The Federal Association, U.S.A.

On November 15, 1974, the Sovereign Council approved, by formal decree, the formation of the Southern Association of the Order of Malta—known today as the Federal Association. The Federal Association—headquartered in Washington, D.C.—is one of 59 national associations, priories, or sub-priories of the Order throughout the five continents and is one of three associations of the Order in the United States. In 1985, the Federal Association acquired its present name—approved by the Sovereign Council—to reflect the national composition of the Association.

What began with nine charter members has grown today to encompass over 800 Knights and Dames and over 40 chaplains throughout twenty-one states. In its early years, the Federal Association was a largely Washington-based membership. It was upon that strong foundation and under the leadership of President Edward Bennett Williams that the membership began to expand—initially to the South and Midwest. There are larger contingents of Knights and Dames in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse. And, there are many, smaller membership regions forming throughout the country.