The Historic Arch Social Club
About Us
THE HISTORIC ARCH SOCIAL CLUB FOUNDED 1905
Born out of the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904. Raymond A. Coates, Jeremiah S. Hill and Sam L. Barney founded the Arch Social Club. It is dedicated to: The social, moral and intellectual uplift of its members, and in order that charity may be practiced in a Christian-like spirit and true friendship and brotherly love be promoted and maintained.
Our Story
For over 115 years, Arch Social has been a fixture of Black Baltimore's civil society. Many scholars have asserted that Arch Social is the oldest known, continuously operating African American men's club in the United States. (The Monday Club, Inc. in Wilmington Delaware was established in 1876 and officially incorporated November 4, 1893 and recently celebrated 125 years of continuous service to the community and its membership)
The club rapidly attracted a broad cross-section of Black Baltimore's population, as it was religiously/politically non-sectarian, multi-class and color-caste neutral. It was a pioneering Black civil societal institution at the dawn of the 20th century.
Long associated with entertainment, the Arch Social Club is actually a benevolent and community action formation. Application for membership is by invitation only. Its clubhouse also applies a strict dress code for anyone attending events.
For 50 years (1922-1972), the organization occupied a clubhouse at 676 West Saratoga Street (downtown-west Baltimore). The historic structure was demolished in an urban renewal scheme.
