Curator

I’m about a month ahead of schedule this year. I usually spend Labor Day weekend updating the Museum, but apparently I got ambitious.

The Clandestine Masons page has two new International Masons fezzes, including a particularly flashy rhinestone example and an Order of the Eastern Star fez from Syracuse, New York.

The United Ancient Order of Druids section received a rare red “Past Arch” fez that you’ll want to check out.

We added another Bassora fez to the Princes of Bagdad collection. As always, when Princes of Bagdad material appears, we tend to buy it.

There are also a new piece in the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows section, from the mysterious Past Grand Master’s Council No. 16… at least, we think.

Finally, the biggest update is to the Caliphs of Bagdad page. A fez and 1929 flyer acquired from friend of the Museum Matt Cordoves finally gave us enough information to substantially expand the history of this wonderfully obscure New Castle, Pennsylvania, organization.

Not bad for being a month early. Stay cool out there boys and girls. It’s a hot and humid one here on the East Coast.

Good morrow, my fine fezzy friends!

It’s been a while since our last fezzy update—nearly six months! The holidays have come and gone, along with more fraternal meetings than you can shake a stick at. Your curator has been a busy fellow, but the collecting of fezzes never stops. We’re delighted to present no fewer than eight new exhibits in this latest update.

We begin with two brand-new additions that may seem related, but actually hail from entirely separate organizations founded on opposite coasts. First is a fez from the Artisans Order of Mutual Protection, rooted in the Northeastern United States. Next is a fez from the Order of United Artisans, specifically one of its local “Pyramids” in the Pacific Northwest. How artsy!

In our affinity groups section, we’ve added a fez from the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf.

The Odd Fellows ladies’ groups exhibit has been updated with a Past Supreme Ashayhi’s fez from the Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America.

A second example of a Princes of Bagdad fez from Princes of Bagdad, Tut Tut Siesta, is now on display in its exhibit.

We were also fortunate to acquire the fez of a Supreme President of the Order of AHEPA, now featured in the Hellenic Orders area.

The Prince Hall ladies’ section has been updated with a new Amaranth fez from the Order of the Amaranth—only the second example of its kind in our museum.

Last, but certainly not least, we’ve added a very special Royal Colony fez to our display on the National Order of Trench Rats in the Veterans Organizations section.

Whew—that’s quite a lineup! As always, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for the next great fraternal fez find as the collection continues to grow. Thank you for your continued support!

It’s Labor Day here in the United States. Yet, we are still laboring hard for you, our fezzy fans! We had a remarkably productive summer of fez collecting, adding nine more hats to the collection since our last post in July. With a day off from our usual vocations, it seemed fitting to update the website with our latest finds.

We’re start over in the Animal Lodges area, where we have added two IBPOEW fezzes. The first is a Past State President fez, uniquely without the elks emblem. It is sharing the limelight with a Director of Veterans Affairs fez that has some extra fancy jewel work.

The Odd Fellows Social bodies also gained two exhibits, both hailing from Cairo Sanctorum of Buffalo, New York. One piece is an OOH&P fez, while the other is an AMOS fez. This is a unique pairing, as it shows the evolution of the logo along with the organization.

One of the rarest pieces posted today, we have a new Household of Ruth fez over in the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows exhibit.

Clandestine Masonic fezzes are always a fun find, and we’ve added a blue Eastern Star fez to that exhibit.

An alternate logo Encampment fez has been posted in the Odd Fellows area, along with an unusual blue Odd Fellows Lodge fez.

And, it wouldn’t be an update without a Shrine fez. We’re pleased to wrap up today’s post with an old Mecca Shrine fez, using the original logo.

As always, thanks for reading and taking an interest in fraternal haberdashery!

Our last update was in April and, as you will see, it’s been a busy few months of fez collecting. As this post is being written, summer storms are roiling outside. So, what better time to get some museum work done!

Today’s update brings us seven new pieces to the collection, all in different areas.

First up is a very early Masonic Youth Groups Order of DeMolay fez from San Jose Chapter in California.

Hailing from a little closer to home for the curator, we have a Princes of Bagdad fez from Sunbury, PA.

From there, you check out the Ladies Encampment Auxiliary fez that we added to the Odd Fellows Women’s Groups section.

Sticking the ladies theme, you can peep the very early Al Ashraf Court No. 106, Daughters of Isis fez that we snagged, as found in the Prince Hall Ladies area.

It’s not an update without at least one Animal Lodge fez, so we have a new Past State President from the Elks to share with you.

We also snagged another African American Pythians fez, now on display over in the Knights of Pythias area.

And last, but certainly not least, let’s crack a cold one with a new Rolling Rock Beer fez, as found in the Just for Fun area.

Best wishes for a great summer season. Check back this fall for our next update!