In connection with its current exhibition, “Mysterious Customs and Warm Charity”: Fraternal Organizations in the Wyoming Valley, the Luzerne County Historical Society will offer a talk by Executive Director Aimee E. Newell, Ph.D., titled “The Badge of a Freemason”: Masonic Aprons on Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. at the LCHS Museum, 69 Rear South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Join us for an overview of the history of Masonic aprons, their symbols and manufacture. Freemasons were inspired to wear aprons by the use of protective work aprons worn by working stonemasons. They remain one of the most well-known elements of the Masonic fraternity. The illustrated talk will include examples of embroidered, painted and printed aprons, with information on their makers and owners and the Masonic groups that use them.

Newell is the author of “The Badge of a Freemason:” Masonic Aprons from the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, published in 2015. Limited copies will be available for sale and signing. She has spoken and written about Masonic history across the United States and in Europe. She is the former Director of Collections at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library in Lexington, Massachusetts, and the former president of the Masonic Library and Museum Association.

The program is free for Society members, and $5 for nonmembers. Reservations are accepted, but not required. For more information, contact the Society at 570-823-6244 ext. 3 or email reservations@luzernehistory.org. The Luzerne County Museum is located at 69 Rear South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre, PA (behind the Osterhout Library). The museum is open Wednesday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free for members; $5 for non-members and $3 for children. Exhibitions on view at the museum include: “Native Americans in the Wyoming Valley,” “Mysterious Customs and Warm Charity”: Fraternal Organizations in the Wyoming Valley and “The Battle of Wyoming at 240: Revolution on the Homefront.”