The Library and Museum of Freemasonry

The Library and Museum of Freemasonry is a library, archive and registered museum in central London, England, covering Freemasonry. It is located in the United Grand Lodge of England. The Library and Museum is a Charitable Trust and is registered with the Charity Commission (Registered Charity number 1058497).

In 2007 the collection of The Library and Museum of Freemasonry was recognised through the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council’s Designation Scheme as being of outstanding quality and significance and of national and international importance. [http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/news/press_releases/Designated_Collections_Announced&print=print]

The Library and Museum is open to the general public from Monday to Friday 10am–5pm and entry is free of charge. The Museum has a collection of objects with Masonic decoration, including clocks, furniture, glassware, jewellry, porcelain, pottery, regalia and silver. Displayed items include belongings of famous Freemasons such as King Edward VII and Winston Churchill.

Hourly tours of the building are given starting from the Library and Museum, including a tour of the Grand Temple. There are 5 tours a day at 11am, 12noon, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Saturday tours must be pre-booked, and there is only one extended tour at 10.30am. There is a booking fee of £1 per person for Saturday tours. To book a tour telephone [phone]. [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/tours.php]

The Library is open to the public for reference use and users are required to register. The Library contains a comprehensive collection of printed books and manuscripts on every facet of Freemasonry in England, as well as material on Freemasonry elsewhere in the world, and on subjects associated with Freemasonry or with mystical and esoteric traditions. The Library catalogue is available online. [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/catalogue.php]

In addition to its core Masonic collections, The Library and Museum of Freemasonry holds a wide selection of items relating to Friendly Societies such as the Oddfellows, Fraternal Forestry and many other societies both current and dead. A large collection of Friendly Societies books are also held by the Library.

The Library and Museum provides a genealogical enquiry service. However there is no complete alphabetical index of freemasons available. [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/family-history.php] They also hold regular study days and a large summer exhibition each year, as well as several smaller exhibitions during the course of the year.

There is currently an exhibition in the Library about the Centenary of the Order of Women Freemasons, which runs from June to December 2008, and is free. [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/exhibits/women-freemasonry.php] The main Summer exhibition is on the subject of Masonic Dining, and runs from July to September 2008, and is also free. [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/exhibits/square-meals.php]

See also

* Museum Mile, London
* National Heritage Museum of Freemasonry, Lexington, Massachusetts

External links

* [http://www.freemasonry.london.museum/ Museum website]
* [http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/museum_gfx_en/AM12129.html Entry] in the 24 Hour Museum