Order Sons of Italy in America. New York Grand Lodge.

A fraternal and mutual benefit organization, OSIA was founded in New York City in 1905 by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro. The New York Grand Lodge was chartered in 1911, the first of twenty-two grand lodges. During the early years, it was the largest of the grand lodges. The New York Grand Lodge reached its zenith in 1925, when membership was about 30,000. A death insurance fund was established in 1915, and a "Welfare Department" in the early 1920s. The grand lodge also maintained a representative at Ellis Island to assist immigrants, granted scholarships to high school students, and contributed to relief efforts for Italy during and after World War I.

During the 1930s, the Grand Lodge made a concerted effort to attract the younger generation into its ranks; it organized over 100 junior lodges. In its early years, it had used newspapers such as Nuovo Vessillo as its official organ, but in 1933 it began to publish its own paper, The Lion. The Lion was succeeded in 1941 by Ordine Nuovo, from 1942-1951 by Il Bollettino, and from 1964 to 1987 by The Golden Lion. During the 1960s, the New York Grand Lodge began a period of rapid growth, becoming one of the largest grand lodges. Its Committee Against Bias, Bigotry and Prejudice, and the State Chapter of the Commission of Social Justice have been in the forefront of OSIA's efforts to uphold the image of Italian

Americans. The Grand Lodge has established a foundation, built a senior citizen housing complex, and set up headquarteers in Great Neck, on Long Island.

From the guide to the Order Sons of Italy in America, New York Grand Lodge Records, 1955-1987, (University of Minnesota Libraries. Immigration History Research Center [ihrc])