IOOF Database

The Ontario Genealogical Society <www.ogs.on.ca> has recently put the Independent Order of Oddfellow (IOOF) index online. Nearly thirteen years ago, the application papers were donated to the OGS. It represents nearly 60,000 Canadian men who obtained life insurance from this plan.

This is the third database that the Ontario Genealogical Society has made available to their "Members only" site, the two other being the Strays Database and the Church Histories of the London Roman Catholic Diocese.

Each application is four pages long and includes such genealogical information as the name of a beneficiary and the person's relationship to the applicant, the age and health of siblings and parents (although their names are rarely mentioned), and other letters and notes attached to the applicants.

The database contains the applicant's name, date of birth, and location when the application was made, and the application date and number.

I checked the database for a couple of surnames and found that you can write to the OGS if you want any of the files on the database (the 100 year rule applies for health reasons, so only papers piror to 1909 can be released) for $10.80, which includes tax. The money will go to the preservation of the project.

You can write to them at 40 Orchard View Blvd, Suite 102, Toronto, ON M4R 1B9, or send them an email at <research@ogs.on.ca>.