Samuel Thornton Daniels, Sr.: “The Grand”
Written by Rough Ashlar with research assistance from ChatGPT
Samuel Thornton Daniels, Sr. was a prominent civil rights activist and Grand Master of Prince Hall Masons of Maryland for 38 years. He was born on August 28, 1922, in Baltimore to William and Maritta Hatton Daniels. Daniels graduated from Douglass High School in February 1940 and later graduated from Coppin Teachers’ College in 1948. He served in World War II and the Korean War, attaining the rank of Captain. In 1946, Daniels joined the Prince Hall Masons, where his ingenuity, leadership qualities, and hard work led to his election as Grand Master following the illness and subsequent demise of Willard Allen. Daniels provided leadership that earned him praise from Prince Hall Masons worldwide.
Aside from his leadership in the Prince Hall Masons, Daniels also had a significant career in civil rights activism. From 1952 to 1955, he was a teacher in the Baltimore Public School System, and from 1956 to 1959, he served as Executive Secretary for the Maryland Commission on Interracial Problems and Relations. In 1959 and 1960, Daniels served as a Special Representative for Gunther Brewery, and from July 1960 to February 1964, he was a Business Representative for Baltimore Municipal Employees Local #33 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union, AFL-CIO.
From February 1964 to January 1967, Daniels was the Executive Director of the Baltimore Community Relations Commission. Afterward, he co-founded the Baltimore Council for Equal Business Opportunity and served as its Director from January 1967 until his retirement in June 1989. For eighteen years, he co-hosted "Look At It This Way" with Homer Favor and Vernon Dobson on WBAL TV Channel Eleven.
In addition to his civil rights work, Daniels held numerous organizational affiliations. He was a board member for the National Conference of Christians and Jews from 1960 to 1962 and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the oldest Black Graduate Greek Letter Fraternity. He was also a past secretary and current board member for Big Brothers of Baltimore, Inc., and a past secretary and present member of the Board of Managers of the Druid Hill Y.M.C.A. from 1957 to 1961.
Daniels was an active Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33° of The United Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry and a past Grand Worthy Patron of Myra Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a past Potentate of Jerusalem Temple #4 and a member of Hiram Consistory #2 and Annie S. Banks Chapter #42, O.E.S. Additionally, Daniels held membership on The Provident Hospital Board of Trustees, The Voluntary Council On Equal Opportunity, The Governor’s Commission on Library Laws, The Governor’s Commission on the Mentally Handicapped, The Board of Directors of Central Dodge, The Board of School Commissioners of Baltimore City, The Board of Directors of the Prisoners’ Aid Association, and The Board of Directors of the A.M.E. Church - Prince Hall Masons Development Company.
On January 6, 2005, at the age of 82, Daniels died at Levindale Hebrew Geriatrics Center. He was survived by his wife of 60 years, Gladys Eva Wise Daniels, and their sons, Thornton and Van. His contributions and achievements in civil rights activism and the Prince Hall Masons of Maryland have left a lasting impact on the community.