The Knights Templar of Michigan was created in January of 1851 in Detroit. In March 1956, the Kalamazoo received a dispensation and a charter to be recognized as the Peninsular Commandery, No. 8. They were later granted a charter at a Special Conclave on January 11, 1860 by the Grand Commandary of Michigan. By 1948, there were 53 Commandaries in Michigan. (Source: Knights Templar History Index.

Information is not readily available as to when the Galesburg chapter of the Knights Templar began. An article of the Kalamazoo Gazette, dated July 27, 1890, referred to the Galesburg Knights Templar group as the “Galesburg contingent of the commandery” (of the Peninsular Commandary, no. 8). It is assumed that the Galesburg chapter may have been a sub-commandery.

There was an article in the Kalamazoo Gazette dated February 10, 1891 announcing a ball in their new hall on February 17, 1891. With it being the Masonic Building, more than likely it was home to several other fraternal organizations. The article in the Gazette also reported that several individuals in Kalamazoo also had been invited to attend.