Archive Record
Metadata
Accession number |
A2003.015 |
Collection |
United Grand Lodge of Iowa Collection |
Title |
United Grand Lodge of Iowa Collection |
Catalog Number |
A2003.015 |
Object Name |
Archive |
Credit line |
Collection of the AAMI |
Physical characteristics |
Boxed documents span five linear inches. |
Dates of Creation |
1930-1976 |
Access Conditions |
Open for research. |
Copyrights |
no known restrictions |
Scope & Content |
The United Grand Lodge of Iowa records date from 1930 to 1976 and measure 5 linear inches. The records are arranged in one series: United Grand Lodge of Iowa ( 1930 - 1976) This series contains lodge proceedings from 1930 to 1976. |
Biographical History |
In 1775 the first Grand Lodge was instituted in what is today Boston. There were several African American freemasons in the United States, but they had no masonic lodges. At a time of much racial prejudice African Americans were attracted to freemasonry because it "knows no creed, religion, social condition, nor color." Late in the 18th century the United Grand Lodge of England instructed 14 African Americans to form their own lodge, African Lodge no. 459. They then went on to form other lodges. In 1791 several of these lodges united and formed what is now the Prince Hall Grand Lodge. What began in Massachusetts spread to other states, and in 1866 Union Lodge no. 1 was instituted in Keokuk. Des Moines later received North Star Lodge no. 2 and in 1881 these and other lodges formed together to create the African Grand Lodge of Iowa. In 1884 another group of Prince Hall Lodges in Iowa came together and formed the Hiram Grand Lodge of Iowa. It was then that the first grandmaster, Alexander Clark, Sr. was elected. For three years the two Grand Lodges of Prince Hall Masons coexisted, but in 1887 the two united to form the United Grand Lodge of Iowa. |
Finding Aids |
Box no.___Description____________ Box 1 United Grand Lodge of Iowa Iowa Proceedings 1930, 1938-1945 1949, 1951 1952-1953 1954-1956 1958-1960 1961-1964 1971-1976 |
Subjects |
Fraternal lodges Fraternal organizations |
Search Terms |
Cedar Rapids Iowa Masons Masons - Prince Hall Prince Hall Grand Lodge Prince Hall Masons Organizations Proceedings Fraternal lodges Fraternal organizations Lodges |
Classification |
Organizations & Clubs |