Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Oklahoma Indian Degree Team, A.F. & A.M., Tulsa, Oklahoma
ca. 1955
Curt Teich & Company
USA: Illinois, Chicago
Paperstock
overall: 3-1/2"h x 5-1/2"w
Museum Purchase
A96/066/4333

Masonic Degree Teams; photochrome; group photo of Oklahoma Indian Degree Team, A.F. & A.M., wearing Native American dress. Reverse of postcard says to "address all inquiries to Joe C. Eades, of Tulsa, Oklahoma" and lists Gene Fields as Director; postcard is part of Curteich's 3-D Natural Color Reproduction series.

Freemasons from different lodges sometimes form degree teams to perform Masonic ritual in unique ways. In 1948, Native American Freemasons from Oklahoma formed the Oklahoma Masonic Indian Degree team. This team, which is still active, traveled to lodges across the United States staging the Master Mason degree. Members wore regalia from their respective tribes while staging parts of the degree. The team members were from different tribes including the Apache, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Creek Nations.