The records of the Independent Order of Good Templars, Lodge No. 27 are organized in two series: Records of Bangor Lodge No. 27, and Records of Related Organizations. The first series, Records of Bangor Lodge No. 27, is the greater part of the collection. Within this grouping, the folder of communications and certificates from the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin, 1870-1926, contains constitutions, portions of the rituals and two letters. Among the records are two volumes of membership lists, the first of which, 1869-1882, contains the constitution of subordinate lodges as well as a list of members, dates and places of residence. In the second volume, 1881-1884, the names of proposed members, their occupation, references, decisions of an investigative committee, and dates of initiation are cited. Most of the records in this series are minutes and reports. These include three volumes of secretary's minute books, 1869-1887, recording acceptance of new members, charges against members and actions taken, elections of officers and delegates to conventions, and routine business; secretary's reports, 1881-1885 and quarterly reports, 1887-1890, describing membership; financial secretary's reports, 1869-1884, containing entries for each member of the amount of dues paid and records of suspensions, expulsions and withdrawals; two volumes of the financial secretary's account books, 1874-1884, and quarterly reports, 1881-1882; and treasurer's quarterly reports, 1881-1885.
Other records of Bangor Lodge No. 27 include leases, bills and receipts, 1879-1889; and records of the appeal case (1880) of the Rev. H. M. Pugh, who was accused of violating the pledge of abstinence. Miscellaneous papers include a written charge against a member, December 4, 1869; reports concerning the sewing society, the finance committee, ice cream sales, resignations of two officers; and final reports, January 22, 1891, written after the charter was surrendered.
The Records of Related Organizations series is comprised of the secretary's minute book from Bangor Lodge No. 208; two account books of the financial secretary of the Star of Province, Juvenile Temple, containing records of dues and members; records of the Good Templars Mutual Benefit Association, including proceedings from Annual Sessions, 1892, 1894-1896, an application for membership form, and routine correspondence; and records of the Bangor Trust Company consisting of proceedings and a treasurer's account book. Throughout the collection the records within each category are arranged chronologically.
