341
●
(FRATERNAL.) Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the
World.
Group of material relative to Laura O. B. Frazier, “Past Grand Daughter
Ruler and Grand Organizer of the Purple Cross Nurses of the African
American Chapter of the “Elks” from Easton, Pennsylvania.
Consisting of: an
elaborate medal of purple silk with a gold-plated enameled badge, a large ceremonial vel-
vet “collar” of gold and enameled stars and circles, at the end of which is a series of
gold-plated bars with her name gold star within an amethyst Bohemian glass studded cir-
clet; and a ceremonial apron; with several manuals from the Order (various dates) and a
large (8
1
⁄
2
x 6
1
⁄
2
inch) silver print photo of an unidentified male member of the Elks in full
regalia.
SHOULD BE SEEN
Easton, Pennsylvania,
circa 1940’s
[1,500/2,500]
Having been rejected by the
white membership of the
American Elks, Arthur
James Riggs, a Pullman
Porter
and Benjamin
Franklin Howard, an
African American attorney
set out to form their own
lodge. In so doing they dis-
covered that the white
brothers of the Elks, who
had rejected them had never
bothered to copyright their
name, ritual or any of their
paraphernalia! And thus
the IBPOEW were granted
a copyright as an organiza-
tion on September 28,
1898 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
They had added “of the
World” to their name and
became the first Elks Ritual
copyrighted in the United
States, with Cincinnati’s
“Alpha Lodge No.1. The
following year, the first char-
ter and articles of incorporation were granted. There were attempts at law-suits, but the IBPOEW
prevailed. Since that time, the IBPOEW has grown to be the largest black fraternal organization in
the world with a membership of close to 500,000 with lodges in the United States, Canada, Mexico
and the Caribbean.
340
●
(FRATERNAL.) DREER, HERMAN.
The History of the Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity 1911-1939.
Illustrated. Tall 8vo, original purple cloth stamped in gilt, gilt
faded but legible.
Np, (Published by the Fraternity, 1940)
[400/600]
FIRST EDITION OF DREER
’
S DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THIS PRESTIGIOUS AFRICAN
AMERICAN FRATERNITY
.
At the time of this printing (1940) there were over 6000 members
of the fraternity, prominent at Howard University and others. The founders were Edgar A.
Love, Oscar J Cooper, Frank Coleman and Ernest E. Just. The latter is noted for his contribu-
tions to science.
I...,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184,185,186 188,189,190,191,192,193,194,195,196,197,...310