OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Minnesota Historical Society
Martin O.
Weddington.
Martin O. Weddington
Papers.
undated
and 1921-2001.
Biographical, subject files, and photographs
of Martin O. Weddington, an active member of the African American community in
the Twin Cities for over 70 years. This collection documents his activities at
Mechanic Arts High School, the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Pilgrim Baptist
Church, the Sterling Club, the American Legion, and the Prince Hall
Masons.
2.5 cu. ft. (3
boxes).
See Detailed Description section for shelf
locations.
BIOGRAPHY OF MARTIN O.
WEDDINGTON
Martin O. (Ollie) Weddington has been an active member of the Twin
Cities African American community for over sixty years. He was born in Kansas
City, Kansas on November 15, 1917 and as a second-grader, Weddington and his
family, moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. As a teenager he joined the juvenile Elks
and graduated from Mechanic Arts High School in 1937. Martin and Sallie Mae
Weddington married in 1939 and they had one son, Martin William Weddington, in
1941. During World War II Weddington worked at the Twin Cities ordinance plant
and was a company clerk for the United States Navy. In 1948 he began a 27 year
career with the United States Postal Service in St. Paul, retiring in 1975. For
a time thereafter, he worked as an investigator of disputes between employeers
and employees.
Weddington started attending Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1924 and
through the years sang in the choir, ushered, taught Sunday School, and
participated in the church's boy scout troop. Weddington also played football
for the Welcome Hall and Hallie Q. Brown teams and coached basketball for
Hallie Q. Brown. Among other activities Weddington served as president of the
Credjafawn Social Club, the Sterling Club, the Twin City Reel and Trigger Club,
the Twin Cities Council of Clubs, and as post commander of the American Legion
Attucks-Brooks Post 606. Weddington also was active in community affairs in the
Summit-University neighborhood of St. Paul as a member of the Aurora St.
Anthony Block Club and in 1989 helped shut down three pornographic bookstores
in the neighborhood.
Martin Weddington has been active in democratic party politics for
years with his highest honor being a presidential elector for Minnesota in
1988. Weddington has been active with the traditionally African-American Prince
Hall Free and Accepted Masons for many years and was Grand Master for the
Minnesota jurisdiction, with eleven lodges, in 1971. In the mid-1990s, the
traditionally white Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the African-American
Prince Hall Masons began to recognize each other and in 2000, Weddington became
the first African-American in Minnesota to become a master in both groups when
he became master of Cass Lodge No. 243 (Coon Rapids) Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons.
SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION
This collection is arranged into three series; biographical and
alphabetical subject files, Masonic material, and photographs. The biographical
and subject files document some of Weddington's activities and interests from
the American Legion to the Twin City Reel and Trigger Club. While none of the
individual files cover very many years, taken together they show Weddington's
wide ranging community interests. In addition to programs from his Mechanic
Arts High School reunions, this series contains information on the Ancient
Egyptian Arabic Nobles Mystic Shrine, the Aurora St. Anthony Area Block Club,
the Credjafawn Social Club, the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity: Zeta Nu Sigma
Chapter, Pilgrim Baptist Church, and the Sterling Club to name only a few.
The Masonic papers are arranged into general information on masons, a
number of items on the traditionally white Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
and nearly a box of information about the traditionally African American Prince
Hall Masons. The Prince Hall materials include histories of Prince Hall masonry
in the United States and Minnesota, Grand Master conference items (particularly
the 1972 St. Paul session), various memorial services for long time Prince Hall
masons, Minnesota programs and proceedings, Northern jurisdiction programs and
anniversary volumes, correspondence, and various protocols, constitutions and
bylaws. The final series of photographs contain Weddington family photographs
and Masonic meeting photographs. Martin Weddington appears in many of the
Masonic group photographs; but many of the other individuals are unidentified.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE COLLECTION
- Biographical and Subject Files
- Masonic Materials
- Photographs
RELATED MATERIALS
The Minnesota Historical Society library also holds numerous
publications on masonry and a small manuscript collection of Prince Hall Grand
Lodge Records, P1989.
Originally part of this collection, but transferred to the library
collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, is a history of Freemasonry,
Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction, USA, 1881-1998 by Joseph A.
Walkes, Jr.
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
Topics:
African Americans--Minnesota--Societies
and clubs.
African American free masonry--Minnesota.
African Americans--Minnesota--Saint Paul--Biography.
Organizations:
American Legion. Attucks-Brooks Post No.
606 (Saint Paul, Minn.).
Credjafawn Social Club (Saint Paul, Minn.).
Freemasons. Prince Hall Grand Lodge (Minn.).
Mechanic Arts High School (Saint Paul, Minn.). Class of 1937.
Pilgrim Baptist Church (Saint Paul, Minn.).
Sterling Club (Saint Paul, Minn.).
Types of Documents:
Photographs.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series
here]. Martin O. Weddington Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional
examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 15,968
Processing Information:
Processed by: Rich Arpi, November 2006
Catalog ID number: 6300053
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Biographical and Subject Files
Biographical information on Martin O. Weddington and
alphabetically arranged subject files concerning some of the organizations and
activities in which Weddington was involved.
143.J.19.6F
1
Biographical files:
General information and vitas,
1975-2000.
Newspaper articles on Weddington,
1952-2001.
American Legion:
General information,
1958.
Attucks-Brooks Post No. 606,
1955-1994.
Ancient Egyptian Arabic Nobles Mystic Shrine:
General information,
1947-1969.
Proposed bylaws amendment,
1963.
The Pillar of Society and other ceremonies,
1973.
Fezzan Temple No. 26,
1965-1997.
Aurora St. Anthony Area Block Club,
1989-1996.
Boy Scouts,
2001.
Certificates and awards,
1970s-1990s.
3 folders.
Credjafawn Social Club,
1961-1977.
Fourth Congressional District, DFL Awards Dinner,
October 25, 1991.
Governor's Blue Ribbon Commission on the Minnesota
Veterans' Home,
1987.
Griffin, G. Edward, "The Capitalist Conspiracy,"
1971.
Mechanic Arts High School:
"M" yearbook,
1937.
25th year class reunion,
1962.
45th year class reunion,
1982.
50th year class reunion,
1936-1986.
50th year class reunion,
1937-1987.
Memorial Day Services,
May 30, 1957.
At Fort Snelling National Cemetry; Weddington was the parade
marshall.
MinnAqua,
1990-1991.
Minnesota Conservation Federation,
1959.
Minnesota State Act Against Discrimination,
1961.
National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People:
National convention, Minneapolis,
1995.
Short history of the St. Paul, Minnesota branch,
undated.
National Conference of Chrisitan and Jews,
1971.
Oratorical contest,
June 5, 1994.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.:
Zeta Nu Sigma Chapter
Annual reports, 1987-1988.
2 folders.
Annual report, 1990.
61st Regional Conference,
1983.
69th Regional Conference,
1991.
The Philalethes Society,
1996.
The Phylaxis Society,
1977-1987.
Pilgrim Baptist Church:
Constitution and bylaws,
1936.
Centennial book,
1963.
Founder's Day,
June 28, 1992.
Installation of Rev. Thomas E. Fontroy,
December 12, 1993.
Annual report,
1997.
First quarter church meeting,
April 23, 1998.
Weddington's involvement,
1979-1994.
Presidential elector,
1988.
Religion, miscellaneous,
undated.
Retirement party card,
1975.
Rondo neighborhood reminisciences,
undated.
St. Paul Planning Commission, 1998.
Zoning hearing for R & R Books.
Greater Saint Paul Area Salvation Army,
undated.
St. Paul Urban League,
1976, 1994.
St. Paul, miscellaneous,
1967-1995.
Social Security, notch years issue,
1991.
Sterling Club, Inc.:
General information,
1982-1992.
75th anniversary booklet,
1994.
Twin City Council of Clubs,
November 20, 1959.
President's Ball program.
Twin City Reel and Trigger Club, Inc.,
1960-1995.
Weddington, William and Helen,
1970-1971.
Death certificates for Martin O. Weddington's parents.
Weddington family scrapbook,
1955-1960.
2 folders.
World War II Black Navy Veterans of the Great Lakes,
1986.
Masonic Materials
Information on Masonic Lodges arranged into general information,
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (traditionally white), and Prince Hall Masons
(traditionally African American).
143.J.19.6F
1
General information:
Brochures,
1972-1997.
National Masonic Expo,
October 5-6, 1996.
Scottish Rite Research Society,
1996.
Pamphlet of water color prints entitled "Theatre of the
Fraternity Staging the Ritual Space of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
1896-1929." Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, University of Minnesota.
Minnesota Masonic Historical Society and Museum,
Winter 2001
Newsletter entitled The Cornerstone.
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons:
Secret Ritual of Free Masonry: A Ritual of the Three
Symbolic Degrees of Ancient Free and Accepted Masonry,
undated.
Constitution and Bylaws for Most Worshipful Grand
Lodge Free and Accepted Masons for State of Minnesota,
undated and 1918.
Includes instructions for funeral service.
The Trestle Board,
May 1971.
Mentor Program: The Minnesota Counselor's Guide, Seven
Steps to Masonic Light,
1995.
Cass Lodge No. 243 membership certificate,
June 18, 1999.
Lodge located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota; certificate declares
Weddington as a prepaid member.
Prince Hall Masons:
Balustrades: Deputies and Overseers Conference,
May 28, 1994.
Commission on Clandestine Masonry,
1961.
Conference of Grand Masters:
Address of Amos T. Hall,
May 1957.
Legal Research Department, 21st annual report,
May 1972.
53rd Session held in St. Paul, Minnesota,
May 1972.
3 folders.
Includes program, various reports, and presidential address.
Annual address of the Most Worshipful Grand Master,
1976.
Directory,
1969.
Also includes Order of the Eastern Stars.
Executive board minutes,
1980-1981.
French, Leland (1897-1973).
Memorial service program of March 20, 1973.
Grand Masters and Masons, Midwest Regional Conference,
February 14-17, 1980.
Grand Officer Reports: Minnesota and its Jurisdiction,
1992-1993.
143.J.19.7B
2
Heroines of Jericho, supplemental directory,
1975.
History of Prince Hall masonry,
undated and 1921-1994.
Joint Table Lodge Ceremony,
1995.
Knights Templar:
Bylaws of Alta Commandery No. 23,
undated.
Grand Encampment Proceedings,
June 28, 1974.
Constitution and bylaws of the Prince Hall Grand
Commandery Knights Templar of the State of Illinois and Jurisdiction,
1979.
Lawrence, John,
1959-1971.
Lyles, Thomas.
Centennial memorial service, September 17, 1994.
Maundy Thursday observance,
1961-1979.
McClain, William A.,
September 29, 1984.
Address entitled "There is Strength in Weakness," for the
200th anniversary of African Lodge No. 459, Boston, Massachusetts.
Memorial services for deceased members,
1975-1983.
Minnesota and its Jurisdiction:
Correspondence,
undated and 1945, 1962-1998.
6 folders.
Primarily to and from Martin Weddington; but not
exclusively.
Historical sketch of Prince Hall Masonry in
Minnesota,
1994.
Fiftieth annual communication,
August 15, 1944.
Minnesota jurisdiction report,
August 20, 1946.
Proceedings of 76th annual communication,
September 1970.
Program of 77th annual communication,
September 1971.
Program and proceedings of 78th annual
communication,
September 1972.
Proceedings of 79th annual communication,
September 1973.
Program and proceedings of 81st annual
communication,
September 1975.
Program of Fiftieth Anniversary,
September 17, 1975.
Program of 87th annual communication,
September 1981.
Program of 88th annual communication,
September 1982.
Proceedings of 98th annual communication,
September 1992.
Proceedings of 99th annual communication,
September 1993.
Proceedings of 100th annual communication,
September 1994.
Program of 101st annual communication,
September 1995.
Minnesota affiliates:
Pioneer Lodge No. 1,
1966-1999.
Perfect Ashlar Lodge No. 4,
1945-1997.
Palestine Lodge No. 7,
1978.
Pride of Alberta Lodge No. 9,
1981.
Mosaic Lodge No. 11,
1978-1979.
Minnesota Council of Deliberation:
Meetings of the masons who have reached the 33rd degree.
Proceedings of 35th annual communication,
October 1980.
Proceedings of 37th annual communication,
October 1982.
Proceedings of 38th annual communication,
October 1984.
Miscellaneous typed documents,
undated.
2 folders.
Miscellaneous handwritten documents,
undated.
North Star Consistory No. 14:
Constitution and bylaws,
undated.
General information,
1969-1974.
Northern jurisdiction:
Annual banquet programs,
1954-1973.
Class lists,
1973, 1977.
Centennial class, 1981.
1 volume.
100th Anniversary book, 1881-1981.
1 volume.
Program from 118th annual session,
May 1999.
Officer lists,
1945-1982.
Incomplete.
Sovereign Grand Commander correspondence,
1966-1977.
2 folders.
Official protocol, Minnesota and its Jurisdiction,
undated.
Order of Eastern Star:
Book of instruction,
1936.
Program of 29th annual session,
September 1954.
Musical Extravaganza featuring the Rance Majestic
Choir of Pilgrim Baptist Church,
March 21, 1982.
Program of 63rd annual communication,
September 1988.
Some joint meetings were held with Prince Hall Masons, see
Minnesota and its Jurisdiction above.
Order of the Golden Circle,
1951.
Constitution and bylaws.
Other state lodges,
1969-1994
4 folders.
Includes Texas, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Vermont, Michigan,
Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.
Ransom, Samuel Lee.
Memorial service program of February 20, 1970.
St. John's Day,
1944-1998.
Photographs
143.J.19.8F
3
Martin Weddington and family,
1933-2000.
18 folders.
Prince Hall Masons, ca. 1960-1998.
17 folders.
Mostly unidentified photographs of various masonic meetings,
involving Minnesota lodges and national meetings. Some of the individuals in
the photographs might be able to be identified by using the two volumes in box
2 listed under Northern Jurisdiction. Martin Weddington appears in many of the
group photographs.
Anoka Masonic Lodge No. 30,
ca. 2000.
1 folder.
American Legion,
undated.
1 folder.
United States Naval Hospital Corps School, San Diego,
California, Commanding Officers and Staff,
September 22, 1945.
Panarama which shows about 1,000 individuals. Weddington's
location is identified.
+ 308
Weddington family scrapbook,
1940s-1950s.
+309
Prince Hall Masons, group photographs,
undated.