Honoring S. Joe Brown—A Legacy Rooted in Fort Des Moines
- NAACP Des Moines
- May 24
- 2 min read
Samuel Joe Brown: Soldier. Scholar. Strategist. Statesman.
The legacy of Samuel Joe Brown (1875–1950) is etched across the legal, civil rights, and Masonic history of Iowa—and it all converges at Fort Des Moines.
In 1917, S. Joe Brown was among the 1,250 Black men who trained at the U.S. Army’s first African American officer training camp at Fort Des Moines. This experience helped shape the leadership he would bring not only to the military but also to the fight for justice and equity at home.
A native of Keosauqua, Iowa, Brown became a legal trailblazer, earning a bachelor’s degree (1896), law degree (1899), and master’s degree (1903) from the University of Iowa. He was Iowa’s first Black Phi Beta Kappa scholar and one of the most respected appeals attorneys in the state.
His fight for justice wasn’t confined to the courtroom. In 1906, he successfully argued the first restaurant-discrimination case before the Iowa Supreme Court. In 1914, he co-founded the NAACP Des Moines Branch, becoming its first president and helping position the city as a regional stronghold for civil rights organizing.
Brown’s leadership extended into the fraternity of men. He served as Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Iowa, where he worked to advance equity, brotherhood, and community development. In 1925, he co-founded the National Bar Association, a direct response to the American Bar Association’s refusal to admit Black attorneys. He also helped organize the 17th Provisional Regiment Lawyers Association, uniting military legal minds who trained together during WWI.
A Legacy Worth Honoring
As we approach the June 14, 2025, unveiling of the Fort Des Moines Historic Marker, we remember S. Joe Brown not only for his military service but also for his enduring impact on law, equity, and leadership in Iowa and beyond.
Join us as we commemorate Fort Des Moines and honor men like S. Joe Brown, whose lives shaped our institutions—and continue to inspire them.
📅 Fort Des Moines Historic Marker Unveiling 🗓️ Saturday, June 14, 2025 📍 Fort Des Moines Historic Site 📩 RSVP HERE : https://www.naacpdesmoines.org/events-1/fort-des-moines-historic-marker-unveiling
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