Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Door to Virtue Lodge 163 Records, 1868-1892. Local government records collection, Craig County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court records from Craig County Circuit Court under accession number 45448.

Historical Information

The first Masonic Lodge in Virginia was founded in Norfolk probably in 1741, and soon other lodges began in the colony. These lodges were chartered by the various Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Grand Lodge of Virginia, the first independent Grand Lodge in the United States, was established in Williamsburg in 1778 with John Blair (1731-1800) serving as the first Grand Master.

Craig County was named for Robert Craig, a nineteenth-century Virginia congressman. The county was formed from Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and Monroe (now in West Virginia) Counties in 1851, and several subsequent additions were made from Alleghany, Giles, Monroe, and Montgomery Counties. The county seat is New Castle.

Scope and Content

Door to Virtue Lodge 163 Records, 1868-1892, are comprised of a minute book, 1868-1892, and an account book, 1878-1892. The minute book documents business of the Door to Virtue Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, including election of officers, attendance, charges against members for "un-masonic" conduct, and petitions for membership. The account book documents members' payment of dues and contributions.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Door to Virtue Lodge 163 (Newcastle, Va.)

Subjects:

• Freemasonry -- Virginia -- Craig County.

Geographical Names:

• Newcastle (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Legers (account books) -- Virginia -- Craig County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Craig County.
• Minute books -- Virginia -- Craig County.
• Organization records -- Virginia -- Craig County.