About Us | Knights of Columbus
Origins
On
October
2,
1881,
a
small
group
of
men
met
in
the
basement
of
St.
Mary’s
Church
on
Hillhouse
Avenue
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut.
Called
together
by
their
parish
priest,
Father
Michael
J.
McGivney,
these
men
formed
a
fraternal
society
that
would
one
day
become
the
world’s
largest
Catholic
family
fraternal
service
organization.
They
sought
strength
in
solidarity,
and
security
through
unity
of
purpose
and
devotion
to
a
holy
cause:
they
vowed
to
be
defenders
of
their
country
and
their
families
and
their
Faith.
These
men
were
bound
together
by
the
ideal
of
Christopher
Columbus,
the
discoverer
of
the
Americas,
the
one
whose
hand
brought the Holy Faith to this New World. They were Knights of Columbus.
Through
the
foresight
and
leadership
of
Father
McGivney,
and
the
sacrifice
and
dedication
of
those
early
Knights,
and
the
millions
of
their
brother
who
have
followed
in
their
footsteps,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
would
become
the
world’s
foremost
Catholic
fraternal
benefit
society,
one
that
has
helped
millions
of
Catholic
families
grow
in
their
faith
and
defend
their
beliefs.
It
has
made
its
members
better
husbands,
fathers,
sons,
and
citizens.
It
has
helped
families
obtain
economic
security
and
stability
through
the
Knights’
life
insurance
program.
It
has
built
Catholic
communities,
fed
the
poor
and
defended
the
vulnerable.
It
has
helped to renovate the Vatican and bring the Pope to the world.
Continuous Growth
Since
it
was
incorporated
on
March
29,
1882,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
has
grown
from
several
members
in
one
council
to
more
than
12,000
councils
and
over
1.6
million
members
throughout
the
United
States,
Canada,
the
Philippines,
Mexico,
the
Dominican
Republic,
Puerto
Rico,
Panama,
the
Bahamas,
the
Virgin
Islands,
Guatemala,
Guam
and
Saipan.
The
Order
has
had
thirteen
Supreme
Knights—from
the
first
Supreme
Knight,
James
T.
Mullen,
who
designed
the
famous
emblem
of
the
Order,
to
our
current
Supreme
Knight,
Carl
A.
Anderson,
who
leads
the
Order
across
the
threshold
of
the
21st
century.
Millions
of
Catholic
men
have been Knights of Columbus—men of all nationalities and backgrounds and professions—men like baseball great Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy.
Love of Church and Country
Charity,
unity,
fraternity
and
patriotism—these
are
the
watchwords
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
And,
since
1882,
Knights
of
Columbus
have
backed
up
these
words
with
actions.
During
World
War
I,
Supreme
Knight
James
A.
Flaherty
proposed
to
U.S.
President
Woodrow
Wilson
that
the
Order
establish
soldiers’
welfare
centers
in
the
US
and
abroad.
The
Order
raised
more
than
$14
million
for
this
program
on
its
own,
and
was
allocated
another
$30
million
from
a
national
fund drive.
During
the
early
years
of
World
War
II,
Canadian
Knights
set
up
similar
soldiers’
welfare
centers
in
Canada.
The
US
Knights
were
the
first
national
organization
to
sponsor
a
blood
donor
program,
and
numerous
councils
led
war
bond
drives
in
support
of
the
war
effort.
Thousands
of
Knights
were
killed
in
action
during
the
war.
During
the
Cold
War,
Supreme
Knight
John
E.
Swift
oversaw
the
Order’s
varied
responses
to
the
Communist
threat,
as
the
Knights
operated
speakers’
bureaus,
funded
anti-Communist
advertisements
and
radio
addresses,
and
published
pro-freedom
pamphlets.
In
1954,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
led
the
effort
to
officially
include
the
words
“under
God”
in
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance
to
the
American
flag,
a
crusade
that
resulted
in
federal
legislation
signed
by
US
President
Dwight
D.
Eisenhower.
In
1957,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
donated
a
$1
million,
329-foot
bell
tower
to
the
National
Shrine
of
the
Immaculate
Conception
in
Washington,
DC—a
tower
that became known as “the Knights’ Tower.” The Order has since donated a 56-bell carillon to the Shrine and provided funding for its operation.
During
the
1960s
and
1970s,
decades
of
degeneration
and
social
chaos,
the
Knights
of
Columbus,
behind
Supreme
Knight
John
McDevitt
and
Supreme
Knight
Virgil
C.
Dechant,
stood
as
a
tower
amidst
societal
crisis
to
promote
racial
equality
and
love
of
country.
Against
a
tide
of
dissension,
the
Order
championed
Church teaching on divorce, birth control, abortion, and pornography.
Since
the
late
1970s,
Supreme
Knight
Virgil
C.
Dechant
led
the
Knights
to
record-breaking
growth
in
all
areas
of
the
Order’s
operations:
membership,
new
council
development,
international
development,
insurance
sales,
volunteerism
and
charitable
giving.
He
fostered
devotion
to
the
Church
and
the
Blessed
Mother,
and
pledged
the
Knights’
support
for
the
Holy
Father,
the
cardinals,
bishops
and
all
the
clergy
and
religious.
In
2000
the
current
Supreme
Knight
Carl
A.
Anderson was elected to office.
Continuing
the
tradition
of
devotion
to
the
Church
and
the
Blessed
Mother,
he
rededicated
the
Order
to
its
role
as
“strong
right
arm
of
the
Church”
in
the
renewal
of society. He especially promised new vigor in the fight for the culture of life over the culture of death as the Order moves into the 21st century.
Knights
of
Columbus
have
helped
to
build
and
support
the
Catholic
Church,
from
the
United
States
to
the
Philippines.
Knights
have
lived
for
their
faith
in
Canada,
and
died
for
their
faith
in
Mexico.
Throughout
the
history
of
the
Order,
in
these
and
many
other
ways,
Knights
of
Columbus
have
provided
immeasurable
support
to
their
families
and
communities,
to
their
countries
and
the
Church.
The
Knights
of
Columbus
has
enabled
its
members
to
strengthen
and
protect
their
loved
ones—spiritually,
by
developing
their
faith,
and
financially,
with
the
highest
quality
life
insurance
available,
a
product
that
has
brought
security and prosperity to millions of Knights and their families.
Through
their
dedication
to
the
ideals
of
the
Order—Charity,
Unity,
Fraternity,
Patriotism—and
through
their
fidelity
to
Christ’s
Church
and
his
Vicar,
the
Knights of Columbus continue to be what they were called long ago: “The Strong Right Arm of the Church.”
Knight of Columbus Archives
The
Knights
of
Columbus
Supreme
Council
Archives
exists
to
preserve
the
history
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
The
collection
includes
correspondence,
pamphlets,
publications,
programs,
newspaper
clippings
and
books
relating
to
the
history
of
the
Order.
The
collection
focuses
on
Supreme
Council
activities,
but
does
contain
some
material
relating
to
state
and
local
councils.
Some
topics
relating
to
the
Supreme
Council
include
anti-Catholicism
such
as
the
Mexican
Persecution
and
the
Bogus
Oath,
the
Historical
Commission,
the
Roman
Playgrounds,
the
Oregon
School
Case,
Columbian
Squires,
World
War
I,
Reconstruction,
World
War
II,
and
the
James
Cardinal
Gibbons
Memorial
Statue
papers.
Material
relating
to
the
founder,
Father
Michael
J.
McGivney,
and
St.
Mary’s
Church
are
also
collected.
The
Archives
includes
material
relating
to
the
Catholic
Church
as
well
as
an
over
four
hundred
volume
library
on
Christopher
Columbus
and
Columbus related materials such as the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
The
Archives
is
located
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut
in
the
Knights
of
Columbus
Museum
at
1
State
Street.
Access
to
the
archives
is
available
by
appointment
and
with
the
permission
of
the
Archivist.
Some
materials
are
restricted.
The
Archives
is
usually
open
Monday
through
Friday
8:00
am
–
4:30
pm.
It
is
closed
on
major holidays. E-Mail
Susan.Brosnan@kofc-supreme.com
.
Knights of Columbus Museum
The
Knights
opened
a
museum
at
their
headquarters
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut
during
the
organization’s
100th
anniversary
in
August
1982.
The
Museum
has
grown
over
the
years,
and
is
now
housed
in
a
separate
building.
The
grand
opening
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus
Museum
at
One
State
Street,
New
Haven
took
place on March 8, 2001. The Order’s history is now showcased in an attractive setting, and interactive computer stations enable visitors to conduct research.
The
Museum
is
dedicated
to
the
acquisition,
preservation,
interpretation
and
exhibition
of
information
and
materials
deriving
from
or
relevant
to
the
history,
formation
and
activities
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
It
also
contains
material
on
the
Catholic
Church
and
Christopher
Columbus,
as
well
as
secular
history
in
America.
You
can
take
a
cyber-tour
of
the
museum
and
view
the
Gallery
of
Supreme
Knights
via
the
link
below.
We
soon
will
be
updating
our
cyber-tour
to
allow
you to see displays from the expanded facilities.
Knights of Columbus | About Us
Origins
On
October
2,
1881,
a
small
group
of
men
met
in
the
basement
of
St.
Mary’s
Church
on
Hillhouse
Avenue
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut.
Called
together
by
their
parish
priest,
Father
Michael
J.
McGivney,
these
men
formed
a
fraternal
society
that
would
one
day
become
the
world’s
largest
Catholic
family
fraternal
service
organization.
They
sought
strength
in
solidarity,
and
security
through
unity
of
purpose
and
devotion
to
a
holy
cause:
they
vowed
to
be
defenders
of
their
country
and
their
families
and
their
Faith.
These
men
were
bound
together
by
the
ideal
of
Christopher
Columbus,
the
discoverer
of
the
Americas,
the
one
whose
hand
brought
the
Holy
Faith
to
this
New
World.
They were Knights of Columbus.
Through
the
foresight
and
leadership
of
Father
McGivney,
and
the
sacrifice
and
dedication
of
those
early
Knights,
and
the
millions
of
their
brother
who
have
followed
in
their
footsteps,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
would
become
the
world’s
foremost
Catholic
fraternal
benefit
society,
one
that
has
helped
millions
of
Catholic
families
grow
in
their
faith
and
defend
their
beliefs.
It
has
made
its
members
better
husbands,
fathers,
sons,
and
citizens.
It
has
helped
families
obtain
economic
security
and
stability
through
the
Knights’
life
insurance
program.
It
has
built
Catholic
communities,
fed
the
poor
and
defended
the
vulnerable.
It
has
helped
to
renovate the Vatican and bring the Pope to the world.
Continuous Growth
Since
it
was
incorporated
on
March
29,
1882,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
has
grown
from
several
members
in
one
council
to
more
than
12,000
councils
and
over
1.6
million
members
throughout
the
United
States,
Canada,
the
Philippines,
Mexico,
the
Dominican
Republic,
Puerto
Rico,
Panama,
the
Bahamas,
the
Virgin
Islands,
Guatemala,
Guam
and
Saipan.
The
Order
has
had
thirteen
Supreme
Knights—from
the
first
Supreme
Knight,
James
T.
Mullen,
who
designed
the
famous
emblem
of
the
Order,
to
our
current
Supreme
Knight,
Carl
A.
Anderson,
who
leads
the
Order
across
the
threshold
of
the
21st
century.
Millions
of
Catholic
men
have
been
Knights
of
Columbus—men
of
all
nationalities
and
backgrounds
and
professions—men
like
baseball great Babe Ruth and President John F. Kennedy.
Love of Church and Country
Charity,
unity,
fraternity
and
patriotism—these
are
the
watchwords
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
And,
since
1882,
Knights
of
Columbus
have
backed
up
these
words
with
actions.
During
World
War
I,
Supreme
Knight
James
A.
Flaherty
proposed
to
U.S.
President
Woodrow
Wilson
that
the
Order
establish
soldiers’
welfare
centers
in
the
US
and
abroad.
The
Order
raised
more
than
$14
million
for
this
program
on
its
own,
and
was
allocated
another
$30
million
from a national fund drive.
During
the
early
years
of
World
War
II,
Canadian
Knights
set
up
similar
soldiers’
welfare
centers
in
Canada.
The
US
Knights
were
the
first
national
organization
to
sponsor
a
blood
donor
program,
and
numerous
councils
led
war
bond
drives
in
support
of
the
war
effort.
Thousands
of
Knights
were killed in action during the war.
During
the
Cold
War,
Supreme
Knight
John
E.
Swift
oversaw
the
Order’s
varied
responses
to
the
Communist
threat,
as
the
Knights
operated
speakers’
bureaus,
funded
anti-Communist
advertisements
and
radio
addresses,
and
published
pro-freedom
pamphlets.
In
1954,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
led
the
effort
to
officially
include
the
words
“under
God”
in
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance
to
the
American
flag,
a
crusade
that
resulted
in
federal
legislation
signed
by
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
In
1957,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
donated
a
$1
million,
329-foot
bell
tower
to
the
National
Shrine
of
the
Immaculate
Conception
in
Washington,
DC—a
tower
that
became
known
as
“the
Knights’
Tower.”
The
Order
has
since
donated
a
56-bell
carillon
to
the
Shrine
and
provided
funding for its operation.
During
the
1960s
and
1970s,
decades
of
degeneration
and
social
chaos,
the
Knights
of
Columbus,
behind
Supreme
Knight
John
McDevitt
and
Supreme
Knight
Virgil
C.
Dechant,
stood
as
a
tower
amidst
societal
crisis
to
promote
racial
equality
and
love
of
country.
Against
a
tide
of
dissension,
the
Order
championed
Church
teaching
on
divorce, birth control, abortion, and pornography.
Since
the
late
1970s,
Supreme
Knight
Virgil
C.
Dechant
led
the
Knights
to
record-breaking
growth
in
all
areas
of
the
Order’s
operations:
membership,
new
council
development,
international
development,
insurance
sales,
volunteerism
and
charitable
giving.
He
fostered
devotion
to
the
Church
and
the
Blessed
Mother,
and
pledged
the
Knights’
support
for
the
Holy
Father,
the
cardinals,
bishops
and
all
the
clergy
and
religious.
In
2000
the
current
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson was elected to office.
Continuing
the
tradition
of
devotion
to
the
Church
and
the
Blessed
Mother,
he
rededicated
the
Order
to
its
role
as
“strong
right
arm
of
the
Church”
in
the
renewal
of
society.
He
especially
promised
new
vigor
in
the
fight
for
the
culture
of
life
over
the
culture
of
death
as
the
Order
moves
into the 21st century.
Knights
of
Columbus
have
helped
to
build
and
support
the
Catholic
Church,
from
the
United
States
to
the
Philippines.
Knights
have
lived
for
their
faith
in
Canada,
and
died
for
their
faith
in
Mexico.
Throughout
the
history
of
the
Order,
in
these
and
many
other
ways,
Knights
of
Columbus
have
provided
immeasurable
support
to
their
families
and
communities,
to
their
countries
and
the
Church.
The
Knights
of
Columbus
has
enabled
its
members
to
strengthen
and
protect
their
loved
ones—spiritually,
by
developing
their
faith,
and
financially,
with
the
highest
quality
life
insurance
available,
a
product
that
has
brought
security
and
prosperity
to
millions
of
Knights
and
their
families.
Through
their
dedication
to
the
ideals
of
the
Order—Charity,
Unity,
Fraternity,
Patriotism—and
through
their
fidelity
to
Christ’s
Church
and
his
Vicar,
the
Knights
of
Columbus
continue
to
be
what
they
were
called
long
ago: “The Strong Right Arm of the Church.”
Knight of Columbus Archives
The
Knights
of
Columbus
Supreme
Council
Archives
exists
to
preserve
the
history
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
The
collection
includes
correspondence,
pamphlets,
publications,
programs,
newspaper
clippings
and
books
relating
to
the
history
of
the
Order.
The
collection
focuses
on
Supreme
Council
activities,
but
does
contain
some
material
relating
to
state
and
local
councils.
Some
topics
relating
to
the
Supreme
Council
include
anti-Catholicism
such
as
the
Mexican
Persecution
and
the
Bogus
Oath,
the
Historical
Commission,
the
Roman
Playgrounds,
the
Oregon
School
Case,
Columbian
Squires,
World
War
I,
Reconstruction,
World
War
II,
and
the
James
Cardinal
Gibbons
Memorial
Statue
papers.
Material
relating
to
the
founder,
Father
Michael
J.
McGivney,
and
St.
Mary’s
Church
are
also
collected.
The
Archives
includes
material
relating
to
the
Catholic
Church
as
well
as
an
over
four
hundred
volume
library
on
Christopher
Columbus
and
Columbus
related
materials
such
as
the
World’s
Columbian
Exposition of 1893.
The
Archives
is
located
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut
in
the
Knights
of
Columbus
Museum
at
1
State
Street.
Access
to
the
archives
is
available
by
appointment
and
with
the
permission
of
the
Archivist.
Some
materials
are
restricted.
The
Archives
is
usually
open
Monday
through
Friday
8:00
am
–
4:30
pm.
It
is
closed
on
major
holidays.
E-Mail
Susan.Brosnan@kofc-supreme.com
.
Knights of Columbus Museum
The
Knights
opened
a
museum
at
their
headquarters
in
New
Haven,
Connecticut
during
the
organization’s
100th
anniversary
in
August
1982.
The
Museum
has
grown
over
the
years,
and
is
now
housed
in
a
separate
building.
The
grand
opening
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus
Museum
at
One
State
Street,
New
Haven
took
place
on
March
8,
2001.
The
Order’s
history
is
now
showcased
in
an
attractive
setting,
and
interactive
computer
stations
enable
visitors
to
conduct
research.
The
Museum
is
dedicated
to
the
acquisition,
preservation,
interpretation
and
exhibition
of
information
and
materials
deriving
from
or
relevant
to
the
history,
formation
and
activities
of
the
Knights
of
Columbus.
It
also
contains
material
on
the
Catholic
Church
and
Christopher
Columbus,
as
well
as
secular
history
in
America.
You
can
take
a
cyber-tour
of
the
museum
and
view
the
Gallery
of
Supreme
Knights
via
the
link
below.
We
soon
will
be
updating
our
cyber-tour
to
allow
you
to
see
displays
from
the expanded facilities.
