TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

History

Scope and Content

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Bibliography

Detailed Description

Series I: Grand Lodge Records, undated, 1955-1987

Series II: Other Lodges, undated, 1945-1984

Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free And Accepted Masons Of Connecticut Records

History

Lodges were established in several areas of the American Colonies with the emigration of British Masons prior to the Revolutionary War. The American Revolution caused disruption in the firm establishment of a Grand Lodge in Connecticut until 1789. “The history of Black Free and Accepted Masons dates its origin from the initiation of Prince Hall on 6 March 1775 along with fourteen other free blacks into a Military Lodge of white masons. Lodge No. 441 of the Irish Registry up to the present time. Public acknowledgement of the legitimacy of black masonry came in March 1947 when the white Grand Lodge of Massachusetts officially recognized Prince Hall Masonry as a duly constituted regular and legitimate body. The committee of the white Grand Lodge of Massachusetts stated in its report regarding the charter issued to African Lodge in 1784, that it is believed to be the only original charter issued from the grand Lodge of England which is now in the possession of any lodge in America.” [Preamble to Biography of Prince Hall written by Preston L. Pope, 1975]

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Scope and Content

The collection contains materials dating from 1925 through 1987, although the bulk of the collection dates from 1971-1981. The files are the result of a letter sent to several Grand Masters of the Lodge requesting their personal papers concerning freemasonry in Connecticut. Included in the collection is correspondence, reports, publications, photographs, addresses, lectures, ephemera and newspaper clippings all concerning the Lodge and its activities and members.

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Arrangement

Series I:Grand Lodge Records (undated, 1925-1987)

Series II: Other Lodge Records (undated, 1945-1984)

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

See also the Preston L. Pope Papers. For detailed information on the collections in Archives & Special Collections, please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

The following materials have been separated from the collection and cataloged:

Official Proceedings of the 165th and 166th Annual Communication,Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 1980-1981. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 189th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts, 1980. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 116 Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan, 1981. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 136th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, 1982. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 191st Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts, 1982. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 115th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of South Carolina, 1983. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 192nd Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts, 1983. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 118th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Michigan, 1983. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 135th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, 1983-1984. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 136t Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio, 1984-1985. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 194th Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts, 1985. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 122nd Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Louisiana and Jurisdiction, 1986. Dodd Periodicals

Official Proceedings of the 123rd Annual Communication, Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Louisiana and Jurisdiction, 1987. Dodd Periodicals

Two Hundred Years of Freemasonry in Connecticut. Case, James R. TGrand Lodge A.F. & A. M. of Connecticut, 1984.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations:

Subjects:

Document Types:

Occupations:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free And Accepted Masons Of Connecticut Records. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

The materials were collected from several Grand Masters of the Lodge.

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Bibliography

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Detailed Description