Curator

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!

In looking back on our posts, it seems that we have a history of making updates around holiday weekends. Perhaps this occurs because such times cause us to slow down and enjoy the little things in life, like silly hats!

This update comes with additions to six exhibits; let’s take a look!

We can start in the Sciots area, where we’ve added a new Past Toparch’s fez.

Next up is the Odd Fellows Social bodies area, adding a new AMOS fez from Elim Sanctorum No. 226. Speaking of Odd Fellows, we also have a new IOOF fez that is a bit of a mystery. Check out the “SOS Fez” in the Odd Fellows area.

It wouldn’t be an update without a new Shine fez, so take a “look” at the new Lookout Mountain fez from Alhambra Shrine.

The last two updates, are our most exciting, however. We’ve added a brand new Animal Lodge fez, hailing from the Grand United Order of Antelopes. This little known group was composed of primarily African American members and was big in the North Eastern US. You can follow up this exhibit by checking out our newest “Unknown Fez“, the BOE. We have no idea what group it comes from… so maybe you can help!

As always, thanks for looking and enjoying the Fez Museum!

What kind of trickery is this? An update already?!? It’s only been two months since our last update, and we’re back with more fezzy goodness for you. We’ve had a surprising run of new additions to the collection, so it seemed like a good time to do an update.

First up, check out our new pearly white Moose Legion fez over in the Animal Lodges exhibit.

And, since we’re talking colors, there’s a new, and very unusual, green colored Nile Shriners fez in the Shriners area for you.

There was a big update to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows exhibit, with a new Lodge fez and two new Encampment fezzes.

In a rarely updated area, we have added a new International Masons fez over in the Clandestine Organizations area.

Lastly, we have also updated the Occupational and Affinity Groups exhibit with a new Masonic Square Club fez from New Jersey.

Thanks for reading and best wishes for a great holiday season!