History of the Mosaic Templars of America: Its Founders and OfficialsAldridge Edward Bush, P. L. Dorman This is a reprint of classic history of an important African American organization. Originally published in 1924 and long out of print, this book tells the story of the Mosaic Templars of America (MTA), a famous black fraternal organization that was founded by two former slaves in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the late-nineteenth century. The organization originally provided illness, death, and burial insurance during an era of segregation when few basic services were available to black people. By 1900, Mosaic Templars' industries grew to include an insurance company, a building and loan association, a publishing company, a business college, a nursing school, and a hospital.By 1905, it had a number of lodges across the state with thousands of members. Its headquarters were housed in a handsome new building that opened in 1913; Booker T. Washington delivered the dedication speech. In the 1920s, they claimed chapters in twenty-six states and six foreign countries, making it one of the largest black organizations in the world. However, in the 1930s the MTA began to feel the effects of the Great Depression and eventually ceased operations. However, a single chapter remains, in Barbados. The headquarters building burned down in 2005, and this book is being published to coincide with the grand opening this fall of a completely rebuilt structure that will house the new Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
African Americans Alabama Alexander annual appointed Approximate number Arkansas bers Booker born Bush's C. W. Keatts charter Chester E Church city of Little colored Committee of Management death dollars duties efforts Elected State Grand Endowment Department Eva Green father founders fraternal friends funds give Grand Lodge held Grand Lodge meeting Grand Mosaic Master honor J. E. Bush John John E Jordan Judge Jones jurisdiction labor land office leader Little Rock McConico membership ment Monument Department Mosaic Templars National Grand Lodge National Grand Master National Grand Scribe National Grand Temple Negro Business number of lodges number of mem number of members operated Order organiza political position Powell Powell Clayton Present number President Pulaski County race received Republican Rock's S. J. Elliott Scipio Africanus Jones Scribe and Treasurer served Southern Templars of America thousand tion tional Tuskegee Tuskegee Institute United Washington white movement young