M. W. Prince Hall Grand Lodge, F. & A. M. for the State of Louisiana records

The records of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Louisiana are a rich source of primary documentation about the history of African American freemasonry in Louisiana and throughout the United States, the period of post-Civil War Reconstruction (1865-1877), the long civil rights movement of the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries (1878-1954) and the modern civil rights movement (1955-1968). The records illuminate the internal workings of the Grand Lodge and the extent of the local and national Masonic network; including African American businesses and philanthropy; community, economic and educational activism; partnerships with civil rights organizations; politics; and experiences with discrimination and segregation.

The records mainly cover the tenure of Grand Master's John G. Lewis, Jr. (1941-1979) and Earle L. Bradford, Sr. (1979-1996). The bulk of the correspondence encompasses thirty years of Grand Master, John G. Lewis, Jr.'s administration of the Grand Lodge, his work with the Conference of Grand Masters, and involvement as the Lieutenant Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons, Prince Hall Affiliation, U.S.A. A small amount of correspondence can be found for Grand Master, Elias A. Williams (1891-1893), Grand Secretary, T.J. Edwards (1891-1892), John G. Lewis, Sr. (1883-1885), prior to his appointment as Grand Master in 1903; as well as the correspondence and reports of Grand Secretary, Thomas H. Buffington (1971-1976). The records contain a large run of printed proceedings for the Grand Lodge (1878-2002; bulk 1948-1976), Prince Hall Grand Lodges in other states, and for other Masonic orders. The collection also contains a significant run of the periodical of the lodge, The Plumb Line (1931-2003). The least complete portions of the records for the Grand Lodge include financial reports, directories, and files for special projects, local Louisiana affiliated lodge reports, occasional printed ephemera and photographs. Lastly, there is a small amount of documentation regarding John G. Lewis, Jr.'s publishing business, The Fraternal Press, located in Natchitoches, Louisiana.