History


The Order was founded by four priests of the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Fathers Conrad F. Rebesher, John H. Dorsey, Samuel J. Kelly, and Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J.'s and three lay men of the Diocese of Mobile - Messrs Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier, they have all now passed to their eternal rewards. Click Here to read their biographies

Key Events in the Order’s History

  • The order was founded November 7, 1909 and incorporated July 12, 1911 in Mobile, Alabama
  • The Meritorious Fourth Degree Knights were authorized in 1917
  • The Junior Knights were authorized January 14, 1917 and recognized as a Division of the National Council Occtber 1, 1935
  • The Ladies Auxiliary was authorized August, 1922 and recognized as a Division of the National Council at Galveston, Texas, August, 1926
  • The Junior Daughters were established in 1930
  • The first official organ of the Order was The Shield published for the first time at Mobile, Alabama, November 1910, with Frank Trenier, Charter Member and National Secretary, as Editor.
  • The successor to The Shield is The Claverite, authorized in 1922 and its first Editor was Joseph H. Rieras who served until 1928.

Historical Resources

National Headquarters of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary

The former National Headquarters of the Knight of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary.
1821 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana
(Dedicated August 1951)
The National Headquarters of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary
1825 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana
(Dedicated August 1976)


The Order has received the Apostolic Benediction of the Most Holy Father in Rome on many occasions. The Order also has the Approbation of Their Eminences and of Their Excellencies, The Cardinals and The Most Reverend Archbishops and Bishops, throughout the Archdioceses and Dioceses in which the Order has Councils and Courts. In the United States of America the Order operates in over 58 Archdioceses and Dioceses.

The Order has participated in the charitable appeals of many Catholic institutions, and made many noteworthy contributions to various local, state and national organizations including, but not limited to, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Urban League, Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, Xavier University Development and Expansion Fund, The Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Educational Foundation, International Alliance of Catholic Knights, National Black Catholic Congress, National Black Clergy, National Black Sisters Conferences and the National Council of Negro Women.

To date, the Order has had 18 Supreme Knights, namely:

  • Gilbert Faustina (up to 1926)
  • Louis Israel (1926 to 1940)
  • Alphonse Pierre August (1941)
  • John H. Clouser (1941 to 1946)
  • J. Roland Prejean (1946 to 1952)
  • Beverly V. Baranco, Jr., K.S.G. (1952 to 1958)
  • Eugene B. Perry, M.D. (1958 to 1964)
  • Shields G. Gilmore, Jr. (1964 to 1970)
  • Ernest Granger, Sr., K.S.G. (1970 to 1976)
  • Murray J. Frank (1976 to 1982)
  • Chester J. Jones, K.S.G. (1982 to 1988)
  • Paul C. Condoll (1988 to 1994)
  • A. Jackie Elly (1994 to 2000)
  • Hon. Arthur C. McFarland (2000 to 2006)
  • Gene A. Phillips, Sr. (2006 to 2010)
  • F. DeKarlos Blackmon (2010 to 2016)
  • James K. Ellis (2016 to 2022)
  • Dr. Christopher Pichon (2022 - present)

In the Meritorious Fourth Degree Division there have been 18 Supreme Navigators:

  • Gilbert Faustina (1926 to 1940)
  • Oscar Figaro (1940 to 1943)
  • Edward E. Cross, Sr. (August 1943 to November, 1943)
  • Peter Chenier (November 1943 to August 1946)
  • Ernest E. Delpit (1946 to 1956)
  • Thomas R. Lee, Jr. (1950 to 1958)
  • Felton Lawrence (1958 to 1970)
  • Reginald Rouzan (1970 to 1982)
  • James M. Seals, Jr. (1982 to 1988)
  • Dr. Charles D. Proctor (1988 to 1990)
  • Sylvester Davis (1990 to 1995)
  • Dwight Alexander (1995 to 2002)
  • Harry Beevers (2002 to 2008)
  • James Neal (2008 to 2014)
  • Daniel Santos (2014 to 2016)
  • Lawrence Sylvester (2016 to 2018)
  • Stephen Randall (2018 - 2021)
  • Reginald Auzenne (2021 to Present)

In the Ladies Auxiliary, there have been 15 Supreme Ladies:

  • Mrs. M.L. Lunnon (1926 to 1928)
  • Mrs. A.R. Aubry (1928 to 1952)
  • Mrs. E.B. Jones (1952 to 1958)
  • Mrs. Inez Y. Bowman (1958 to 1964)
  • Mrs. Thelma P. Lombard (1964 to 1970)
  • Mrs. Florence W. Lee (1970 to 1976)
  • Mrs. Elise LeNoir Morris (1976 to 1982)
  • Mrs. Consuella M. Broussard (1982 to 1988)
  • Mrs. Dorothy B. Henderson (1988 to 1994)
  • Ms. Leodia Gooch (1994-2000)
  • Mrs. Mary L. Briers (2000 to 2006)
  • Dr. Geralyn C. Shelvin (2006 to.2012)
  • Vertelle A. Kenion (2012 to 2018)
  • Micaela Le Blanc (2018 to 2024)
  • Hilda Wiltz (2024 to present)

In the Meritorious Fourth Degree, Ladies of Grace Division

there have been 10 Supreme Navigators:

  • Mrs. Mattie Lampkins (1981 to 1982)
  • Mrs. Rose A. Labostrie (1982-1986)
  • Mrs. Henrietta R. Porter (1986 to 1992)
  • Ms. Irene T. Green (1992-1998)
  • Mrs. Juanita Burden (1998 to 2002)
  • Dr. Geralyn C. Shelvin, 6th Supreme Navigator  (2002 - 2006)
  • Ms. Michelle Jackson (2006 to 2008) 
  • Mrs Audrey C. Woods (2008 to 2014)
  • Mrs. Marion Smith-Renoso (2014 to 2021)
  • Mrs. Jackie Simien Guillory (2021 to Present)