Bay View Masonic Lodge No. 401 Records, 1908-1986

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Summary

Title:
Bay View Masonic Lodge No. 401 Records
Dates:
1908-1986
Creators:
Abstract:
The Bay View Masonic Lodge No. 401 records document a 20th century Masonic lodge in Oakland, California.
Extent:
3 linear feet
Language:
Preferred citation:

Bay View Masonic Lodge No. 401 Records. Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Background

Scope and content:

The Bay View Lodge No. 401 records (1908-1986) consist of accounts payable, annual membership returns, bank books and account books, a Bay View Camp Annual Picnic book, a black book, by-laws, a charter, correspondence, a Lodge seal, meeting minutes, membership records, photography, programs, and a tiler’s register. Accounts payable (1926-1952) are records of Lodge bills. Annual membership returns (1911-1942) are records of membership sent to the Grand Lodge of California. Bank books and account books (1930’s-1940’s) are records of bank account transactions. A book related to the Bay View Camp Annual Picnic (1924-1949) includes attendance records and ephemera related to the event. A black book (1909-1960) contains records of rejected candidates. By-laws (1908) are the original Lodge by-laws. A copy of the charter (1949) is from the Grand Lodge of California. Correspondence (1924-1960) consists of letters and printed materials related to Lodge events and history. The Lodge seal is undated. Meeting minutes (1915-1986) include bound and loose minutes. Membership records, including a register (1909-1916), members’ petitions for degrees (1910-1916), roster for payment of dues (1916-1921), and receipts of dues payments (1946-1952). Photography includes a black and white photograph of Lodge officers (1921), a box of black and white slides (early 20th century), and a color photograph of Lodge officers (ca. 1970’s). Programs (1909-1969) are from installations of officers and certificates of merit. The tiler’s register (1959-1963) contains records of meeting attendance. See records for Crow Canyon Lodge No. 551 for related Lodge information.

Biographical / historical:

On September 1st, 1908, Masonic brethren gathered in Oakland, Alameda County, California, with the purpose of establishing a new Masonic Lodge there. On October 26th, 1908, Grand Master of California Oscar Lawler granted the Lodge its dispensation. On October 14th, 1909, the Grand Lodge of California granted Bay View Lodge No. 401 its charter. On July 1st, 1986, Bay View Lodge No. 401 merged with Castro Valley Lodge No. 713 to become Bayview-Castro Valley Lodge No. 713. On September 1st, 1992, Bayview-Castro Valley Lodge No. 713 merged with Chateau Thierry Lodge No. 569 and Ashland Lodge No. 789 to become Crow Canyon Lodge No. 569. One notable member of the Lodge was singer and actor Tony Martin (Alvin Morris).

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

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

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Freemasonry
Places:
Oakland, California

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid created by Henry W. Coil Library and Museum of Freemasonry staff.
Date Prepared:
1908-1986
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using Record Express for OAC5 on Jan. 13, 2026, 1:13 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:

Bay View Masonic Lodge No. 401 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
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