The Ancient United Knights and Daughters of Africa (AUKDA) was incorporated as a benevolent society in the State of Missouri on May 12, 1908. The offices of the National Grand Master of the society were located on the second floor of a building at the corner of Lucas and Compton Avenues. Among its goals were to promote the principles of brotherhood and sisterhood, to improve the condition of its members while they lived, and to provide sick and death benefits. Nineteenth century newspaper clippings revealed more history of the organization. The July 20, 1895, issue of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch announced that St. Louisan J.W. Wheeler had been chosen as Grand Master of the Western Division of the Grand Lodge of Ancient United Knights and Daughters of Africa. The July 29, 1896, issue of the Indianapolis Journal listed several members of the “Supreme Grand Lodge of the Ancient Knights and Daughters of Africa” who attended its eighth annual meeting in Evansville, Indiana, including Rev. John W. Wheeler of St. Louis. The announcement also explained that “The Knights and Daughters of Africa is a secret organization, the objects of which are the moral elevation of the negro race, and was founded by the present grand officers in 1888.”