Freemasons

Grand Lodge of California masons
Grand Lodge of California masons group photograph, pictured: Leon Marsh, J.H. Wilson, Arden Carter, Henry Houston, [-] Maxwell, [-] Moss, C.L. Banks, Roscoe Broyles, Rev. Magette, Carl Towns, Milton Brown, C.J. Williams, Frank Hellums, Joe Crossen, Al Lawrence, Henry Godfrey, Eddie Banks, Connie Hamilton, V.V. Normand, C.E. McKinney, Todd Graham, circa 1920s, African American Museum & Library at Oakland Photograph collection, MS 189, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.
Portrait of Prince Hall Mason
Portrait of Prince Hall Mason, circa 1950s, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Prepare for a visit to AAMLO with these special topic resource guides.

This resource guide is intended to help users locate holdings at AAMLO related to African American Freemasonry.

It highlights holdings in the following areas:

● Selected Library Material at AAMLO
● Selected Archival Collections at AAMLO

Other collections may contain relevant materials. Please contact AAMLO (aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org) with any questions or to schedule an appointment to view materials in person.

Selected Library Materials

Mason standing behind podium with gavel
Mason standing behind podium with gavel, circa 1950s, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Black Freemasonry : From Prince Hall to the Giants of Jazz by Cécile Révauger

Souvenir of the Fortieth Anniversary Live Oak Lodge No. 61, F. & A.M., Oakland, Cal. Instituted Friday Evening, August 19, 1854. Anniversary Exercises, Held Friday Evening, August 17, 1894, Including History of Lodge and Roll of Members (Freemasons. Live Oak Lodge No. 61)

Official History of Freemasonry Among the Colored People in North America by William Henry Grimshaw

History of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of California, Inc., 1855-2005 (Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California)

Black Square & Compass : 200 Years of Prince Hall Freemasonry by Joseph A. Walkes

All Men Free and Brethren : Essays on the History of African American Freemasonry by Peter P. Hinks

A Noble Fight: African American Freemasonry and the Struggle for Democracy in America by Corey D. B. Walker

Selected Archival Collections

Royal E. Towns Papers. Royal E. Towns (1899-1990) was an active mason as a member of the Adonis Lodge No. 25 and Queen Esther Chapter No. 4, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Right of Adoption. Towns served as a Senior Master of the Adonis Lodge and was the editor and director of public relations for the Prince Hall Masonic Digest in the 1950s and 1960s. The Towns Papers document his work as a historian and director of public relations for the Free and Accepted Masons of California. The masonic series includes over 700 photographs of masonic events, portraits of masonic leadership, and group photographs of various African American masonic lodges throughout California. The series also includes newsletters, meeting minutes, and constitution and by-laws of masonic lodges mostly in California.

Group photograph of members of the Eli Baker #62 F. & A. M. Lodge, Oakland, California
Group photograph of members of the Eli Baker #62 F. & A. M. Lodge, Oakland, California, undated, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

African American Museum & Library at Oakland Vertical File Collection. Selected items include research writing by Donald Hauser on the "History of Black masonic lodges in early Oakland: 1890-1900" and "Oakland's black masons," copies of Prince Hall Masonic Digests, and programs hosted by various East Bay masonic lodges.

Ida Hill Photograph Collection. Includes 11 photographs documenting various African American masonic lodges throughout California.

Jesse W. and Marcella Ford Papers. Includes 157 photographs documenting masonic activities including East Bay lodges of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Menelik Temple.

Thelma Gibson Radden Papers. The Gibson family were active members in masonic organizations for many years, beginning with Radden's father. Charles Nelson Gibson, was born in Sacramento, California in 1877 and worked for over forty years (1913-1954) as a red cap porter for the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Radden papers include correspondence, convention ribbons, programs, and photographs documenting the families long involvement with freemasonry. The papers also include a copy of the constitution and by-laws of Occidental Lodge no. 2484 (Oakland, Calif.) from 1910.

Masons marching in parade at 30th and San Pablo street, Oakland, California
Masons marching in parade at 30th and San Pablo street, Oakland, California, Royal E. Towns papers, MS 26, African American Museum and Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Hickerson Family Papers. Both Joseph W. Hickerson (1883-1971) and Florence Hickerson (1888?-1944) were members of the First African Methodist Episcopal (First AME) Church of Oakland, California and of the Acacia Lodge No. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge. Noted materials collected are related to freemasonry, specifically from the Acacia Lodge No. 7 of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge.

Luther M. Hudson Papers and Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers. Luther M. Hudson (1882-1972) opened the Hudson Funeral Home at 853 8th Street in Oakland, California in 1915. He was one of the original founders of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, the largest Black-owned insurance company in the western United States. Hudson owned and operated the Hudson Funeral Home for 29 years until the failing health of his wife forced him to sell the funeral home to Aramis Fouche in 1943 and move to Los Angeles, California. While living in Oakland, Hudson was an active member of many civic organizations and fraternal orders. The Annette Starr Bruce Hudson Papers include various Masonic programs collected by the Hudsons and Henry Starr.

Alice Royal Collection. Includes a collection book and membership roster related to Joseph W. Hickerson’s membership in the Acacia Lodge No.7, F.&A.M., Prince Hall masonic order.

E. F. Joseph Photograph Collection. Includes three photographs of various masonic lodge members.

Robert B. Pitts Papers. Includes remarks delivered by Robert B. Pitts (1909-1982) as regional administrator, Department of Housing and Urban Development, to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, State of California, San Diego, California and the 9th annual meeting of the Federation of Masons of the World, Inc. Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles, California.

Members of Menelik Temple No. 36 eating at banquet table
Members of Menelik Temple No. 36 eating at banquet table, circa 1940s, Jesse W. and Marcella Ford papers, MS 10, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library.

Additional Information

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