There are a plethora of Masonic-related organizations in the world such as High Twelve International, National Sojourners, youth organizations like the Order of DeMolay, and many smaller niche groups dedicated to particular areas of interest. Some of these organizations focus on very specific subjects, such as collectors of George Washington Masonic postage stamps.

The Masonic Library and Museum Association (MLMA) is one such organization. Founded in 1995, its mission is to assist and support through education, the facilitation of communication, coordination of effort, and other means those individuals charged with the collection, management, and preservation of the Masonic heritage.

Museums and libraries are often taken for granted. We expect them to be there when we need them, yet much of their work takes place quietly behind the scenes. Managing a collection that may contain tens of thousands of objects, often with only one or two staff members, requires a great deal of expertise. Knowing the precise location of each item while maintaining detailed documentation is no small task. Many Grand Lodges and other Masonic organizations maintain libraries and museums that display the proud history of Freemasonry in their jurisdictions, but doing so requires resources, knowledge, and careful planning—things that were not always readily available.

Like many organizations, MLMA arose from a shared desire among individuals facing similar challenges to exchange ideas and resources. Prior to its founding, those interested in Masonic libraries and museums often gathered at the Northeast Conference on Masonic Education and Libraries (NECOMELI), which served as an annual meeting point for like-minded individuals from across the country.

During the early 1990s, several librarians and curators began holding informal “break-away” sessions at these conferences to discuss issues specific to their work. Among those involved were Brothers John H. Platt, Jr. of Pennsylvania; Paul Bessel of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial; Keith Arrington of Iowa; Ed Ralph of Ontario; and Mike Kaulback of Massachusetts. They were joined by others including Cynthia Alcorn of Massachusetts and Joan Kleinknecht Sansbury of the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. This informal gathering became known as the North American Masonic Librarians Consortium.

By 1992 these librarians and curators decided to organize their own meeting in the fall, complementing the spring meetings of NECOMELI. There was some concern that Grand Lodges might not support yet another organization with similar goals, so the group initially continued participating in NECOMELI while holding its own independent sessions. The first dedicated meeting took place in October 1992 at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., home of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. Participants informally referred to themselves as the “October Group,” a name that remained associated with the early development of the organization.

Subsequent meetings were held at locations including the Museum of Our National Heritage in Lexington, Massachusetts, and the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library at the Masonic Care Community in Utica, New York. These gatherings brought together a mix of professional librarians, museum curators, archivists, and volunteer lodge librarians. That mixture has remained one of the defining characteristics of MLMA, reflecting its role as a support network for anyone interested in preserving and interpreting Masonic history.

On October 20–21, 1995, the group met in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, hosted by Keith Arrington of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. During this meeting the participants formally organized themselves as the Masonic Library and Museum Association. John H. Platt, Jr., Librarian and Curator of the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania, became the organization’s first President. Other officers included Cynthia Alcorn as Vice President, Paul Bessel as Secretary, and Joe Nolte as Treasurer.

From its inception, MLMA envisioned itself as an international organization. The United Grand Lodge of England was among its early members, and over the years participation has included colleagues from countries such as Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Curaçao, France, Germany, Mexico, and Scotland. Many of these members were also connected with the Association of Masonic Museums, Libraries and Archives in Europe (AMMLA), founded in 1989 at the German Masonic Museum in Bayreuth.

In its early years, MLMA concentrated on gathering information about member libraries and museums, including cataloging methods, acquisition sources for Masonic books and literature, and ways to index articles appearing in Masonic journals. At that time, locating specialized publications could be challenging, as online bookstores and digital catalogs were not yet widely available.

Over time, the organization expanded its focus to include broader bibliographic and museum support. MLMA now assists both large and small institutions—public and private—in organizing collections, improving cataloging practices, and developing strategies for preservation and interpretation. One notable effort included updating the Boyden cataloging system, long used by many Masonic libraries, so that it could continue to serve modern collections.

Today the Masonic Library and Museum Association continues to thrive with members from around the world. Membership is open to anyone interested in the preservation and study of Masonic history; one does not need to be a Freemason to participate. Indeed, many Grand Lodges employ professional librarians, archivists, and museum specialists who are not members of the fraternity but who dedicate their careers to caring for its historical records and artifacts.

The proper preservation of Masonic history is essential to understanding the development of Freemasonry in America and throughout the world. The work of libraries, archives, and museums ensures that the story of the fraternity—its people, its ideas, and its contributions to society—remains accessible to future generations. Through education, collaboration, and the sharing of resources, the Masonic Library and Museum Association continues to support those entrusted with safeguarding that history.