[AFRO-PANAMANIAN FRATERNITY]. "God Save the King of England and the Presidents of the United States and Panama. Long May They Live" (on banner in background)

S.l.: s.n., 1908. Very good. Photograph, irregularly trimmed (236 x 175 mm), verso blank save pencil inscription (see below), two small indentations in print. A CONFOUNDING PHOTOGRAPH REFLECTING SEVERAL HISTORICAL COMPLEXITIES, BEING A GROUP OF AFRO-PANAMANIAN MEN, DISPARAGINGLY IDENTIFIED ON THE VERSO IN PENCIL AS A "N[.....R] LODGE." IT IS UNCLEAR OF THIS "LODGE" IS MASONIC BECAUSE THE STUDY OF BLACK FREEMASONRY IN PANAMA IS BASICALLY NON-EXISTENT, HAVING BEEN ECLIPSED BY WHITE MASONS WHO EFFECTIVELY "COLONIZED" THE REGION BY FOUNDING WHITE-ONLY SATELLITE LODGES.

While undated, our research shows that the present photograph must have been (truncated) taken between 1904-1908, i.e. during the development and construction of the Panama Canal. On the verso is another penciled inscription below "N[.....r] Lodge Members," namely "King Edw. birthday." This could only refer to Edward VII of Great Britain who reigned from 1901 to 1910. Beneath the "God Save the King of England" banner are three portraits: the one the center is of Edward VII, and on the right is certainly Theodore Roosevelt (president from 1901 to 1909). We believe that the portrait on the left is of Manuel Amador Guerrero who served as the president of Panama from 20 February 1904 to 23 June 1907, and again from 29 December 1907 to 1 October 1908. As Edward VII was born on Nov. 9, the photograph would have been taken in November of 1904, 1905, 1906 or 1908.

Working from 1903 to 1904, Roosevelt achieved a treaty with the newly formed sovereign nation of Panama that gave the United States the right to build and fortify a canal. Roosevelt visited the country himself in November 1906, the first time a U.S. president ever visited a foreign nation while in office. It is unclear to us why the birthday of Edward VII would be celebrated in Panama, although it is now known that Roosevelt and Edward had quietly formed a very strong alliance. This photograph, which does not appear to have been published elsewhere, would seem to reflect that alliance. But why as an Afro-Panamanian "Lodge" depicted? And who were these men?

We have been unable to identify the fraternity of this order. It does not appear to have been a lodge of the Prince Hall (African) Order, owing to the absence of the apron. However, there are two pieces of extremely unusual regalia that may offer clues for a future researcher: note that powder horns can be seen over the shoulders of seven men; and three of the men are wielding thick clubs or sticks (for Roosevelt?) -- confounding it is.

This appears to be a proof print or a photographic reproduction of a photograph: upon close inspection one can see thumbprints in the emulsion that were transferred in the process, and the edges of the print are not straight; in this state is unlikely to have been offered for sale commercially.

HIGHLY CURIOUS. (Inventory #: 4357)