The Grosvenor Room is pleased to announce a new book collection, Proceedings of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, State of New York. These materials were kindly donated by genealogist Jeanette Sheliga, whose family members belonged to the organization. The dates included in the donation are 1915-2011 (proceedings from 1918, 1928, 1949, 2003, 2005, 2008-2010 wanting.) With this donation, we believe the Grosvenor Room has the largest public library collection of the New York proceedings.
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization which was founded in 1850 and has ties to freemasonry. Qualifications for membership varied over the years, but both men and women have always been eligible. Historically, to join, male members had to be Master Masons and female members had to be either a wife, widow, daughter, or mother of a Master Mason.
You may find your ancestors in these volumes listed as a chapter representative, an officer, or a delegate providing a report. If they are a high ranking member of the organization, their photo may be found. Deaths of members are frequently reported including their death date and former positions held and sometimes chapters published memorials of their deceased members.
The Grosvenor Room: Genealogy, Local History, Maps, Music & Rare Books 