of A., Court Concordia No. 8393/No. 119
06/04/1894-06/03/1908
Box 10 Folder 15
Treasurer's reports, Court Concordia No. 119
06/30/1894-03/31/1918
Box 10 Folder 6
Auditor's reports, Court Concordia No. 8393/ No. 119
07/08/1884-03/31/1919
Box 10 Folder 9
Stock certificates #2010-2259: Buffalo Brewing Co.
08/02/1940-08/31/1945
Box 5 Folder 4
Order of Foresters financial secy's reports
09/30/1884-12/31/1919
Box 10 Folder 8
Disbursements, Court Concordia No. 119
09/30/1908-06/30/1919
Box 3 Folder 2
Financial Ledger, Court Concordia No. 119 (German)
10/02/1908-12/26/1913
Box 11 Folder 36
Bank of America check register, Court Concordia No. 119
1958-1959
Box 10 Folder 17
Foresters of America report of trustees
circa 1915
Box 10 Folder 10
Foresters of America sick and mortuary benefits
undated