Dr. John Henry Wilson established the Loyal Order of Moose (LOOM) in 1888 in Louisville, Kentucky. His purpose was to organize a string of social clubs, and by the early 1890s, several lodges existed. Though Dr. Wilson left the order before 1900, and with him most of the membership, two lodges in Indiana continued to meet on a regular basis.
In 1906, James J. Davis joined the Crawfordsville, Indiana Lodge and began to change the organization considerably. Davis transformed the two tiny social clubs into an organization that could provide security and benefits for working class men and their families. By 1912, LOOM boasted more than 1,000 lodges and nearly 500,000 members. The same year, the organization purchased 1,000 acres in northern Illinois and began construction of "Mooseheart" to provide "a home, schooling, and vocational training to children of deceased Moose members." Ten years later, the Order established "Moosehaven," a Florida community for retired members. The family-oriented fraternal organization also recognized the "Women of the Moose" as an official auxiliary in 1913. They more formally organized female membership in the 1920s under the leadership of Katherine Smith. World War II inspired the creation of the Civic Affairs program (renamed Community Service) to provide humanitarian aid and services at the local level. Each of these programs continues to flourish, and membership in LOOM continues to grow.
In Missoula, Montana, the LOOM Lodge #556 was established as early as 1911. Under the direction of Daniel O. Hem, William Kranich and George Freisheimer, the members first met at the Eagle's Hall, 114 W. Main St. The location of the meetings changed from year to year, though were often held at the Labor Temple, 208 E. Main St., where most Missoula fraternal organizations gathered. Between 1943 and 1945, the Lodge purchased its own building at 220 North Stevens (now Ryman Street).
A fire consumed the building on New Year's Eve, 1951, taking the lives of three Missoula firefighters. Slowly, the city and the lodge recovered from the loss. The Moose appealed to other LOOM lodges throughout Montana for help in building a new hall. In 1955, a new Moose Hall was completed at 140 W. Pine in downtown Missoula. There, ample rooms provided space to organize charitable events and hold meetings. The building also contained a social club, which provided much needed revenue and a place to hold special events. The Moose Lodge #556 is still at 140 W. Pine. Members organize social events, sponsor local sports teams, and provide civic services.
The collection contains correspondence, legal documents, tax records, and meeting minutes for Moose Lodge #556, and is an excellent record of the priorities and services provided by its members between 1952 and 1971. Correspondence is limited to appeals for new building funds in 1952 and five letters referring to members and services. A mortgage for kitchen equipment and a contract to put on a play are included in the Legal Documents series. The Financial Records series is divided into two categories: tax records and receipts. Tax records are "Employees Payroll Tax Withholding Records" for club and lodge employees between 1952 and 1955. Receipts include handwritten club sales receipts for 1956 and January 1957. Eighteen bound financial ledgers and seven bound volumes of meeting minutes comprise the bulk of the collection.
The collection is divided into four series:
Series I: Correspondence, 2 folders, 1952-1971
Series II: Legal Documents, 1 folder, 1953-1955
Series III: Financial Records, 2 folders, and 18 bound volumes, 1952-1957
Series IV: Meeting Minutes, 7 bound volumes, 1952-1971
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.
[Name of document or photograph number], Moose Lodge #556 Records, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.
Gift of Wallace Clark, 1983.
The actions of the original processors are unknown. In 1998, the collection was re-described. Loose receipts within the bound volumes were incorporated into the Financial Records series.
The series is divided into two folders: Outgoing Correspondence and Incoming Correspondence. Outgoing Correspondence is limited to form letters written between October 2 and 7, 1952. They are addressed to LOOM lodges in Montana and Spokane, and request aid in building a new hall in Missoula. These letters are arranged alphabetically by addressee. There are five letters in the Incoming Correspondence folder, including items regarding a commendation (1963), a membership transfer (1971), a drill team competition (1971), a thank-you note (1971), and a letter regarding changes in state gambling laws (undated).
These letters are arranged chronologically.
The series is limited to two items: a contract to produce a play (1953) and a chattel mortgage for refrigeration equipment (1954).
The series consists of "Employees Payroll Tax Withholding Records" for employees of the Moose club and lodge in Missoula between 1951 and 1955. The series also includes handwritten receipts and total sales from the Moose Lodge #556 club in Missoula, May-September, 1956 and December, 1956-January, 1957. The receipts are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Also in the Financial Records series are financial ledgers for the lodge and the club. Seven Secretary's Cash Books track the receipts and expenditures of the Moose Lodge #556 between February, 1950 and June, 1975. The eight Club Cash Books account for the club funds between November, 1951 and April, 1980. The bound volumes also include Building Income and Expenses between November, 1951 and April, 1965, and the Benefit Fund Ledger for 1956.
The records are arranged chronologically.
The series consists of seven volumes of meeting minutes. Most of the minutes are handwritten, though some are typed on separate sheets and taped into the volumes. The volumes are divided chronologically and by meeting type. Included are general member meetings, Board of Officers meetings, and House Committee meetings.