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

 

Subseries 1.5 Medical

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

 

Subseries 1.8 Reports

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