Our Lodge History

Preserving Our Past While Preparing For Our Future:

Brethren.
This topic was originally covered in the January, 2013 Trestleboard. However, I think we have a number of new members who might not be aware of this undertaking.

In January, 2012 I announced the project to properly store and preserve our Lodge Records, artifacts and other miscellany. This also included digitizing our Minutes Books, Tilers Registers, Individual Records and Photo Albums.

To give some idea of the magnitude of this undertaking, the records go back to before 1870 and continue up to the present time (about 146 years). The ink used in the earliest records seem to be of poor quality and the information is fading.

Worshipful Jim Grove and I built the Book Digitizer you see in the photo. This version utilizes a two camera system, using Canon 18 megapixel cameras. Lighting is provided by four clamp-on LED lamps. The unit consists of two modules, (upper, for recording and lower for book handling). This makes it easier to transport and to store.

The project is still ongoing. I spend two to three hours a day most days working on it. I have two major areas of digitizing that remains. I have one-half of the large Tiler Register Books yet to do and currently have completed one-half of the Individual Member Records. The Book Digitizer is no longer being used. I am now using different techniques which I hope to describe in future articles.

Fraternally,
Billy L. Mills, PM 2007 Lodge Historian