The Knights of Columbus was founded by Father Michael J. McGivney on March 29, 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut. The purpose of this fraternal organization was to help strengthen Catholicism in male parishioners and to provide life insurance for widows and orphans of deceased members. The Knights of Columbus was established in Canada on November 25, 1897. Council No. 284, the first Canadian council, was founded in Montreal, Quebec. Within 10 years, councils were established in every existing Canadian province. In Alberta, the first councils were established in January 1907, in Edmonton, Council 1184 with N.D. Beck as first Grand Knight, and Calgary, Council 1186 with Patrick J. Nolan as first Grand Knight. Patrick J. Nolan was also the first Territorial Deputy of the Knights in Alberta. Presently, Alberta is covered by the Alberta and Northwest Territories State Council.

The Canadian Association of the Knights of Columbus was created in 1918 with the approval of the Supreme Board of Directors. The goal of the Association was to promote goodwill among Canadian jurisdictions and to work toward solidarity in Canadian matters and of particular concern to Canadian Knights of Columbus, to Canadian Bishops and for the good of the Order in Canada as a whole. The first meeting was held on December 2, 1918 in the Catholic Army Hut Headquarters in Ottawa. In 1922, the Canadian Superintendent of Insurance empowered the Order to write insurance policies in all provinces.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal organization of Catholic men who are community minded and do charitable work. The members donate millions of hours in volunteer service and fund-raising efforts to their local communities and church parishes. The organization is also firmly committed to the protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the preservation and defense of family. Today the Knights of Columbus forms the largest catholic lay organization in the world with more than 1.5 million members. Any male Catholic, 18 years of age or older, qualify to join the Knights of Columbus.

The hierarchy of the organization consists of a Supreme Council (International body), which creates and distributes the charter, constitutions and laws to the various State Councils. The state councils are divided into chapters, districts, and councils. The chapters act as organizing bodies for the local districts to help coordinate the efforts of the various councils throughout the state. The councils are composed of members of local parishes based within a community. Although each level of the hierarchy has authority to create and disband lower councils, the local, state, and supreme councils operate independent of each other insofar as they are concerned with local initiatives and funding. The charter, constitution and laws of the organization are the rules that bind councils to the Knights of Columbus and adherence to those rules along with the payment of dues by members and councils up the hierarchy are what grants the various levels entry into the organization. Each state council organizes an annual convention.

The Fourth Degree is the highest degree of membership to the Knights of Columbus. The Fourth Degree came into existence in 1900, and in Alberta in 1910, as part of the Champlain Province. This degree is also known as the Degree of Patriotism and indicates a love of the country through the duties of citizenship informed by religion. In 1921-1922 Alberta had its own district, in 1930-1931 Saskatchewan and Alberta formed one district together, but separated again in 1937.

The Columbian Squires began in 1925, providing an opportunity to young Catholics to unite and develop their leadership and various humanitarian projects. In Alberta the first squire circles were formed in 1924-1928 by Cyril Bretchel and revived by Walter Leeb in 1959.

• Northern Alberta / Northwest Territories Chapter series with sub-series for Districts 1 through 7;
• Edmonton Chapter series with subseries for Districts 8 through 16;
• Central Alberta Chapter series with sub-series for Districts 17 through 21;
• Calgary Chapter series with sub-series for Districts 22 through 30;
• Southern Alberta Chapter series with sub-series for Districts 31 through 35;
• Fourth Degree Assemblies series;
• Squire Circles series.

Information for the administrative history obtained from the books Knights of Columbus of Alberta, 1907-1980: A Dedicated History (PR1995.0140/189) and History of the Knights of Columbus Alberta-NWT State Council, vol. 2: 1980-1995. Also used were Knights of Columbus in Alberta (PR1989.0423/14) and Alberta-Northwest Territories Knights of Columbus State Council and Charitable Foundation, Roster 2006-2007. Representatives from the organization were also consulted.

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