Interesting followup email, FYI: Source: nymasoniclibrary.org

The Chancellor Robert R Livingston Masonic Library charges a fee of $35.00 for family membership searches. The fee is waived for members in good standing of a Masonic lodge sharing recognition with the Grand Lodge of the State of New York; please include a photocopy of a valid Dues Card with your request. Genealogical requests must be sent by standard mail, stating that the request is sought for genealogical purposes, along with payment.

Our typical search results include the name of a member's lodge; his occupation when he joined; his age at the time of joining; the dates of his Masonic degrees; and a date of death, if he remained a member in good standing throughout his life.

At times, results will include information relating to offices held within a lodge, or other information relating to lodge activities, but these results are not typical.

Search results do not typically include the following: biographical data; family members; photographs; information relating to membership in other Masonic-related organizations (Scottish Rite, Shriners, York Rite).

For membership searches on New York State Masons from 1920 to the present, the following information is needed: correct spelling of full name, including middle initial if possible, and date of death. Please note that information on living members is not available.

For searches on New York State Masons from 1920 and earlier, the following information is needed: full name; name or number of the specific New York State Masonic lodge where the man was a member; and year of death. Searches are not performed for members from this era when the specific lodge is not known.

Membership information on men who were Freemasons in other states or countries is not maintained by this institution.

Requests may be sent by standard mail to:

Livingston Masonic Library 71 West 23rd Street, 14th floor New York, NY 10010

Please note that official requests for membership verification from concordant orders need to be sent to the Office of the Grand Secretary under proper seal and signature.