In addition to his jazz club images, Seattle photographer Al Smith took many photos of family, friends, and other local people in their everyday lives. Here, he photographed a group of men outside Gideon’s Drugstore in the Central Area, at the intersection of 22nd Avenue, Denny Way, and Madison Street. The drugstore was opened by Russell Gideon (1904-1985), a leader and civil rights activist in Seattle’s Black community. Gideon moved to Seattle in 1946 and operated the drugstore until 1963. He also served on the boards of the Florence Crittenton Home, the Seattle Urban League, the Foundation for International Understanding, and the East Madison YMCA. In 1963, Gideon was appointed to the Washington State Board of Prison Terms and Paroles. Gideon was active in Black Freemason organizations, and in 1977 he was elected to lead the 22,000 Prince Hall Masons outside the Southern US. The man at the right end of the front row is possibly Russell Gideon.

The men in this image appear to be members of Beni Hassan Shrine Temple #64, a Black Freemasons organization in Seattle that was founded in 1914. The shrine members carry out charitable work in the community, especially focusing on educational opportunities. The seven men in the front row are wearing fezzes with the shrine’s logo and holding fake swords, a rope, and a baton. The men in the back row are chained or tied together and have a cross or sword symbol drawn on their foreheads. The symbolism of their costumes is not given, but this image may have been taken after the group marched in a parade.

Caption information source: “Russell S. Gideon,” by Frances J Carr, Blackpast, retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/gideon-russell-s-1904-1985/.
Caption information source: “Beni Hassan Shrine Temple #64,” retrieved from https://www.youtheventservices.com/benihassanshrinetemple64.