Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Members of Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
1920-1940
Adon Studio
USA: Ohio, Lima
Photograph mounted on board
image: 6 3/4"h x 11"w; mat: 10 5/8"h x 14 3/4"w
Museum Purchase
2010.032

Black and white photograph of members of the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and Imperial Court. The photo is mounted on light brown board with a gray/silver border. Embossed in black at lower right corner of cardboard, "Adon Studio / Lima, Ohio." The group is arranged in rows in front of and on the steps of a large building (the St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal church in Lima, Ohio). A row of men in the front wear fezzes (Akbar), loose, knee-length pants, jackets and white gloves. They rest their hands on swords pointed on the ground. The rows of men behind them are dressed in suits and wear fezzes (Akbar, Abdul, Aher). At center, on the steps of the building are several rows of African American women wearing white fezzes (Bethannie Court and unmarked) and white dresses, members of an Imperial Court, a A.E.A.O.N.M.S. auxiliary group.