Massachusetts State Grange
Grange History
During the years following the Civil War, Americans were searching for a way to return to a more normal life, connect with others, and build community. Fraternal organizations were a popular way to achieve this goal and many such organizations were founded in the late 19th century.
The National Grange was founded on December 4, 1867, in Washington, D.C., by Oliver Hudson Kelley along with six colleagues. The inspiration came from Kelley’s travels through the post-Civil War South, where he witnessed not only the devastation of farms, but the fracturing of communities across the nation. His vision was a fraternity of farmers that would serve as an educational and social organization and would bind people from across the country together for a common purpose. The ideas took hold quickly, and membership grew steadily.
The Grange came to Massachusetts on June 17, 1873, when Guiding Star No. 1 was organized in Greenfield. Within five months, seventeen more Granges had formed across the state, and by December of that year, representatives gathered to establish the Massachusetts State Grange. Membership would eventually peak at roughly 51,000 members in 1949.
Preserving Grange History in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts State Grange is committed to preserving its history. In 1983, the State Grange established a museum and archive to display and safely store its historical artifacts.
The Thomas - Vaill Library & Museum, located in Rutland, MA, was named in honor of the first State Grange Historian, Albert J. Thomas, and the current Historians, Amber and Randy Vaill, who have served in this role since 1999. The building houses over 150 years of Massachusetts Grange history including membership records, individual Grange record books and materials, Grange regalia, badges, and much more.
The materials in the collection are useful to local historians researching their hometowns, genealogists researching family members who belonged to the Grange in Massachusetts, and anyone interested in the history of the organization.
The State Grange Historians assist researchers with their questions regarding the Grange in Massachusetts. They can provide researchers with lists of materials available in the collection, research details on individual members' service to the Grange, and can provide tours and access to the archives upon request.
If you are a researcher who is seeking more information about Massachusetts Granges, please contact the Historians via email.
