Bethel Order of the Eastern Star ledger, 1924-1926

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Summary

Creators:
Order of the Eastern Star (Prince Hall Affiliation). Bethel Chapter 31
Abstract:
The Bethel Order of the Eastern Star (Chapter 31) was an African American, predominantly female association. The ledger (1924-1926) contains meeting minutes, correspondence, membership rosters, dues paid and owed, and two photographs with unidentified members of the Shasta Elks Lodge.
Extent:
1 flat box (1 Linear Feet)
Language:
Collection materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Bethel Order of the Eastern Star ledger, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Background

Scope and content:

The ledger contains meeting minutes, correspondence, membership rosters, dues paid and owed, and two photographs with unidentified members of Shasta Elks Lodge. Correspondence documents the establishment of the order over its first year; correspondence is primarily between the Grand Worthy Patron, James Edmond, and the Secretary Lida C. Reed. The ledger's strengths are the well documented meeting minutes and correspondence regarding the establishment of the chapter.

Biographical / historical:

The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) was established by Rob Morris in 1850 and approved as an appendant body of the Masonic Fraternity in 1873. They are a worldwide fraternal, faith based non-profit charitable service organization open to both men and women. Members account for all races and denominations with Prince Hall being the primarily African American arm of the order.

Bethel OES Chapter 31, a Prince Hall chapter, first met October 4, 1924. The first meeting took place at 1788 Sutter Street (the home of Elizabeth Johnson). Later meetings took place at 1433 Divisadero (Booker T. Washington Center), and 2804 Bush (a Masonic Hall). The Booker T. Washington Center was a meeting place for other African American fraternal orders including the Shasta Elks Lodge, whose two prints were contained in the ledger. 2804 Bush also served as the home for the Hannibal Lodge No. 1, California's oldest Prince Hall lodge, dating back to 1852.

After their chapter was confirmed by the overseeing Naomi Chapter No. 2, also Prince Hall, Bethel held their first regular meeting April 14, 1925. 1925 officers included Lida C. Reed, Oscar G. Robinson, Viola Banks, Elizabeth Johnson, Gertrude Cox, Larena Herndon, Magdelene Dewson, Willa Robinson and Jesse Wilks. James Edmond served as Grand Worthy Patron for California, operating out of Los Angeles. The last recorded meeting in the ledger took place January 26, 1926. Bethel Chapter 31 is listed in the San Francisco City Directory nonconsecutively from 1927-1951. Naomi Chapter appears in the directory as late as 1953. They are both mentioned as late as January 1979 in the Sun Reporter.

Acquisition information:
Purchased in 1999. Accession number 2000-27.
Processing information:

Prior to processing, water damage was found on the lower portion of the front and back covers and some of the adjacent interior pages. For preservation purposes, acid free paper was inserted between some pages. Photographs were removed to an acid free file stored inside the box with the ledger.

Arrangement:

The ledger is arranged chronologically, front to back. Correspondence is tacked into the ledger and is not always in chronological order.

Physical location:
The collection is stored onsite.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Collections that are stored offsite should be requested 48 hours in advance.

Terms of access:

All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the City Archivist. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the San Francisco Public Library as the owner of the physical items.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Bethel Order of the Eastern Star ledger, San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library.

Location of this collection:
San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102, US
Contact:
(415) 557-4567
sfhistory@sfpl.org
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