Intriguing objects from Freemasons and Odd Fellows on display at Taft Museum

This is not your typical art exhibition. It's somewhat strange, somewhat mysterious, and definitely fascinating.

The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati is currently displaying 80 items that unveil the secrets of two major organizations often shrouded in mystery: the Freemasons and Odd Fellows.

"Mystery & Benevolence" features a collection of objects used for decades by these two organizations in their ritualized, often secret, practices. Visitors can see scythes and skulls, costumes and banners, and decorative furnishings. The exhibit will remain on display through May 11.

"In the nearly 10 years since 'Mystery and Benevolence' first debuted at the American Folk Art Museum, this exhibition continues to enthrall viewers with the enigmatic symbols and rich imagery that gave many of these fraternal societies an intriguing shroud of mystery," said Emelie Gevalt, the New York museum's Deputy Director and Chief Curatorial and Program Officer. "The astounding art and objects in this exhibition are a testament to the self-taught artists and artisans whose vast contributions to early American material culture helped ingrain these societies into popular culture for generations."

At first glance, symbols like the skull and crossbones may appear shocking and off-putting. However, visitors soon learn these were part of initiation rituals designed to encourage members to care for one another in life and death.

"People love this exhibit and are fascinated with the subject," said Ann Glasscock, associate curator at the Taft. "It's something you can't see anywhere else. It's mysterious because we don't know 100 percent what goes on behind those closed doors. But these items tell you what goes on... up to a certain point. For both of these groups, serving the community and self-improvement is important."

Meet the collectors

The artifacts come from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection. In the exhibition catalog's introduction, Allan Daniel writes that these items were made to tell a story, convey a mood, or teach a lesson and were rarely created by academic artists.

"Before social services were governmentally institutionalized, people established private fraternities that could provide for those needs," he said. "This concept fascinated and propelled us to seek out objects that we felt were of artistic merit and deserved to be included in the category of folk art."

One example? Visitors will notice a heart design in much of the Odd Fellows artwork — often pictured as a heart in hand, an emblem of love and friendship.

"The iconic Odd Fellows symbol of the three-link chain, representing Friendship, Love and Truth, projects a simple, powerful message," said Daniel.

Most of the items are handcrafted.

About the societies

Glasscock explained that when these groups were first created in America, the Masons predominantly consisted of upper-class members, while the Odd Fellows tended to be middle class and worked in diverse trades.

At the Taft, visitors learn more about the groups' history: how the Masons and Odd Fellows are organized, the various levels and degrees of membership, and how their lodges are set up. Freemasonry originated in medieval stonemasons guilds in London in the 1700s, with the American branch established in the 1800s.

The United Grand Lodge of England reports that worldwide membership now totals more than 6 million Freemasons, 1.1 million of whom are in North America. With more than 60,000 Masons and 430 local Lodges, Ohio has one of the largest Masonic memberships of any state in the country. George Washington was a Mason.

According to The Independent Order of Odd Fellows, there are currently more than 600,000 members in more than 10,000 lodges across 30 countries. It was established in the United States in 1819.

The original "brotherhoods" were developed by and for white men only. While the Taft exhibit explores the richness and exclusivity of fraternal culture, it also shows how some members of excluded groups, including women and African American men, formed their own societies such as the Daughters of Rebekah and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows.

What's on display

The exhibition showcases altars, uniforms, and costumes. During Odd Fellows rituals, members don costumes to act out characters in stories to make the lessons come alive. Freemasons use regalia that indicates their levels and roles within the organization.

There are brightly painted signs, symbols, and passwords that appear on various objects. For example, American Odd Fellows initially used bow and arrow imagery to teach lessons of friendship. A bundle of sticks was a prop used to demonstrate that those who stand together are stronger than one man standing alone.

Another popular symbol is the beehive, representing industry and unity—working together toward a common purpose.

The tracing boards on display are decorated with symbols that help members learn about their various duties. They were originally traced onto the floor or a wall and then erased, but Masonic lodges eventually commissioned illustrated charts.

It's believed that the Pettibone Brothers Manufacturing Company of Cincinnati in 1867 may have produced some of the banners on display. The company fabricated uniforms, costumes, hats, flags, and banners for the military, firefighters, theaters, marching bands, and fraternal organizations.

The Daniels spent 30 years amassing their unusual collection. "For my wife Kendra and me, fraternal art was considered an under-appreciated area in American folk art," Allan said. "The hunt for these beautiful, often eerie, and sometimes outré objects has been visually enriching and exciting for us, and we hope that it will be eye-opening and fascinating for those attending the exhibition."

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