On June 15, 1853, Olympia Lodge No. 5 of the Grand Lodge of Oregon A.F.& A.M. became the first Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons chartered in what is now the State of Washington. Until the 1980s, widespread racial segregation made it difficult for African Americans to join Lodges outside of Prince Hall jurisdictions. In the image pictured here, a large group of African American Freemasons pose together in Everett, Washington, during an annual meeting of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, Free and Accepted Masons. It is unclear if the members of the lodge pictured here are part of a Prince Hall jurisdiction, or if they are outside the governance of Regular Freemasonry. Unfortunately, none of the individuals in the image are identified.
Handwritten on image: 23rd Annual Session of M. W. U. Grand Lodge of Washington, and its Jurisdiction. F. & A. M. at Everett Wash, July 12-13-14-1926. Juleen Photo Everett Wa.
Caption information source: https://freemason-wa.org/grand-lodge-of-wa/history-of-washington-freemasonry
Physical Description: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 25.25 x 6.25 in.
Additional Information: Digital copy of this item available thanks to funding from a 2016 Institute for Museum and Library Services grant. Metadata updated as part of a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Library Services and Technology Act, through the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
