Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Independent Order of Odd Fellows Officers
1860-1900
Thomas Rice Burnham (1834-1893)
USA: Massachusetts, Boston
Photograph on paper mounted on board
overall:
Museum Purchase
2001.070.2

Cabinet card photograph of Independent Order of Odd Fellows Officers; black-and-white photograph of seated and standing officers of an Odd Fellows lodge; table in center with book and other items on it; printed in red along side "Album/ Portrait / L.E. Burnham, Phot. 351 Washington Street, Boston." On back in pencil is "BOSTON? / MASONS."

Boston photographer Thomas Burnham captured this image of a group of fifteen Odd Fellows posed against a plain background. All of the men in the photograph wear regalia--a mix of aprons, sashes, collars, and jewels. Several of the men in the portrait have pinned jewels to their collars and sashes. These emblems--including crossed gavels (Warden), crossed pens (Secretary), crossed keys (Treasurer), and crossed swords (Guardian) showed what office they held. Regulations published by the Odd Fellows noted that officers were required to wear jewels during the "transaction of business."