From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)

United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten

The United Brothers of Friendship, originally a benevolent order established in 1861 in Louisville, KY, had both freemen and slave members. The organization later became a secret society with more than 60,000 members in various U.S. states, Liberia, Canada, and the West Indies. This membership included females referred to as the Sisters of the Mysterious Ten.

Some issues of the publications from the Kentucky-based organizations include the following: 

Proceedings of the annual session of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, Grand Lodge of Kentucky, available at the Filson Historical Society

Ladies' book of the U.B.F.: initiatory ceremony, ritual, and lectures, available at the Filson Historical Society

Proceedings of the annual session of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten and Juveniles of Kentucky, available at the University of Louisville Libraries

Proceedings of the annual session of the Grand Temple and Juveniles of Kentucky, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Proceedings of the annual session of the State Grand Temple of Sisters of the Mysterious Ten and Juveniles of Kentucky, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Grand Lodge hand book: United Brothers of Friendship, Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, Juveniles of the State of Kentucky, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Annual reports of the Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer of the State Grand Lodge of the U. B. F., S. M. T., P. M. C., R. H., and Juveniles of Kentucky, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Quarterly report of the United Brothers of Friendship, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center

Proceedings of the annual session of the Grand Lodge / annual session of the Grand Temple of the United Brothers of Friendship, Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, P. M. C., R. H. and Juveniles of Kentucky, available at the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center. 

For more see History of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten: In Two Parts ; a Negro Order ; Organized August 1, 1861, in the City of Louisville, Ky," available as a free ebook at Google Books.

Kentucky County & Region

Read about Jefferson County, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Kentucky Place (Town or City)

Read about Louisville, Kentucky in Wikipedia.

Outside Kentucky Place Name

Item Relations

Cited in this Entry

NKAA Source: History of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, a Negro order organized August 1, 1861 in the city of Louisville, Ky
NKAA Entry: Gibson, William H., Sr.
NKAA Source: Proceedings of the annual session of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, Grand Lodge of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Ladies' book of the U.B.F.: initiatory ceremony, ritual, and lectures
NKAA Source: Proceedings of the annual session of the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten and Juveniles of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Proceedings of the annual session of the Grand Temple and Juveniles of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Proceedings of the annual session of the State Grand Temple of Sisters of the Mysterious Ten and Juveniles of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Grand Lodge hand book: United Brothers of Friendship, Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, Juveniles of the State of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Annual reports of the Grand Secretary and the Grand Treasurer of the State Grand Lodge of the U. B. F., S. M. T., P. M. C., R. H., and Juveniles of Kentucky
NKAA Source: Quarterly report of the United Brothers of Friendship
NKAA Source: Proceedings of the annual session of the Grand Lodge / annual session of the Grand Temple of the United Brothers of Friendship, Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, P. M. C., R. H. and Juveniles of Kentucky

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Cite This NKAA Entry:

“United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten,” Notable Kentucky African Americans Database, accessed May 17, 2024, https://nkaa.uky.edu/nkaa/items/show/1510.

Last modified: 2021-05-19 15:47:23