Andrew Zellers-Frederick, Executive Director

Historian Andrew Zellers-Frederick, Executive Director of the Masonic Library and Museum, has won the 2008 Hunter-Burley Award of the Small Museum Association. The award recognizes "an individual's outstanding contribution to the advancement of public access and professional growth for an individual institution."

Zellers-Frederick first helped to overcome obstacles of security and tradition to have the Grand Entrance open to the public every day, not only for special events. He has increased the number of private and special public events: in 2007, there was a conference on Bro. Marquis de Lafayette in celebration of his 250th birthday, and a lecture by Dr. David Valuska, emeritus professor of history at Kutztown University, impersonating Bro. Baron von Steuben. In 2006, there were events related to the 300th Anniversary of Bro. Benjamin Franklin's birth and the 250th anniversary of William Rush, the first native-born American sculptor of whose works the Masonic Temple houses the largest collection in the world. In addition, there was a small exhibit celebrating Bro. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday.

Zellers-Frederick has increased the number of tours and is proposing several theme tours, based on specific topics (i.e. architecture, portraiture, interior decorating, stonework and ironwork, etc.). Thriving under the able management of Mrs. Carole Alfe, the Gift Shop, "Temple Treasures," has been reorganized, and the Masonic Temple building is undergoing major evaluation, restoration and preservation, even as it has been used in the filming of historical documentaries.