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{{WikipediaImport}}{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2020}}
{{infobox historic site
| name = Iowa Masonic Library and Museum
| image = Grand Lodge of Iowa in Cedar Rapids IA pic1a.JPG
| image_size = 260px
| caption = Building on March 28, 2011
| location = 813 First Ave. SE, [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa|Cedar Rapids]], [[Iowa]], [[United States]]
| coordinates = {{coord|41|58|57.16|N|91|39|40.36|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Iowa
| built = 1955
| website = [http://grandlodgeofiowa.org/library-2/#/77/1750 Grand Lodge of Iowa: Library and Museum] 
}}
The '''Iowa Masonic Library and Museum''', located at 813 First Ave. SE, in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]], United States, is one of the largest Masonic libraries in the world and incorporates at least three museum collections. The library was the first, worldwide, to have its own building (constructed in 1884). Its current building (constructed in 1955) also houses the administrative offices for the [[Grand Lodge of Iowa]], one of the governing bodies for [[Freemasonry]] in [[Iowa]].

==History==
The Library had its genesis in the 1840s, with a resolution by the Grand Lodge allocating funds to the Grand Secretary to purchase books on the topic of Freemasonry. In its earliest years the Library was located at the residence of [[Theodore S. Parvin]], the first Grand Librarian, who started it with 5 books purchased for $5.<ref name=Walgren>{{cite news
 | first = Kent
 | last = Walgren
 | date = August 28, 1994
 | title = Masonic library started with single book. Theodore Parvin laid foundation for C.R. library in 1800s
 | publisher = [[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)|The Gazette]]
 | location = Cedar Rapids
 | quote = Cole's ''[[Ahiman Rezon]]'', the first of Parvin's books destined for the future library, was shortly followed by four others, purchased by him in 1845 with $5 appropriated by the recently formed Grand Lodge of Iowa...Of all the major Masonic libraries in the United States, only those in Boston and Philadelphia are in the same league with Iowa's. None {{sic|super|cedes}} the Iowa library in accessibility of information for scholarly research.
}}</ref> It moved with him from Muscatine to Iowa City, to Davenport, then back to Iowa City where it was maintained until its final transfer to a more permanent home in Cedar Rapids in 1884. It has remained in Cedar Rapids ever since. The Masonic Library is now "reputed to be the largest [Masonic library] in the world, and is at least one of the top five, with over 100,000 volumes. Both Masonic and general books are included in the collections and the library is open to anyone, whether Masons or not."<ref name=grand/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.iowabeautiful.com/east-central-iowa-tourism/418-iowa-masonic-library-museum-cedar-rapids-iowa.html | title=Iowa Masonic Library and Museum – Cedar Rapids, Iowa | access-date=March 28, 2011 | website=www.iowabeautiful.com | publisher=Iowa Tourism }}</ref>

The extensiveness and public access of the Masonic library are considered valuable. For example, Professor David Hackett of the University of Florida notes that "a fairly large...public collection of Prince Hall materials can be found at the Iowa Masonic Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa."<ref name=hackett>{{cite news| title=The Prince Hall Masons and the African American Church: The labors of Grand Master and Bishop James Walker Hood, 1831–1918 | last=Hackett | first=David G. | publisher=Church History | date=December 2000 | pages=770–802}}</ref> Likewise, Stephen Kantrowitz of the University of Wisconsin-Madison historian notes "Substantial collections of published black Masonic proceedings (which appear in significant numbers only from the 1870s on), pamphlets, and other publications are available at Masonic libraries, including the [[National Heritage Museum]] (Lexington, Mass.), the [[Livingston Library]] (New York, N.Y.), and the Iowa Masonic Library (Cedar Falls)."<ref name=Kantrowitz>{{cite journal| title="Intended for the Better Government of Man": The Political History of African American Freemasonry in the Era of Emancipation |last=Kantrowitz | first=Stephen | journal=[[The Journal of American History]] | date=March 2010 |volume=96 |issue=4 | pages=1001–1026 |doi=10.1093/jahist/96.4.1001 }}</ref>
 
The library was the location in 2008 of the Masonic Library and Museum Association (MLMA) annual meeting, 80 years after a similar meeting in Cedar Rapids at the original Masonic Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/library_and_archives/iowa-masonic-library/ |date=September 7, 2010 |title=People Who Love Masonic Libraries & Museums: Cedar Rapids in 1928 & 2008 | first=Jeff | last=Croteau | publisher=[[National Heritage Museum]] (founded and supported by the Scottish Rite Freemasons in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States)}}</ref>

==Museum==
The Library includes three museum collections and is open to the public. The museum collections are extensive and include a Masonic collection on the first floor and a Non-Masonic collection on the 2nd floor, consisting of thousands of items. Also, there is the Charles H. Swab Memorial collection, donated by deed in 1958.

One of the more interesting artifacts is a Civil War flag, which served as standard for the Iowa regiment in the [[Battle of Champion Hill]], where 97 Iowans were casualties.<ref name=flag>{{cite web|url=http://www.gl-iowa.org/Flag.html |title=Civil War Flag |publisher=Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF&FM}}</ref><ref name=flaghistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.gl-iowa.org/CivilWarFlag-Bill%20Kreuger.html | first=William R. | last=Kreuger |title=Civil War Flag History |date=June 4, 2005}}</ref>

In 2008, the Masonic Library became the temporary location of the '''African American Museum of Iowa''', whose building at 55 12th Ave., SE, was flooded in the [[Iowa flood of 2008]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Fresh Start: Making plans for temporary exhibits, permanent changes| first=Erika | last=Binegar | work=The Gazette | location=Cedar Rapid |date=September 14, 2008}}</ref>

==Buildings==
In 1884 the Library became the first Masonic library in the world to have its own building.<ref name=building/><ref name=nytimes>{{cite news|title=Masonic Secretary Parvin Dead|date=June 28, 1901|newspaper=[[New York Times]]}}</ref>

The current building was built in 1955.<ref name=building>{{cite web|url=http://www.gl-iowa.org/building.html |title=The present Building: Library, Museums, and Grand Lodge Offices |publisher=Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF&AM}}</ref> It cost over a million dollars:
"The new building cost a little over $1,000,000. it is constructed of Vermont Marble, with grey marble from [[Carthage, Missouri]], lining the interior halls. The metalwork in the windows, doors and stair rails is of bronze. The main portion of the building is over 245 feet long and 50 feet wide, while the library wing at the west end is 113 feet deep."<ref name=grand>{{cite web|url=http://www.gl-iowa.org/welcome.html |title=Welcome to the Iowa Masonic Library, Museum and Administration Building|publisher=Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF&AM}}</ref>

The front facade includes an inscription from the Bible (Amos 7:7): "Behold the Lord upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand."

The history of the fundraising and planning for the building is extensive.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=http://www.gl-iowa.org/history.html | title=A Brief History of the Iowa Masonic Library, Museum and Administration Building|publisher=Grand Lodge of Iowa, AF&AM}}</ref>

It is a contributing building in the [[Grant Wood Cultural District]], certified in 2010 by the Iowa State Historical Society.<ref name=grantwood>{{cite news|title=Historical Society certifies C.R. cultural district | first=Dave | last=Dewitte| publisher=The Gazette | location=Cedar Rapids | date=June 12, 2010 }}</ref>

==Grand Lodge of Iowa==
The '''Grand Lodge of Iowa''', the governing body of [[Freemasonry]] within the state of [[Iowa]], has its offices at the museum.

Founded in 1844, the Grand Lodge was actually in the Territory of Iowa at the time as Iowa did not gain statehood until two years later.<ref name="Grand Lodge of Iowa History">{{cite web |last1=Morcombe |first1=Joseph |title=History of Grand Lodge of Iowa |url=https://grandlodgeofiowa.org/grand-lodge/history/ |website=Grand Lodge of Iowa |publisher=Grand Lodge of Iowa |access-date=20 May 2020}}</ref> Before the Grand Lodge of Iowa could be started, those that were interested within the Territory petitioned the Grand Lodge of Missouri for subordinate lodges. Scholars that are interested in [[Masonic]] history typically know of this Grand Lodge in particular because of the Iowa Masonic Library and Museum, which has a significant collection of Masonic and non-Masonic artifacts.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

It is also noteworthy that the first four lodges operated under the Grand Lodge of Missouri before this Grand Lodge was able to be formed. The lineage for how all was founded is as follows as an excerpt from chapter III ''Genealogy of Iowa Masonry'' of the History of the Grand Lodge of Iowa (Page 49):
{{Quote|We read our pedigree in this way: The Grand Lodge of Scotland, formed of 'time immemorial' lodges in 1730, chartered the Provincial Grand Lodge of North Carolina in 1761, and that became independent in 1787. Tennessee was formed out of North Carolina Lodges in 1813, Missouri out of· Tennessee lodges in 1821, Iowa out of Missouri lodges in 1844, and Dakota out of Iowa lodges in 1875.<ref name="Grand Lodge of Iowa History" />}}

==See also==
*[[National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library]], a similar nearby cultural institution
*[[National Heritage Museum (Lexington, Massachusetts)]], a similar Masonic library and museum
*[[The Library and Museum of Freemasonry]], Freemasons' Hall, London
*[[Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Temple]] a Masonic Temple in town on the National Register of Historic Places

==References==
{{reflist|33em}}

==External links==
* [http://grandlodgeofiowa.org/library-2/#/77/1750 Grand Lodge of Iowa: Library and Museum] 
* [http://librarypostcards.blogspot.com/2011/02/1955-iowa-masonic-library-cedar-rapids.html Postcard]
* [http://www.gl-iowa.org/history.html Photograph of front of building]

{{Authority control}}

{{Grand Lodges in the United States}}

[[Category:1955 establishments in Iowa]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1884]]
[[Category:Masonic buildings completed in 1884]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1955]]
[[Category:Masonic buildings completed in 1955]]
[[Category:History museums in Iowa]]
[[Category:Libraries in Iowa]]
[[Category:Masonic buildings in Iowa]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]
[[Category:Museums in Cedar Rapids, Iowa]]
[[Category:Masonic museums in the United States]]