The Lexington Observer speaks with Rich Elliot, Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library
LO: What’s the Scottish Rite?
RE: The Scottish Rite is a rite within Freemasonry, the oldest fraternal organization in the world. The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library is part of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, which serves 15 states from Maine over to Wisconsin and down to Delaware. We are proud to be a part of the rich history and values of Freemasonry, including the influence it has had on shaping our country, and the artifacts in our collection are a reflection of that shared heritage.
LO: Is that why the museum was established in Lexington?
RE: No, but Lexington plays an important role. Our Sovereign Grand Commander between 1965 and 1975 was a gentleman named George Newbury. He was involved in groundbreaking projects like the construction of the first TV station in New York, innovative engineering projects such as building bridges over Niagara Falls, etc. He loved a challenge and believed in thinking big, and he shared that big-picture approach with everyone he met.
When he took office in 1965, there was already an ongoing discussion about moving the headquarters of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite from the then-downtown Boston location to another place. The fraternity bought two tracts of land in Lexington: first, a 14.4-acre tract with existing buildings, and shortly after, a 7.5-acre lot at the corner of Marrett Road and Mass Ave—where the museum is today. The fraternity decided to build the new headquarters on that smaller tract of land.
These purchases coincided with the approach of our nation’s bicentennial. In his role as Sovereign Grand Commander, George Newbury traveled around the 15-state jurisdiction and, in his way of sharing excitement about big ideas, energized our members around the idea of constructing a Scottish Rite Museum and Library on the land in Lexington—not only to celebrate the Scottish Rite, but also to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States.
On Patriot’s Day weekend in 1975, the museum opened. The building was dedicated to the birthplace of America: to Lexington, right where the Revolution began. So, while the timing in our country’s history was what originally inspired the idea of the museum, Lexington and everything that happened—and happens—here is an important part of the museum’s mission.
LO: What is the mission of the museum?
RE: Quoted directly, “The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library’s mission is to engage and inspire the public and members of the Masonic fraternity through its exhibitions, collections, publications, and programs. It aims to foster knowledge and appreciation of America’s past and culture, with a focus on United States history, Freemasonry, and fraternalism. It builds interest and support for its mission by emphasizing themes of patriotism, fraternalism, inclusion, and personal and civic virtues.”
All that to say, I’d like to think that the Scottish Rite and the people who live and work in Lexington share much of the same history and values. We have a common pride in being part of the beginning of the country. Many Freemasons were involved in the first battle here on the Green, and we strive to continue being an important part of Lexington and beyond, engaging people’s interest and bringing them together in an appreciation of our history.
We invite and welcome people from the community to come visit us here and see what we do, see what is in our collection.
LO: Speaking of the collection, what sort of items might people see in it, and where do those come from?
RE: The collection aims to tell the story of Freemasonry and fraternalism in the context of American history, and we pay special attention to the history of the Scottish Rite. A significant portion of the collection of the Grand Lodge of Masons is here, and we have some really special pieces such as furnishings, photographs, regalia and early documents.
We are continuously building the collection through donations, loans and purchases. Our collections team meets regularly to review items. We cannot accept every item offered to us, as it has to fit with our mission and within our collections, but we always love to see Masonic-related material.
We do have limited resources, so purchased items are very carefully considered against our budget. Fortunately, we make the most of what we have because of our incredible staff, all of whom are true experts in their fields. Our librarian, archivists, curatorial staff, operations and facilities and maintenance teams all bring out the best in me because of the high level they work at.
We also have an in-residence author who has written several books for the museum, which are sold in the shop here. He speaks and reads other languages and has also helped us translate some of the much older documents, many of which are written in French.
LO: In addition to your paid staff, do you also have volunteers who help in any area?
RE: We do have a couple of volunteers with us currently. One catalogues many of our library and archive materials, and another works with our archivists. We do occasionally look for more volunteers for special projects, but much of our work requires specific training, so often our volunteers come from local universities or schools and are looking for an opportunity to gain experience in their chosen field of study.
LO: What are some of the goals you have as the museum’s director?
RE: In the fifty years since its opening, there have been only six directors of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library. It’s a long-held position, and a special and unique opportunity that I don’t take for granted. I’ve been here since [the] start of 2021, and the staff and I have worked together to accomplish a great deal already, including rebranding, carrying out renovations, rolling out a new website—and I’d like to do more. I stepped into the role of Executive Director with a goal to strengthen the museum’s relationships with the many organizations within Lexington that help make the town a better place, so that we can work more closely toward build[ing] a better community for everyone.
As we go forward, we are focused on working in a better and greater fashion—one that serves us and the community—and on continuing to expand the methods and manners in which we share the collection.
LO: Are there any special events coming up at the museum?
RE: Lexington is gearing up for the 250th anniversary and, at the same time, we are approaching our 50th anniversary. We are planning a celebration and rededication of the building on April 13, 2025, starting at 2 p.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.
To learn more about the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, visit https://www.srmml.org/.