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Preston L. Pope Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1987-0029

Scope and Content Note

The Papers consist of publications, correspondence, and news articles gathered by Preston L. Pope> when he served as Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Connecticut.

Dates

  • Creation: 1970-1981

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Preston L. Pope was born on January 25, 1920, in Yantley, Alabama, the son of James Hanover Pope and Viver Brown Pope, and moved with his family at a young age to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Army during World War II. After the war, he moved to Connecticut and married to Doris Stewart. He and his wife had two children, Preston Jr. and Patricia, and resided in Windsor, Connecticut.

Mr. Pope is known as the first African-American bus driver in Hartford, Connecticut, for the Connecticut Company. In his work as a printer he was employed by the State of Connecticut Corrections Institute as the supervisor of printing for the Somers State Prison. He retired in 1982.

Mr. Pope was made a member of Excelsior Lodge #3, Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliation, on November 1, 1947, and rose to the rank of 33rd degree. In 1978 he was elected to the office of Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of Connecticut of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, and served until October 1981. He founded and organized the Hartford Consistory, #80, in Hartford, Connecticut, and served as Grand High Priest of Holy Royal Arch Masons of Connecticut and as Past Eminent Grand Commander of Knights Templar of the Territory of Connecticut.

A video commemorating Mr. Pope's life is available on YouTube.

Preston L. Pope died on April 30, 2012.

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Materials related to Preston L. Pope's service, from 1978 to 1981, as Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Connecticut.

Provenance and Acquisition

The papers were donated by Preston L. Pope in June 1987.

Title
Preston L. Pope Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
2012 January
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository

Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524