PBA Galleries

Lithographed charter, the central text surrounded with vignettes and symbols, filled out in ink. Signed by the Master and the Secretary. 60.5x48 cm. (23¾x18¾").

Ornate charter certificate for the Odd Fellows lodge in Grant County, Oregon, an excellent example of the lithography of Grafton Tyler Brown, the first African-American lithographer and professional artist in California. Brown immigrated to California in the 1850s from Harrisburg, Penn., when he was 20 years old, and was trained in lithography at the famous firm of Kuchel & Dresel in San Francisco. He bought their firm in 1867 and renamed it G. T. Brown, Lithographers. This certificate was printed in 1868, and then was filled out in ink in 1899, to replace the original which was destroyed by fire, as noted in a neat ink notation at bottom.