Research Subject: Joseph Claiborne (Old Man Joseph) — born 1834, died 1922, Richmond, Virginia. Literate preacher, community leader, carriage driver at Maymont estate, founder/early pastor of churches still active today (Providence Park Baptist, St. John Baptist & Pleasant Grove Baptist). Known member of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans; specific lodge affiliation unconfirmed.
Research Finds:
IOGS Uniform Research Catalogs identified for follow-up:
- MC Lilly & Company (Columbus, OH)
- Henderson-Ames (Kalamazoo, MI)
- Pettibone & Company
- Archives: Kalamazoo Public Library, Ohio History Connection
- eBay: search IOGS pins and fraternal order insignia
IOGS in Richmond — Contextual Research Lincoln Lodge No. 20 was founded in 1866 under First African Church. The lodge celebrated its first anniversary on April 18, 1867 with a parade of 108 members dressed in black with white and blue silk regalia, silver stars and braid, led by Daphne’s Band. This was reported in a 1917 Richmond Times-Dispatch retrospective on news from 50 years prior. Included here as context for how the order operated publicly in Richmond — Joseph’s specific lodge affiliation remains an open research question.
Lynchburg Museum Held a 2019 IOGS exhibition. Physical regalia and photographs from that exhibit are a target for in-person examination.
World Temperance Convention — NYC, 1853 The IOGS was founded as a temperance organization in 1847 and admitted Black members from early on. Need to establish whether Black fraternal orders attended this convention and what the temperance movement looked like for Black Americans in the years leading up to emancipation — this would provide ideological context for why Joseph would have joined the order.
Richmond Planet Black-owned newspaper that covered community life in detail, including fraternal orders and death notices. A man of Joseph’s standing would likely have received a formal notice upon his death.
Henrico County Probate Records Joseph lost land in the 1890s but may have left other assets. A will or probate filing could name his children and confirm family structure at the end of his life.
Further Questions & Leads
- 1. Which lodge did Joseph belong to? His specific IOGS lodge affiliation has not yet been confirmed from a primary source.
- Old Man Joseph held the Lodge President role (as documented in a Freedman Bank record in 1872) but lodge number is missing.
- 2. Confirming uniform appearance of IOGS, will allow me to confirm identity of Old Man Joseph in family photo.
- 3. Public obituary would be helpful. Richmond Planet: print last two August issues and all September issues from death year — scan line by line for obituary or notice.
- 4. Did Old Man Joseph leave any assets behind after the loss of his land to auction? Henrico County probate: pull 1922 records, focus on any assets left to Joseph Jr.
- 5. Inquire about archive holdings at 3 institutions: Philadelphia African American Museum, Library of Virginia Closed Stacks, and Lynchburg Museum: contact about 2019 IOGS exhibit — request access to photographs, regalia, and documents for in-person visit.
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