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The Roscoe O. Bonisteel Masonic Library is organized to 1) acquire and maintain books, documents, artifacts and other forms of information related to Freemasonry; 2) make those materials and information available to the general public; and 3) use those materials and information to develop educational programs related to Freemasonry. The corporation is organized on a MEMBERSHIP basis. Roscoe O. Bonisteel Masonic Library 734-996-0121
The Roscoe O. Bonisteel Masonic Library provides a Blue Lodge members a three-fold educational program. 1) The library provides Blue Lodges with support and resources for their Intender Program. 2) The library organizes Blue Lodge tours of architecturally significant Masonic structures. 3) The library publishes Blue Lodge Masonic papers through Seminars and Conferences.
79th Grand Master of Masons in Michigan Roscoe Osmond Bonisteel, was born in Canada at Sidney Crossing, Ontario, December 23, 1888; his family moved to Rochester New York in 1891. He graduated from Harrisburg High School in Pennsylvania. He attended Dickenson College at Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Law School at The University of Michigan and began the Practice of Law at Ann Arbor in 1912. He became a Regent of The University of Michigan in 1946 until 1972 and was instrumental in the purchase of 267 acres and the master planning of North Campus in 1951. He was a staunch friend of libraries and museums whereby he founded the Friends’ Society of the Michigan Historical Collections which later led to the Bentley Historical Library and the expansion of the largest collection of works at a public university. A great philanthropist, he gave much to Dickenson College, The University of Michigan, and Interlochen Art Academy and National Music Camp. He provided the Michigan’s Clements Library with the Cass Collection. He also raised sufficient money to initiate the Scottish Rite Museum of Our National Heritage at Lexington, Massachusetts and to help retire the Detroit Masonic Temple mortgage. To Most Worshipful Brother Bonisteel goes the credit for the creation of the masterpiece in oils which was placed on canvas by the renown artist Robert Thom to preserve forever the historic September 15, 1817, meeting of Zion Lodge No. 1, Judge Augustus Woodward, Father Gabriel Richard, and Reverend John Monteith establishing the money for The University of Michigan. Past Grand Master Brother Bonisteel was raised a Master Mason in Golden Rule Lodge No. 159 in 1914, served as Worshipful Master in 1920, and following regular advancement and became the Grand Master of Michigan Free and Accepted Masons in 1929. He served as the Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee for 25 consecutive years. He belonged to Washtenaw Chapter No. 6, Royal Arch Masons, Ann Arbor Council No. 86, R. S. M., Ann Arbor Commandery No. 13; and a member of the Ann Arbor Masonic Temple Association. He received the thirty-two Scottish Rite Degrees in the Valley of Detroit in 1926. He became an honorary 33° Degree Mason in 1939, and was crowned an Scottish Rite Active Member at Detroit, September 30, 1964. He served with distinction with the Armed Forces in World War I and gave amble time upon his return to the American Legion. He was District Governor of Rotary and a Board member of the University Musical Society of Ann Arbor. A devoted family man, he married Lillian Coleman Rudolph in 1914 and had four daughters and a son. In 1972 he received Masonic and Presbyterian Funerals. He is entombed in a mauseulum cript within the Washtenong Memorial Park, Ann Arbor Michigan USA.
Karl Grube, President/Secretary |
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BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY |
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