Chateau Thierry Masonic Lodge No. 569 Records, 1923-2008

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Title:
Chateau Thierry Masonic Lodge No. 569 Records
Dates:
1923-2008
Creators:
Abstract:
The Chateau Thierry Masonic Lodge No. 569 Records document a 20th century "military" Masonic lodge in Oakland, California.
Extent:
4.5 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Chateau Thierry Masonic Lodge No. 569 Records. Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Background

Scope and content:

The Chateau Thierry Lodge No. 569 records (1923-2008) consist of a cash book, correspondence, financial reports, Grand Lodge annual returns, meeting minutes, membership records, photography, printed materials, and tiler’s registers. The cash book (1928-1933) includes Lodge expenses & receipts. Correspondence (1980-1990) includes financial information, information about the history of the Lodge, and correspondence about a potential consolidation with Foothill Lodge No. 564 that never materialized. Financial records include Secretary’s Reports (1971-1987) and Treasurer's Reports (1967-1990). Grand Lodge annual returns (1923-1944) are annual membership reports the Lodge sent to the Grand Lodge of California. Meeting minutes are from 1932-1990. Membership records (1920’s-1990’s) include petitions for degrees and affiliation, demits, suspensions, and correspondence about membership. Additional membership records may also be interfiled in Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551 records, which were received through consolidation. Photography (1923-1973) includes photographs of past officers, past Masters, an Armistice dance (1939), a visit to Livermore Veteran’s hospital (1938-1939), an outing to Tuolumne Camp (1939), and a 50th anniversary celebration (1973). Printed materials (1942-2008) include invitations, merit certificates, second degree manuals, programs, and trestleboard newsletters. See Lodge Files 551-575, folder “Chateau Thierry Lodge No. 569,” for correspondence about Lodge history, a list of Past Masters, newspaper clippings, a program from an Officer Installation ceremony, and a trestleboard newsletter. See records for Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551 for related Lodge information.

Biographical / historical:

In 1922, the idea of forming a new Masonic lodge in Oakland, Alameda County, California, originated from several veterans who were in the same Army squad in France during World War I. On July 10th, 1923, Grand Master of California William A. Sherman granted the Masonic brethren a dispensation. On October 11th, 1923 a charter was granted to Chateau Thierry Lodge No. 569 by the Grand Lodge of California. On September 1st, 1992, the Lodge merged with Ashland Lodge No. 798 and Bay View-Castro Valley Lodge No. 713 to become Crow Canyon Lodge No. 569. On September 1st, 1997, Crow Canyon Lodge No. 569 merged with Tri-Square Lodge No. 551 to become Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551. The Lodge started as a “military” Lodge. All charter members of the Lodge were ex-service men, and initially, membership was limited to ex-service men, though that requirement was later lifted. The Lodge got its name from a World War I battle in Chateau Thierry in the province of Champagne, France, which was the site of a 1918 battle between Germany and combined U.S. and French forces. The Lodge had a special dispensation permitting its officers to wear military uniforms when conferring degrees. It also originated the custom of “presenting and retiring the flag of our country,” which was recognized by the Grand Lodge of California and became part of the Masonic ritual. One of the Lodge’s most prized possessions was a gavel made of wood from the Masonic Temple at Chateau Thierry, which was destroyed by shell fire during World War I. The gavel was presented to Chateau Thierry Lodge No. 569 by the Masonic brethren of Lodge Jean de la Fontaine Masonique of Chateau Theirry, France. The Lodge met at the Oakland Masonic Temple at 508 12th Street from 1923 until the late 1960’s, when it moved to a meeting place in Castro Valley. One notable member of the Lodge was Jack Lalanne, an American exercise and nutrition guru.

Acquisition information:
Received January 24th, 2025 from Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551.
Processing information:

Processed according to DACS standards by Jennifer Bloom, January 2026.

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry staff.
Date Prepared:
1923-2008
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on Jan. 13, 2026, 1:44 p.m.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Please email requests for access to the Museum Collections Manager at the Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Grand Lodge of California at hwclibrary@freemasonry.org.

Preferred citation:

Chateau Thierry Masonic Lodge No. 569 Records. Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Location of this collection:
1111 California Street
San Francisco, CA 94108, US
Contact:
(415) 292-9141
hwclibrary@freemason.org
Website