Collection: Sons & Daughters of the Craft: Black Freemasonry in America

Welcome, family, to “Sons & Daughters of the Craft”, a sacred space honoring the Prince Hall Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star, the spiritual architects of Black dignity, discipline, and leadership. Born in defiance of exclusion and fueled by divine purpose, Prince Hall Freemasonry was founded during the era of slavery, when Black men were denied humanity, yet still gathered in secret to uplift one another through knowledge, brotherhood, and service. In those days, lodges were more than meeting places, they were sanctuaries of resistance, spaces where enslaved and free Black people alike planted the seeds of liberation and community leadership. And just as our brothers built these houses of order, our Eastern Star sisters rose with grace, strength, and spiritual fire, ensuring the soul of the people was nurtured with wisdom and care.

During Reconstruction, when Black institutions were under attack, Masonic lodges became schools, relief centers, and political training grounds. And in the Civil Rights Movement, it was often Masons and Eastern Stars who quietly organized mass meetings, funded freedom rides, and stood beside icons like Dr. King, Medgar Evers, and countless others; many of whom were themselves part of the Craft. This exhibit sheds light on their role as the hidden spine of Black America, those who moved in silence but stood in power. Through regalia, ritual, and righteousness, they shaped generations of leadership, cultivated Black excellence, and kept our traditions alive. Walk through this space with pride. The Craft is not just history: it is legacy, and you are part of it