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Henry 'Harry' Albro Williamson (October 25, 1875 - January 3, 1965) was a postal worker and a prolific researcher and writer on the subject of
Freemasonry Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry) consists of fraternal groups that trace their origins to the medieval guilds of stonemasons. Freemasonry is the oldest secular fraternity in the world and among the oldest still-existing organizati ...
.


Freemasonry

Williamson joined the brotherhood of Freemasonry in 1904 and did extensive research documenting the progress of black Freemasonry in order to determine its origins and authenticity His research has been used by modern-day Masons in order to decry "bogus" Freemasonry. Williamson was a member of the
Grand Lodge of New York The Grand Lodge of New York, officially the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York, is the largest and oldest of several organizations of Freemasons that are based in the U.S. state of New York. The offices of the Grand L ...
(
Prince Hall Prince Hall (December 7, 1807) was an American Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist and leader in the Free negro, free black community in Boston. He founded Prince Hall Freemasonry and lobbied for Right to education, education rights ...
) where he served as deputy Grandmaster, Grand Lecturer and Grand Historian. He organized the first Lodge of Research in
Prince Hall Freemasonry Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry created for African Americans, founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest (300,000+ initiated members) predominantly African-A ...
, becoming its first and only Master in 1943. He filled the role of Grand Secretary for over thirty years. His papers, consisting of over 1200, items including his Prince Hall Masonic collection were given to the
Schomburg Center The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a research library of the New York Public Library (NYPL) and an archive repository for information on people of African descent worldwide. Located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) be ...
at New York Public Library in February 1936.


Personal life

Williamson's parents were William Edward Williamson and Mary Elizabeth Pauline Williamson. He was born in New Jersey but moved to Oakland California in 1880 when his father died. His papers are held in the New York Public Library Archives. Williamson married Laura Julia Moulton, in 1901. They later divorced. He married Blanche C. Atkins in 1920.


Works and publications

* Origin of freemasonry among Negroes in America (1914) * Negroes and Freemasonry (1920) * The Negro in Masonic Literature (1922) * The Prince Hall Primer (1925) * A Chronological History of Prince Hall Masonry, 1784-1932 (1934) * The Order of the Eastern Star (1938)


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Harry Albro 1875 births 1965 deaths American Freemasons American Prince Hall Freemasons