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The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center is a museum located in Little Rock, Arkansas. It focuses on collecting, preserving, interpreting and celebrating African American history, culture and community in Arkansas from 1870 to the present, and informs and educates the public about black achievements - especially in business, politics and the arts. ==The Mosaic Templars of America== The Mosaic Templars of America was a black fraternal order founded by John E. Bush and Chester W. Keatts, two former slaves, in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1883.〔Davis, Ryan. "A Cultural Icon Rises From the Ashes in Historic Little Rock." ''The Crisis.'' Summer 2009, p. 39.〕〔 Preuss, Arthur A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924; p.282〕 The Mosaic Templars was an organization that originally provided illness, death, and burial insurance during an era when few basic services were available to black people. By 1900 Mosaic Templars’ industries grew to include an insurance company, a building and loan association, a publishing company, a business college, a nursing school, and a hospital.〔 By the end of 1922 the MTA had 87,069 members.〔Preuss p.282〕 The MTA's goal was "to unite fraternally all persons of African descent of good character of every profession, business and occupation and to give all possible moral and material aid in its power to its members." It did not interfere with the political and religious opinions of its members. In 1923 the groups "Acting Grand Scribe" wrote to Arthur Preuss saying that "not as much stress is laid on the secret side of the organization as the business side." 〔Preuss pp.282-3〕 By 1905 it had a number of lodges across the state with thousands of members. Its headquarters were housed in a handsome new building that opened in 1913; Booker T. Washington delivered the dedication speech.〔 In the 1920s they claimed chapters in twenty-six states and six foreign countries, making it one of the largest black organizations in the world. However, in the 1930s, the MTA began to feel the effects of the Great Depression and eventually ceased operations. However, a single chapter remains, in Barbados. Various business rented the building into the late 20th century, but changing business climates, urban renewal, and the construction of a nearby highway through the old business district left the building without occupants and in disrepair.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mosaic Templars Cultural Center」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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