WBI (105-€2642) april 18, 1958
GAC, CHICANO (100-233683)

WALLACE DODD FORD
SECURITY MATTER - ROI

ReBulet, 4/15/58.

The Bureau feels that continued expenditure
of investigative time in this matter is met warranted,

The Detroit, Los Angeles, New York Bivistons
and the Washington Field Office should discontinue

investigation.

This is to advise the Bureau that this case
is being placed in a closed status in the Caicago Office,
and no report will be submitted.

2 ~ Bureau (Ru)
Detroit (100-96356) (RM)
~ los Angeles (105-4005) (Rx)
3 - Nev York
& ~ Washington Field (100-34329) (RD
1 - Chteago on

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED
oe HEREIN (S UNCLASSIFIE
: bali) id



U4
CG 100-33683 Gt / i

The Detroit Pivision should thoroughly review
their file on SATAKATA TAKAHASHI to determine_if the ABDUL 7 ft
MUHAMMAD mentioned in that file could be identical with yt eh Ee
W. D. FARD and attempt to identiry further this ABDUL (jp
MUHAMMAD and to locate the source of the information
indicating that ABDUL MUHAMMAD died in an insane asylum. an

The Detroit Division is requested to attempt per bs
to locate the _OUSHA APPACANIS mentioned in this letter,

/ and, if they are able t6 locate him, he should be interviewed

for all information he possesses concerning MUHAMMAD, He_
should be—shown_a_photograph of W. D. FARD to determine if

W. D, FARD -is identical with MUHAMMAD. In this connection

it is noted that the Detroit Office was formerly office of

origin in the investigation of the organization known as

the "Development of Our Own", Detroit Office should review f
this file to to determine If PW. D. FARD was actua

y_ instrumental fn
in tie founding of this organization as was reported in the Fy

akove mentioned G=2 report. — # a oa

The Portland Division

Reference is made to the lead set forth to the
Portland Division in referenced Los Angeles airtel, The
Portland Division is requested to attempt to locate a
marriage for W. D. FARD sometime prior to 1914, and to
locate a birth of a male child born to FARD sometime prior
to 191). In this connection, it should be noted that
referenced airtel reflects that W. D. FARD may have used
the name FRED DODD and may have lived at Salem, Oregon.
If any information concerning W. D. FARD's marriage or
the birth of his child is located, Portland should conduct
logical investigation to locate the former wife and the
child and then should interview them for any information
they may possesg concerning W. D. FARD.

1

-6-

Yol

00928


| ; F OIRA
DO NOT DESTROY

PRIOR TO CONSULTING ‘WITH LEGAL UNIT _,

DETROIT FILE? | LOb- 2 L354

REVIEWED ON S 41
FOR FOLA/PA
FOIPA FILE¢ [W-0E- GACTO

.KEEP (AS TOP SERIAL

00 02
374


LEAV? THIS SPACE BLANK

<<
Classificati. on mA =. .

Ref. A Es
HEN SES A
DAT! Eau ce an G fO

2.—R Index Finger | 3 —R. Midd= Finger 4.—R. Ring Fince~ S.—R. Little Finger

—

6—Left Thumb 7.—L. Index Finger

: 4
Four fingers taken su.,ultaneously
Right hand

Fcur fingers taken simultaneously
Left hand

Left Thumb | Right Thumb

Impressions taken by....

Classified by.
Verified by... as i saves — eect a
“* . PLEASE DO NOT FOLD THIS CARD
; ' /op- 26356-/?
a cn Nenaenmnecannann en AA At



yaeme
Lon estes hen
1 fone ae poten

00081
465


mest

LA 105-4805

The child of FORD, WALLACE DODD FORD, later known as
WALLACE MAX FORD, was in the U. S,. Coast Guard during World
War II and was killed at Linhaven Roads, Virginia, on 8/3/42,
HAZEL has documentary proof of death of child as set out above.

Information re subject's criminal record under Los
Angeles Police Department No. 16447 is set out in Los Angeles
letter to Chicago dated 8/26/57. WALLEI FORD was arrested by
the LAPD on 11/17/18 for assault with a deadly weapon and
was released, He was again arrested on 1/20/26 for violation
of the Woolwine Act (California prohibition law), possession
and sale. On 3/4/26 he was sentenced to a one dollar fine or
one day in jail on count 1 and to a four hundred dollar fine
or 180 days in jail on count 2. On 2/15/26 he was arrested
for the third time by the LAPD for violation of the State
Poison Act - a felony. He was sentenced on 5/28/26 to a
term of from six months to six years and was received at
San Quentin State Penitentiary on 6/12/26, He was released
from San Quentin on 5/27/29.

HAZEL described FORD as male, white, New Zealander,
exact age unknown, 5'8", 140 pounds, slender build, black
curly hair, black eyes, beautiful even teeth, straight nose,
Caucasian features, no visible scars, extremely swarthy
complexion, had the appearance of a very dark complected
Mexican.

HAZEL advised that FORD had come to Los Angeles from
Oregon at least four or “ive years before she met him in 1919
and had been operating his cafe at 347 South Flower Street,
Los Angeles, during tat period. FORD never told her anything
about his background. He never mentioned his date or place
of birth, education,, parents, brothers or sisters, On one
occasion she found an old letter addressed to him under the
name of FRED DODD in Salem, Oregon. By reading the letter she
knew without question in her mind that FRED DODD and WALLACE
FORD were identical; however, he always used the name WALLACE
FORD while she knew him in Los Angeles.

HAZEL recalled that a girl, name unknown, told her
in about 1919 or 1920 that she, the girl, had helped FORD
write letters to his parents in New Zealand because FORD
had very little jeducation and had trouble with his correspon-
dence, Accordirg to HAZEL this unknown girl had been a waitress
in FORD's cafe and had lived with FORD before HAZEL came along.
From this and from the birth certificate on the child HAZEL
assumed that FORD came from New Zealand.

“3 00919

$1!


4-750 (Rev. 9-21-94) e) y) XXXXXX

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FOIPA DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET

ZOD _Page(s) withheld entirely at this location in the file. One or more of the following
statements, where indicated, explain this deletion.

Deletions were made pursuant to the exemptions indicated below with no segregable material
available for release to you.

ion 552 . Section 552a
D (b)(1) D (&)(7(A) 0 (a5)
D (2) D (b\(7)(B) OW)
O (by) Xi (b\(7(C) O wa)
D (67D) D (k)(2)
DI (b\7E) D (k3)
D wr) D (Ka)
0 (b)(4) Oo (bys) O (k\5)
0 (bys) D (v9) D (K\(6)
D (6) 0 (k\7)

x Information pertained only to a third party with no reference to the subject of your
request.

©) Information pertained only to a third party. The subject of your request is listed in the
title only,

CO Documents originated with another Government agency(ies). These documents were referred
to that agency(ies) for review and direct response to you.

Pages contain information furnished by another Government agency(ies). You will be
advised by the FBI as to the releasabilitv of this information following our consultation
with the other agency(ies).

Page(s) withheld inasmuch as a final release determination has not been made. You will be
advised as to the disposition at a later date.

Pages were not considered for release as they are duplicative of

1 For your information:

a The following number is to be used for reference regarding these pages:
DEJO 0 -ACRSK - a3

XXXXXXXXXXXXKXXXXXXXXX

X DELETED PAGE(S) x

XXXXXX XNO DUPLICATION FEE X

XXXXXX X FOR THIS PAGE x

XXXXXX XXXKXXXXXXXXKXXXXXXXXX
FBI/DOJ

450



£>.

Report of SA ecernber 10, 1942, at
Detroit, re wase, 18-3; CUSTCOMIAL 1

Information was received that | sg @ letter to the
Governor otf chiga n stating ro soldiers were mistreated at
Fort O;letnorpe, Ga, (QM stated to his Local Hoard ne
would never take the oath to fend the ‘nitea States.

on Soatembor G was contacted in his home

at’ come to the “Tetroit Field
cf a view.

Cn September 10, 192, came to tue Detroit Office
and was interviewod ov : and

v
you c met a men oO Was very

dark anc was also a 2m =a:
* “ul founded the = 2 nt or Cur Own anc thet he joined

bout 1930, "le stated ne wes to } om and that
ED died in either 1935 or 1937 anc Organization vent
out of business. ve stated tne ‘ E > fad lived at
acvisod he nad heard a man by the _nane

H slowing story pefore

na) advised QE cn 0: T.
1932 or 1934 OMT LE
iD, WAS aiways interested Crientals who came te this
countr and Tana ,» for some reason, new about
and looked him v 2 apen arrival in the tnited eeates
advised that TA ASEL was sick and that ne,
ana his wife nursed RELL back to nealth.
told } “ED that + =D would never make any money on tne
POOD and ‘th aat ne should follow TA 's

both make money. MOUANTLD then allegealy told TA SEL

that he would not rob the Negro people, as the organization
was founded to nelp the Necroes anc that the ma jority _
were very ignorant. HAMMED advised Subject that TA
then fot quite angry with nim anc left anc that ne to
MOHAMMED that he would start his own orranization. a
acvised that MOFAM i told the police department that anyone
having one of the T000 cards with TAKANASFI's name on it was
an outlaw because they were using nis, MOFAM‘ED's, creation,
the TOOO.

_ 00042 YOR


“Indices Search Sip
FD-160 (Rev, 6-11-56)"

Dave
TO: CHIEF CLERK
Subject
Aliases
Address Birth Date Birthplace
Cy Exact Spelling |Matn Criminal Case Files Only restrict to Locality of
Can References CL] Criminal References Only
Main Subversive Case Files Only LC Jaain Subversive (If no Main, list all Subversive References)
Subversive References Only Main Criminal (If no Main, list all Criminal References)
File & Serial Number Remarks File) Serid) Number Remarks
v7 Cs! a rs 7
LA fb aia a J 4 SL det toh Lethe
— . 7) —
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JAS 36 70%  |(NZ) a
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= 22 caer fon S 5#9-\30
2 = IY C) | , QO- 26 286 |%
lu Mca 62 ALS
SSE an
Requested by Squad Extension File No,
{
Searched by .
(date)
Consolidated by
(date)
Reviewed by
(date)
File Review Symbois
NIL Not identical U2 Unevallable reference 00035 uy GS



Le

DE 100-5549

bere reported WALLACE FARD ard ELIJAH POOLE -.
were arrested and tried as leaders of the Mus*ims shortly after
the slaying. FARD was told to get out of Detroit, she said,
Prior to leaving FARD designated ELIJAH POOLE minister of the
group. She said there had been many ministers prior to this time
but they all seemed to fail, She states WALLACE FARD departed
Detroit a few days later and as far as she knows he has never
been seen in Detroit since. Sa, °° < she believes FARD
is alive but indicates she da@s not know where he is. She said
she doubted if any of the Muslims know where FARD is. She
strongly believes FARD was a foreigner and came to America
from Saudi Arabia. She says she follows ELIJAH POOLE because
she was present when WALLACE FARD designated him minister and
leader of the Muslims, She says there are hundreds of old
Muslims in Detroit but they do not recognize ELIJAH as the
leader and, therefore, refuse to follow him.

ROSCOE MAPPS, SR., spoke to the group and suggested
he had been in the presence of ELIJAH POOLE during dinner the
previous day. Apparently ELIJAH sneaked in for a brief visit.

RECOMM ENDA TION

It is recommended that a copy of the above memo
be disseminated to the orgenizational file and to the files
of the above individuals who were noted by the Informant as
being present at instant meeting for use and possible
ecnsideration in the next investigutive report submitted
in each case,

009067
Yup


DIRRCTOR, PBI ; November 29, 1957

Lyme.

i » OETROIT heteneeie Shoe a
aan fee ARAL FORMATION CONTAINED s\4kO
ae ra ES
"$90: ‘earoago) oe ; Ae
- Me Chicago Letter $9 the Sureee dated
Pech or ‘ootener seer 35 asst. aptionsd as sbove.. yc o .

Investigation through a priate sources
at the University of Nighigan, Au Arbor, Mishigan, failed to
produce any record ef an EXDMAMS DOANE BENYON.

A Poview of Universit we wionigas Paculty
and Steff Directories preduced the name an EBRDWANH D. BEYNON,

whe in 193) was emplo as a teac fellow in Booisl for
the tetvootity of Gente te fons address at thet eine

and whos
was listed as 875 Dearborn Street, Detroit, Nishigan.
NE
Catalog Office,

predused an alumni resord fer
‘the University of Miehigen from BOL shone

‘PRD Degree in the latter year,

a
Thornton, Onearie, Canéde. During his aie Ry ee

acquaintances who would be aware of his address the following?
Te Mee DANGLE



vate reenee Leigh ‘Sn

prem DelinLDa ~ ge ~ pret
_belinie Lhe =) -_ 5 FOSS

in ae

To Be Returned Vex (
hu ( KBr S606 2
Description.
. ui inrorwarion contaned «3
— HEREIN IS UNCLASS! ‘
Pinson easel na



a NRT:

DIRECTOR, FBI damary 17, 195¢

a BAC, DETROIT (10026356) _

a oe

w. Dd. im, was. Es
SMe ;
OO: ony

i . Rebiiet to Bureau 30/30/57 dim captioned matter.
ee, te to advise that the Detroit files and
og refe carefully revi Poe Correlation Clerk
%& and a Correlation rendus prepared,
a autostatic cepy of same is being pelea the he! th
for the daformation ef Chicago.

Tavestigation is cent inning ia Detroit to cover
the remaining leads set forth in rele

2 = Bureau (REGISTERED)
2- 2 3839685 1) (REOISTERED)

, @-5 Betreit 1000-26356)
Q¢

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np tetris pon caannenininebmt stn ‘bse ete ns: tiemten nate hc eon Pep

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00949 4al



re

VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS 897

Mohammed the Prophet sprang, and that he was closely related by
blood to the dynasty of the Hashimide sheriffs of Mecca who be-
came kings of the Hejaz. He is said to have been educated at a
college in England,‘ in preparation for a diplomatic career in the
service of the kingdom of the Hejaz, but to have abandoned every
thing to bring ‘freedom, justice and equality,’? to “his uncle”*
living “in the wilderness of North America, surrounded and robbed
completely by the Cave Man."*

There has grown, however, among the members of the cult a
belief that the prophet was more than man, as Brother Yussuf
Mohammed claimed: “When the police asked him who he was, he
said: ‘I am the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.’ He told those
police more about himself than he would ever tell us.”

THE NEGROES WHO REARD THE “CALL”

Not all who attended the meetings and heard the stranger's mes-
sage accepted him as a prophet. Many ridiculed his attacks against
the Caucasians and were angered by his criticisms of the churches
and the preachers. During the four years of his ministry, however,
approximately eight thousand Negroes'* in Detroit “heard the call”
and became members of the Nation of Islam. Interviews with more
than two hundred Moslem families showed that with less than half-
a-dozen exceptions all were recent migrants from the rural South,
the majority having come to Detroit from small communities in
Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. In-
vestigations of cult members by the Wayne County Prosecutor's
office also indicated the same origin. The interviews disclosed that

* Sister Carrie Mohammed and certain others claim that the prophet graduated
(com the University of Southern California in Los Angeles

' Symbolized by the letters F J E on the Muslim flag hanging in the home of every
cult member.

"The American Negroes~-“the black men in the wilderness of North America” —
are referred to symbolically in the cult ritual as “the uncle of Mr. W. 1). Fard."” Mos-
lems of the East--Syrians, Turks and others—-are referred to as “the second uncle of
Mc. WD, Fard, ‘

* Prophet W. D. Fard, Teaching for the Lost Found Notion of Islam in a Mathematical
Way, Problem No. 30

TM Fatimated by officials of the cult. Detectives of the Special Investigation Squad
of the Detroit Police Department estimate 5,000.



—

CG 100-33683

Investigation in this matter indicates that W. D,
FARD may be identical with one WALIZE FORD, FBI #56062, who
was arrested on February 15, 1926, by The Los Angeles Police
Department, their number 1648, for violation of the State
Poison Act and subsequently received a sentence of one-half
to six years at San Quentin Prison, San Quentin, California,
their number 4.2314.

Relet indicates that the records of the San Quentin
Prison, their number 231), for WALLIE D. FORD indicates that
the subject was received at San Quentin PenTtentiary on
June 12, 1926, from Los Angeles, California. These records
indicate that FORD was born on February 25, 1891, at Portland,
Oregon, and his parents were listed as mother, BEATRICE FORD,
and father, ZARED FORD, both of whom-were born in Hawaii.
Prison records reflect that ZARED FORD's occupation was
listed as the operator of the Ford Bottling Works, Honolulu,
Hawaii, When interviewed by California State Parole Authorities
concerning his past, the prison records indicated that FORD
furnished information that he resided in Portland, Oregon,
from 1891, to 1913, at which time he moved to Los Angeles
until his arrest in 1926, He married HAZEL BARTON, age 26,
in Los Angeles during this time and one child, » resulted
from this union. FORD was released from San Quentin on May
27, 1929. f

The prison records reflect the following description

of FORD:

Race: White

Occupation: Cook oe

Height: , 5t 6 3/8"

Weight: ! 133 lbs.

Complexion: Dark

Eyes: Maroon

Hair: Black

Marital Status: Married

Children: One, age 5 - 1926

Education: Public schools, Portland,
Oregon

Former Address: 4401 Mount Eagle Place
Los Angeles, California 34

-2- 00012


Mais

CG 100-33683 _

This record also indicates that FARD was received
at the State Prison, San Quentin, California, as WALLIE D.
FORD, their number 2314, on Jume 26, 1926 on a charge of
VIOL, POIS Act. Disposition given 0 to 6 years, May 26, 1933,
DISCH.

her entries on the FBI Identification Record
are #16448, Los eles, California, WA, sale, $00
or 160 days; WALLET FORD, ob, Los ‘Angeles, California,

WA, POSS, Mare » 1926, $1.00 or 1 day, March h, 1926.
Additional aliases listed are WALLACE FORD and W.D. FARAD.

The following is a description as furnished by
the Detroit Police Department, their number 45138:

Sex Male

Race White

Age 23 years in 1933
Weight 7. pounds
Height : e1eRe

Build Slim

Hair Black

Eyes Maroon
Nationality Arabian

According to the FBI Identification Record, additional
information in the files of the Bureau indicate birth place as
Oregon, occupation cook, nationality American, complexion
dark, scars and marks, small scar back of left hand, black mole

right side of stomach.
‘

Detroit is requested to review the indices of their
Office for any pertinent information concerning W.D. FARD or
WALLACE DON #a@bj*@MLLACE FARAD. Detroit is also requested to
HO review records of the Datroit Police Department, their number
cepo 445138, and ascertain circumstances concerning FARD's arrest
4° on May 25, 1933 and disposition thereof, and to furnish Chicago

1 % ® photograph if available.

Bou

-2-

WR
00005
377


DIRECTOR, FBI January 17, 1958

“= ww SAC, DETROIT (1900-26356) . ~

5 We De FARD : = AL eT Dw
8M - MOI oA Y:
%

ia
. BeRlet 21/29/37 to Barean and COlet vo Puree
se MOL3/57. - "

On Tin ed 1958, Mes. | femur 0. De AETHOK, 212
Chandler Street chigan, advised that her husband,
WN OD. Beredan tae who was formerly associated with the University
af Mi Michigan, had written the article entitled "fhe Voodeo 0
Reerg ts in Detroit". She advised that he had ‘tise
She advised that he had obkained the material for his
arpiele "by interviewing members of the p himself, She advised
t it was his idea to write the article ahd-ehsombef the
interviews he took either her or his daughter. She related that
. _.. 6h@ aotes that he prepared while he was the process of writing
the article were either lost or destroyed. She stated that she
could not remember any names, addresses or places mentioned
during the iaterviews when she was present.

She stated that her husband's article was the
eniy’ one written by him conceraiag the Nation ef Islam (80:
She stated th=t her busband was clese to a socielo; an (ool) 5
tat UVaiversity of Chicago nawed LOUIS WIRTH. She stated that
H and her husband were both interested in the MOI at that
deular time (1937) and it was her recollection that the
at Squnder OF ebe Ol wae 2 white, person ender the
“oes end: FORD. Bho. etated -ghat.ae abe ani IRTH had
a as individual rte that his name was either FARD or



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ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN JS UNCLASSIF} Es S Ul
DATE sl-FS By \f

1

449


ALL INFORMATION cowratneD 351 BY 4c

byesansen b copes (aubshbs)
. (Address 6f contribyfor) lac bor tlt Ed jolene
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eTANOARD Pomes ean, 04

Office Memorandum - onrrep states GOVERNMENT
To : SAC, DETROIT QD

/ 20k
moun) Mic, CHICAGO (100-33683) ¢ / 7 ‘ ea

/ 04 7 ~ jee
susjectr: W.D. ea fee $ ep a &
SECURITZ MATTER - NOI ALL inFORMATION CONTAINED
00: Chicago HEREIN IS ease
G
.

DAT

pate: duly 31, 1957

Office, it was suggested that a concerted effort be made to
determine the whereabouts of W.D. FARD,reportedly the founder
of the Nation of Islam (NOI). According to speeches and
writings of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD, the National Leader of the NOI,
"Allah”TM came to Detroit, Michigan from Mecca in 1930 in the
person of one W.D. FARD and taught him for 3 years concerning
Islam. According to MUHAMMAD, FARD was arrested by the Detroit
Police Department in 1933, and shortly thereafter was asked to
leave Detroit by the police department. MUHAMMAD claims that

7 FARD continued to teach Islam in Chicago until 1934, at which |
time FARD disappeared and nothing about him has been heard i
since this time.

As a result of a recent inspection of the Chicago \

The files of the Chicago Office indicate that
W.D. FARD, as WALLACE DON FARD, FBI # 56062, was arrested as
WALLACE FARAD by the Detroit, Michigan Police Department on
May 25, 1933, their number 45138, on a charge of INV. No

disposition was given.
The Identification Record for FARD also indicates
that he was arrested by the Los Angeles, California Police

Department as WALLIE FORD, their number 168, on November 17,
1918, on a charge of ~ No disposition was given.

° Q-Detroit = (RM)
2-Los Angeles (iM .
2-San Francisco (RM)
1-Chicago (109-33683)

a <.

Bye



62-7U9-oh; Mo

Report of : ian faren 20, 19L0, at Detroit,
re bh B =

MaAbAbJ, & Japanese, emivraved to Canada in aporoximately 190U
wrere ne marriea Allin Tach. in 192L, .Anxsi emleraved
to Tacoma, asninston, + ois wife ana family, remainin;

trere until 1026, waea ne cisappeared in financial cisrrace.
in 1933 he appeared in Detroit, 'icnican, using the name of

TAMALASU] wnere ne became active in promoting tne necro
"

Levelopment of Cur Own. N » married
TOL, nesress, (Ls File 1ou-1 357) on
February ’ who was active in above organization.

WAS ceported to wee" april 2U, 194 by ILS witnout
funds. On =: } ARANL arrived at Vancouver, #2
Canada, 9u0., subsecuently resiaing at
Yancouver, 3 Toronto, wntario, Cenada, from
wales points pol.cies of DOOO througn nis wife.
in Sante he 1O4f, a maritel rift caused XAZANE to avvoint
ot 3 » nenro,as exccutive.

or. nization

C.,

Strive watain the "000 caused Balin to itlesatly re - enter
tee 7 : _ *., on Sotnuary ll, 19329 using the
name of HUBO an. aiter coming to Detroit, veorganized nis
loyal vollowers into the “Onward Sovement of America.” on
June 27, 1939 sdrand was arrestea for illegal entry and
attempted bribery of U.S. Immigration Inspector. On
September 2t, 1939 Nar.alurwas convicted for attemptea
bribery in Federal”"court at Tevroit, Micnisan, sentenced

to three years! imprisonment and .l5v0. fine.

00040 ude


VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS 899

with questions about the origin of their people. Long before their
new prophet appeared among them they were wondering who they
were and whence they had come.

The migrants did not find life in the North as pleasant as they
had expected it to be, when first they came to the “land of hope,”
as the North was known in Negro poetry and song. The depression
deprived them of their means of livelihood, and they suffered their
first experience of urban destitution. Though public relief came to
their rescue, the attitudes shown by the welfare agents increased
their hatred of the Caucasian civilization. Forced to stand waiting
for hours to receive their dole, these people began to believe that
race discrimination was evident in the North as well as in the South.
The welfare workers: -including those even of their own race—be-
came symbolic of all that these people hated

An Asiatic trend among Negro dole recipients of the Elmwood district, noted
at the time as a passing whim, to-day came back with hofror to two women
welfare workers on learning that the fanatical Robert Harris had intended them
for human sacrifices as infidels . . . . Harris stated to the police that each of

these was a “no good Christian,” and that they would have been sacrificed if he
knew where he could have found them.'s

A further disillusionment came from their own physical discom-
fort resulting from life in crowded quarters in a northern city. Un-
accustomed to the climate of the North. and especially to its winters,
these people soon developed many bodily ailments. Their condition
is described by the Prophet Fard in his teaching:

He had fever. headaches, chills, grippe, hay fever, regular fever, rheumatism,
also pains in all joints. He was disturbed with foot ailment and toothaches.
His pulse beat more than eighty-eight times per minute: therefore he goes to
the doctor every day and gets medicine for every day in the year: one after
each meal and three times a day, also one at bedtime.

The migrahts realized that they suffered much more physical pain
than they had in their old homes. They connected this suffering
with the civilization of the white man to whose cities they had come.
Even before they met the prophet, they had begun to blame the
Caucasian for their aches and pains.

§ Detroit Times, November 22, 1932.
“ Teaching for the Lost Found Nation of Islom in a Mathematical Way, Problem No. 6.

00091 uy,


THE VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS *
IN DETROIT

ERDMANN DOANE BEYNON

1 ABSTRACT
The ‘Nation of Islam," usually known as the “Voodoo Cult,” belongs to a chain of
movements arising out of the growing disillusionment and race consciousness of recent
Negro migrants to northern industrial cities. The attention of the general public has
been directed to sensational episodes in the history of this cult, such as the occurrence
of human sacrifice, but the reorientation of the personality of its members has been
ignored. The members of the cult have been isolated from the social organization of
the community in which they lived, but they have ‘maintained their functional rela-
tionship in the metropolitan economy from which they derive their means of livelihood
and in which they have been able to make more satisfactory adjustments As a result
of the teaching of this cult, they have gained a new conception of themselves and regard
themselves as superior, rather than inferior, to other people
. The Negro sect known to its members as the ‘Nation of Islam"
or the “Muslims,” but to the police as the Voodoo Cult,? has sig-
nificance for social science research partly because of its synthesis
of heterogeneous cultural elements and partly because of its unique
expression of race consciousness. If the movement be viewed as the
life-cycle of a cult, however, its various phases tend to show an
orderly progression through which the attitudes of its devotees were
molded to a common pattern. There developed among them a way
of living which isolated them to a certain extent from all persons
not members of their cult, even though they themselves remained
scattered among an urban population of their own race and color
In their trade relations the members of this cult have continued
to live, like other Negroes, within the ecological organization of the
Negro community of Detroit. Their principal occupational adjust-
ment has been factory labor, and thus the cult members have main-
tained a functional relationship with the metropolitan economy out-

: side of the Negro community. At the same time, however, they

4
* Spelling: “Moslem”; pronounced: “Muslim.” This is one of the changed pro-
nunciations by which irfitiates recognize each other. The Moorish-Americans also are
“Moslenti,” but pronounce the word as spelled.
+ No effort is made in this paper to trace relationship between this cult and Voodoo-
ism in Haiti and other West Indian islands. The cult received the name "Voodoo"
solely because of cases of human sacrifice. .
894
4
{
i

=

a
a


po cern ee ee

CG 100-33683

WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE

AT WASHINGTON, D.C.

Will make inquiry at the Passport Division of the
State Department for any record identifiable with W. D. FARD
or W. D. FARAD or W. FARD MOHAMMED or MUHAMMAD.

00016
393


DIRECTOR, FBI (105-63642) Mareh 10, 1958
8A0, CHICAGO (100-33683)

WALLACE DODD FORD, Was.
W. D. Fard, "Allah" Mohanmad,
Fred b

als odd, Walt Farrad, %
Wallace Farad, W. D. Porand AL I RUATION CONTEND =,
Wallace Don Ford, Walei Ford, WER IS NES

"Te Great Mahdi", FP. Mohammad - DAT

Ali, Parrad Mohammad %,
SECURITY MATTER - HOZ

00: CHICAGO .

ReBulet to Chicage January 28, 1958, enclosing a
correlation summary prepared at the Seat of Government. For
the tnformation of New York, the following information is
presented:

According to the speeches and writings of ELIJAH
MUHAMMAD, National Leader of the Nation of Islam (HOI), "Allah"
came to Detroit, Michigan from Mecca in 1930 in the person of
one W. D. FARD who taught MUHAMMAD for three years eencern!
Islam. FARD taught Islam in Detroit from 1930 to 1933 a¢ which
time he was asked to leave Detroit by the Police Department and
subsequently came to Chicago, Illinois where he taught Islan
until 193), at whieh time he disappeared and nothing has been
beara from him since. MUHAMMAD has indicated that FARD returned
td OCHe

The philosophy of the NOI teaches that FARD arrived
in the United States from Mecoa oh July 4, 1930, and that he
returned to Mecca after bringing the know: of their tame
identity to the lost-found Nation of Jalam whielk had been held

in slavery in the Uuited States for ars. The
ef the NOI $# deified PARD and has ten eTetSe nak wits the god
ALLAR, s

Investigatien eonducted by the FBI has identified FARD
an being identi with the subjeet of FBI Number 56062 whose
last imown appearance was an arrest in Chicago, Illinois in

September, 1933- fee

Bz Bureau (Registered) LO? POSS: = “/
= Detroit (1606-26356 ) (Registered) —_ ‘

2 ~ New York (Registered) . D

1 + Ghicage

a. %



_

906 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

most entirely of vegetables and fruits. Consequently their expendi-
ture on food is significantly smaller than is that of other Negroes
in Detroit. This economy in consumption, however, is not extended
to visible marks of status, such as houses, automobiles, and clothes.
The prophet taught them that they are the descendants of nobles
in the Holy City of Mecca. To show their escape from slavery and
their restoration to their original high status, they feel obliged to
live in good houses and to wear good clothes. Despite their expendi-
ture on these items, members of the cult ¢onstantly declare that
they are ashamed that they have not been able to purchase better
commodities or to rent tiner homes. “This furniture is the best we
could afford to buy here in the wilderness of North America, where
we have to live other than ourselves. When we go home to Mecca.
we will be able to get really good furniture, just like all our people
who live there use.”

RELATION TO OTHER NEGRO CULTS

The story of the Nation of Istam cannot be cansidered as complete
in itself. Militant and cultist movements among migrant Negroes
in the cities of the North have formed a sort of tree. After one
branch has groyn, flourished. and begun to decay, another shoots
up to begin over again the same cycle, though always with an in-
creasing degree of race-consciousnes» and anti-Caucasian prejudice.

Out of the wreck of the Marcus Garvey movement, there sprang
Phoenix-like the Moorish-American cult of which the prophet was
Noble Drew Ali. After this prophet's disappearance and the stabi-
lization of the movement as a formally organized denomination,
there sprang up the Nation of Islam. Although the cultural isola-
tion of the members of this cult has not declined during the three
years of their prophet's absence, there arc many evidences of the
loss of militant aggressiveness which once characterized this group.
The organization also is tending to become more amorphous. From
among the latger group of Moslems there has sprung recently an
even more militant branch than the Nation of Islam itself. This
new movement, known as the Temple People, identifies the prophet,
Mr. W. D. Fard, with the god Allah. To Mr. Fard alone do they
offer prayer and sacrifice. Since Mr. Fard has been deified, the

{



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fom]
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wee sccewes L2U/K.

Wo) 5p

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To Be Keturned

Gy

Description.
?\

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED 3519

x Lin ho sb fe HEREIN 1S UNCLASSIFIED
“ss =abail lb fe Wee aS B



DE 100-26356

~ She thlver:

7 ef Michigan blwent peseants —
sae Ua rer Glue pesos

#arry as the last known addre: ter SEYROR, 2% Ohandler Btreet,
Flint 3, Michigan, whieh address, aecording to alumni weords,
wes valid as of March, 1956.

a

ded a eurrent Flint,
Mishigen, Telephone oa b oting that it failed to carry a
Listing for ERDMANN D, BEYNO 3 bowever, 1% did contain a
~deting for a drs. ERDMANN D, BEYHOR of 212. Chandler Street,
Flint, Michigan. =~

i
Investigation is continuing in this Division
at the Flint and Detroit addresses noted in an attempt to
locate and interview BEYNON in accordance with referenced letter.

As will be noted, leads should be set forth
for Detroit and Flint, Michigan, to comply with the requested
investigation contained in referenced Chicago letter. It is

. . noted that BEYNON is undoubtédly identical with the person
mentioned in referenced letter in view of the uncommoness of
the two first names of this individual and in view of the fact
that BENYON was not located as ever being connected with the
University of Michigan,

Inasmuch as there is no additional investi-
gation to be conducted at Ann Arbor, Michigan, it is recommended
that this case be reassigned to either the Detroit or Flint
Agent han@ling the’leads requested. -

f
sere Ce ON nt Ni 0 RES NN Yo Oh SA PE PRE FREE a pt IAG ELE OB GIRTON ES. Soe oA



4-750 (Rev. 9-21-94) a d XXXKXX

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
FOIPA DELETED PAGE INFORMATION SHEET

Page(s) withheld entirely at this location in the file. One or more of the following
statements, where indicated, explain this deletion.

C1 Deletions were made pursuant to the exemptions indicated below with no segregable material
available for release to you.

ion 552 Section 552a
0 @®)q) O (\7(A) (6X5)
D ()2) D (b\(7\(B) 0 G2)
D (b)(3) D (b\(7(C) OK)
O (b\(7)(D) D (k)2)
O (yay) 0D (KG)
0D (o\(7)\F) D(K4)
T (b\(4) DO (ys) DD (k\(5)
D (b)5) D (b\9) D (k\(6)
Oo (b\(6) DD (k\(7)

© Information pertained only to a third party with no reference to the subject of your
request.

D Information pertained only to a third party. The subject of your request is listed in the
title only,

OC Documents originated with another Government agency(ies). These documents were referred
to that agency(ies) for review and direct response to you.

Pages contain information furnished by another Government agency(ies). You will be
advised by the FBI as to the releasability of this information following our consultation
with the other agency(ies).

Page(s) withheld inasmuch as a final release determination has not been made. You will be
advised as to the disposition at g later date.

Pages were not considered for release as they are duplicative of

A

- yy ; .
YG For your information: ann: amd

4 The following number is to be used for reference regarding these pages:
NE j20 -DZ35e ws

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXKXXXXKK
X DELETED PAGE(S) xX
XXXXXX XNO DUPLICATION FEE X
XXXXXX X FOR THIS PAGE x
XXXXXX XXXXKXRXXXXXRRXXXXKKKK

FBI/DOJ


BS 300=286356 ~

wogres widower wifey aa SARAN BROWN. He other baskground infer
appeared on Shis Certificate, The cause of death was
Sd is. The Oe eeetitioate was signed by BDSUED

OBLOCH, MeDey Whe Coroners ‘

RUC. ‘

!

d

| | !
ements a delineate aad pga 470% EAE SLE AR one Beant We ee or
?

ok«

00056
437


DIRECTOR, FBI (105~63642) . February 26, 1958

BAC, DETROIT £100~26356) .

W. D. FARD, was.
SECURITY MATTER » NOI
QOrGhicago

Re Burean letter to Detroit dated January 24, 1958.

On February 11, 1958, Mrs. MARION KIEBER, 609 Baet
: Baker, Fliat, Mich » Was shown a photograph obtained
» Igst ‘ang Detroit Police Departnest Meabes 45138 by. 34
troit co er
Gh Poe REC RPT En Serres erl
to the pnoteurs of the person she knew to be named FARD
whose picture she had seen on the wall at the University
of Islam sone twenty years ago while with her father inter-
viewing persons who were Nation of Islam (NOI) members.

KERBER advised that the photograph of FARD at
the University ef Islam either a 5".z 8" or a 10" photograph
_ fin black and white and was a “glamorised” or touched up

: picture. She stated that she recalis that the picture was
taken from a 45 deg angle instead of a full face or a

Mrs. §ASBSR was asked if she was positive of the
identification ghe had made and she stated that there was
wo doubt her mind that the twe persons were the same.

a4,




898 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

the Moslems not only had migrated recently from the South, but
also had visited their old homes in the South one or more times after
their migration and before they had come into contact with the
Nation of Islam. Through these visits they had become more con-
scious of race discrimination on the part of the Caucasians. After
their brief sojourn in the North they tended to reinterpret with
sinister implications incidents of race contact in the South. They
began to realize that lynchings and the indignities of the Jim Crow
system were perpetrated by Caucasians who worshiped the same
God as they did and worshiped Him in the same way. In many of
its parts the Secret Ritual of the cult reflects the aroused feclings
with which these Negroes returned from their visits to the South
“Me and my people who have becn fost from home for 47y vears
have tried this so-called mystery God for bread, clothing and a home

And we receive nothing but hard times, hunger, naked and out of
doers. Also was beat and killed by the ones that advocated that
kind of God

The illiteracy of the southern Negroes now seemed duc to Cauca
sian “tricknollogy."? “Why does the devil keep our people iliiter
ate? So that he can use them for a tool and also a slave. He keeps
them blind to themselves so that he can master them.

Awakened already: to a consciousness of race discrimination, these
migrants irom the South came into contact with militant move
ments among uvrthern Negroes. Practically none of them had been
in the Nort’ prior to the collapse of the Marcus Garvey movemen!
A few of tnem had come under the influence of the Moorish-Ameri
can cult: which succeeded it. The effect of both these movements
upon the future members of the Nation of Islam was largely indirect.
Garvey taught the Negroes that their homeland was Ethiopia, The
Noble Drew Ali, the prophet of the Moorish-Americans, proctaimed
that these people were “descendants of Morrocans.""'* ‘The newer
migrants entered a social milieu in Which the atmosphere was filled

+ WP. Fard, Secret Ritual of the Nation of Islam. Part IL sec. 1. This has been pre:
served as an oral tradition, memorized verbatim by the pupils at the University of
Islam. Only a few manuscript copies are extant.

A cult term pronounced “trickenollogy.””

13 Fard, Secret Ritual, Part L, sec, 0.

{ ‘Koran Questions for Moorish Americans (Chicago, 1028), p. 1, quest 14

00090

Hoy


DE 100-26356

On January 10, 1958, Mrs. MARION KIBBER, 609 Rast___
Baker, Fliat, Michigan, advised that she did accompany her
father, ERDMANN BEYNON on many of the iaterviews that he eondneted
relative to the NOI. She stated that she remembers the leaders
mame ao being FARAD, but could not remember anything else about
him, and she did not know anything about his being of the
Jewish mationality and having as a true name a Jewish name. She
went on to explain that LO WIRTH had died fm 1952. She stated
that her father and a detective from the Detroit Police
Department who was in charge of the iavegtigation om the group
conferred with each other quite fre uently and ewapped
information concerning the group. She advised that to her
knowledge her father had gotten all of his information from
interviews with NOI members or: through the Detroit Police
Department. She stated that she had never seen FARD as he had
already left Detroit. She stated that she had visited the

. University of Islam which was located in Paradise Valley in

Detroit and had seen a photo of FARD which was hanging on a wall
in &@ room on the second floor. She advised that this house was
located close to the police preciact although she could not

- Femember the name of the street.

The Chicago Division should attempt to atten
to locate any notes or material formerly in the possession o:
the late LOUIS WIRTH, formerly with the Sociology Department of
the University ef Chicago that aight help to ideatify the man who
weat wader the name of FARD ia Detroit, aad attempt to locate
any close associates of WIRTH who sight be in a position to
furnish information concerning FARD.

Oa January 17, 1958, Sergeant’

ob Departaeat, Subversive Squad, |

, bap fhe records of that agency fail ee
reflec sue! weecigation er inquiry regeré ject
or @ollaberatioa with the late Prefessor BEYNON.

00047
U4


oie

° FOIPA
DO NOT DESTROY

DETROIT FILE #2 2"
REVIEWED ON2 =>
FOR FOIA/PA

FOIPA FILE #2 So

~ 00003 375




oye onegner
ENO
a es


-

CG 100-33683

The Washington Field Division

Will check the records of ONI for any information
they may possess cuncerning W, D. FARD and for any
information that might be shown concerning his founding of
the NOI and any indication that W. D. FARD might be identical
with the ABDUL MUHAMMAD mentioned in the above mentioned
ONI report as being a "first officer" with the NOI. The
sources of ONI's information should be determined if
possible and should be determined if they are available
to be contacted by the Bureau.

00030

ws
a


CG 100-33683 Qo

Pontiac, Michigan, According Fy ro rae several
years previously an individual by the mame Of FARD (phonetic),
whom he believed to be an Algerian, was instrumental in

having many members leave the MSTA and. affiliate themselves
with a group which he referred to as "Mooselems".

Also the Chicago Office is in possession of a G-2
report dated December 30, 1950, at Detroit, Michigan, which
reflects that in 1930 a man calling himself W. D. FARD took
over a group of Negroes which had been organized by another
Negro named NOBLE D. OLLIE. W. D. FARD is reported to pe
the organizer of both the NOI “and an organization known
as the "Development of Our Own,”

The Chicago Division is also in possession of an
ONI report dated October 13, 1942, which lists one ABDUL
MUHAMMAD, a "first officer” of the NOI in Detroit, as
having been the host of one SATAKATA TAKAHASHI, founder
of the Japanese "Black Dragon Society", Apparently,
TAKAHASHI and ABDUL Monae resided together in Detroit
in the early 1 . in is connection, the attention
of the Detroit Division is directed to their file 62-709
om on an individual named NAKA NAKANE, wa., Satakata Takabashi. -& ev
~ Detroit should further refer to the report ot Sai 22“
b2-7"4 dated March 30, 1940, at Detroit in this ca
report reflects that was instrumental in the formatig a
of an organization known as the "Development of Our Ow: BTA /
Page 58 in this report reflects that on June 29, 1939,
TAKAHASHI was arrested for illegal entry and attempted
bribery of United States Immigration inspector. Upon
interview by a Bureau Agent following his conviction for
bribery, TAKAHASHI stated that in 1930 in Tacoma, Washington,
he became acquainted with a Negro Minister, JOHN WHITE.
Upon going to Detroit from Tacoma, in the early 1930's,

TAKAHASHI contacted one ABDUL MUHAMMAD because MUHAMMAD
had written WHITE requesting that a Japanese work among

~3- 00026
394


_—

Ae

S residin

—_ > 19k 3

current accress

coulda be

» when he was intervitwec,
located for hin.

“

No

00044 Yio


Letter to Chlcazo

Res: WALLACE DODD FORD
Z; IO Ad orn 4
meses CONFI Y La
the early 1930's. The Rureeu feels tha should 7
be reinterviewed for names of individusls a member's

of the “hevelojment ef Gur Own" cult during the esrly
1930's ard any additional informetion he can possibly
furnish regarding subject's activities in Detroit during
that period. “

Further, Bufilee fail to refiect whet investigation,
if any, has been conducted to locate sdwerd Donaldson, who
wae arrested with the subject in Los Angeles in 19a, Ban Prencia:
letter dated 8-27-57 reflected Donaldson as subject's “partner.”
Thia individua] sould possibly furniah beckground informetior
concerning the subject,

fhe Puresu should be edvised of the resulta of
investigation conducted by the Hernclulu Office ae requested
by Chisaco letter dated 10-3-57 concernin, subject's family.

The Bure@. realizes that investigation in this matter
calls for imagination, initietive, end resourcefulness. Agents
handling, this matter should not be content to merely cever
suggested leads, wit should thoroughly end logically examine
this case end pursue ever logics] lesd. In this eonnection,
the Bureeu ts closely fol) this investigation,

4 34
rn TTF



00078

45a


fod

ee

ae: Detroit, July 10, 192,

De

Serial 1)

Report of SA
re ILLIG iC

Tnis report veflects that “ILLIE NoWar was born august 5, 1f91
as JLLiu PpooLs. REIS MILI WSD was uncer indict «ent on two
counts because ne refused to ister for the draft. ibis

savised ne met . D in Detroit in 1931
TD at that tine w dender anc crranizer of th
ao reiicgion in petroit. aQvised tnat “anal ieft tetroit

in 1923 or 1934 anc usd no ides wiere ned could pe iocated at

tne present tine.

25-1762-3

jitta sroy besort cated sovember et, 1950, re tne ‘oslen
toly Temple of Islam - Detroit Branch.

Tris report states the j Os CUR Dab" and the Islam
temple culcs came in for seme intensive investication by tne

etroit Police Nepartment in 1943-35 ana tne following inlor-

tion was orta:ned from the Felice cepartment recorcas:

nimselr W, D. PARD, took over # -roup

: % by anotaer .egro naned
,febsie °. Gille, a ! 2 slamite sroup. Tnais croup
practicea sie losiem relirion. eevines were neid at tne

nomes of various menbers of tne group. Tnis ¢roup claimed

to nave been originally set up in 1913. At some time in the
year 1932 or 1933 gilajor T.nssASNI became active in the sroup.

of nerroe

According to a "Handbook of the Letroit Negro", published by

the Winority Stuay Associates, editor ULY¥SSuS FOYEL.., an

organization which called itself tne "DEVELOPMENT O27 CUR OWN
e] was started by 2 negro named GLOnGs CTIMSS, a city worker,

as & leritimate political organization in 1930. A_Japanese

named Major TAK¥HASHI took over the organization, ~~~~——~

wW. D, BERAUD claimed that ne was the originator of the "DZV.LOPMSNT
OUR ON" and the Moslem Temple of Islam Cult and cited as
proof a book that had been copyrignted by nim in the U.S. Library

4 oy

of Concress titled "5 Guidinr Principals". In 193 W.>.
was given police notice to cet out of Detroit and ge Left.

00038



904 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

of one of the assistant ministers, was arrested as he prepared for
the ceremonial slaying and cooking of his wife and daughter. This
sacrifice was, as he said, to have ‘cleansed him from all sin.”

These cases of human sacrifice have directed to the cult much
attention from the Police Department so that the cult has been
forced to pursue many of its activities in secret. The question of
sacrifice has led also to serious internal clashes. ‘Rebels against the
Will of Allah,” as they are called, have left the Temple and organized
another Temple of Islam, desiring to remain within the framework of
the cult but to avoid human sacrifice, 'the necessity of which as an
expiation of sin forms one of the most hotly debated subjects among
the cult members.

Persecutions and schisms alike have tended to increase the cul-
tural isolation of the members of this group. The effect of the
schisms was selective, leaving within the parent organization those
who were bound together by common attitudes and common loyal-
ties. Attacks made on the cult by the Police Department have been
instigated usually by the leaders of Negro organizations. These per-
secutions have led naturally to a greater solidarity among the cult
members and to a constantly increasing isolation of the Moslems
from the other residents of the Detroit Negro community.

EFFORTS TO EXPLOIT THE MOVEMENT

The solidarity and cultural isolation of the Moslems have ren-
dered ineffectual the various attempts made by interested parties
to redirect the activities of the cult in order to further their own
particular purposes. The first of these efforts was made by the Com-
munists in 1932, but the cult members rebuffed their appeal. Then
came Major Takahashi, a reserve Japanese officer, who sought to
Jead the, Moslems to swear allegiance to the Mikado. Only a small
minority of the members followed him into the new movement he
organized—The evelopment of Our Own. With his deportation,
this schmismatic movement came to nought. An Ethiopian, Wyx-
zewixard S. J. Challouehliczilczese, sought in June, 1934, to re-
organize the movement as a means of sending financial support ¢o
Ethiopia. This too, was unsuccessful. At present the members of
the cult have come under the influence of certain anti-Union inter-


|
a

CG 100-33683

The attention of the Detroit Office is called to
Detroit letter to Chicago dated October 31, 1955, which
enclosed three copies of an article of "The American Journal
of Sociology," Volume XLIII, No. 6, May, 1938, entitled,
"Fhe Voodoo Cult Among Negro Migrants in Detroit,” by one
ERDMANN DOANE BENYON, This article was obtained from the
Detroit Board of Education and contains information relating
to the background of the NOI concerning its origination and
beliefs, A review of this article indicates that the author,
BENYON, apparently wrote this article in August, 1937, and
it_ia believed that BENYON may have had at that time some
onnection miversity o chigan,inasmuch as a
the end of the article there appeared the words, “University
of Michigan."

All offices receiving ‘copies of this letter are
requested to condutt investigation set forth and reply by
letter.

DETROIT OFFICE

AT ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

Will make inquiry at the University of Michigan to
determine if ERDMANN DOANE BENYON was ever enrolled or employed
at the University of Mishigan. If a record is located, inquiry
should be made of BENYON's former associates and at the
elumi office to determine if his present whereabouts are
known. If BENYON 1s ‘located in the Detroit Division, he should
be interviewed for all information he may possess concerning
W. D. FARD and the Nation of Islam, Special attention should be
paid to BENYON's sources of the information appearing im His

ticle and to any notes, documents or other research material
oe may have retained. If BENYON does not how reside within the
Detroit Division, f lead should be set for his interview as
outlined above. } ‘

-3-

00013 28


Ly.



. accra Aeaiinstttie Ryne aaiitite ti
“ .
Fa nf . ; Pa: acta aad ye —
Auzarcan WPtinted for private cireulati
Ta Jovanat ar Socrorosy, Vol. from
XLII
: ‘ lindnkiaherd 1, No. 6, May, r938
b ERDMANN DOANE BEYNON
ALL INFORMATION COM
HEREIN 1S UNCLASSE
Dato DIOS 8
b5¢
f
f

J 100-86 BSG -10-F


He was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1891, and ..
lived in that city until 1913, at whioh time he moved
to the Les Angeles area where he resided mtil the time
of his arrest, He married HAZEL BARTON in Les Angeles
and she was 26 years of age at that time, One ohild
resébted from this union,

According to San Quentin records, District
Attorney KEYES of Los eles County, prosecutor in
the Subjoet!s case, made the following statement concern
ing the crime, "This defendant had in his possession
drugs which his partner EDWARD PONALPSON offered to
sell to police officers for $225, They became suspicious
when thay detected one of the officers handcuffs and
refused to go threugh with the deal, Officers found
the drugs at FORD's place of business.”

San Quentin records refleot that while in that
inatitution, letters were received attesting to FORD's
good character from the following individuals:

Mrs, HAZEL E. OSBORNE (former wife), who stated
in substance that PORD did not drink, smoke, or gamble.
He was morally a good man that because hé was tempermontal,
their marriage resulted in divorce.

Mrs. MARY BROWN of Les Anveles, who stated that
FORD had been “like one of our family for ten years,”

Mrs, PiARL MORTON of Les Angeies, who wrote on
May 23, 1927, "I, have known him for 1] ycara; my
mother and I have always been very fond of himes always
treated him as ene of the familyses” .

While incarcerated at °an Quentin, the Subject
was employed in the Jute mill and as a road worker.

-

San Quentin records indicate that FORD was
released franz San Quentin May 27, 1929.

Information copies of this comaunication are
furnished troit and Les Angelts for assistance in their —_
investigation of instant case.

It is noted that the records ef San Quentin
Prison are currently being consolidated with other state

ae

00909 3)


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ro

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FILE REVIEWS _ piel ee
eb wee dt a2
I butts en Nth Di che (1% 3)
eee, WEL babersh”
 Boou. if ry thd l Dv. horned ne wh Sele baht Zadeh sah
‘dle: hate Nahe Me (fre ee pep Medeor iSeulf)
a)Avnd beget: red Ay erly fats vin
b) Was Nabanc. t5 vile J evlnpment tems bor ”
c) Be CML yyy mn neat lll 3 Ram 046
d) Ch bh LV ham nad be Ls hcead wilh i! Digwth
6) BDH Loa The fe fens Hore 7h Le: lepers
£ [Can Cen"
ra nekanc- dead

wy

x

@.



go2 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The people who secured the new names value them as their great-
est treasure. “I wouldn't give up my righteous name. That name
is my life.’"* They became so ashamed of their old slave names that
they considered that they could suffer no greater insult than to be
addressed by the old name. They sought to live in conformity with
the Law of Islam as revealed to them by the prophet, so that they
might be worthy of their original names. Gluttony, drunkenness,
idleness, and extra-marital sex relations, except with ministers of
Islam, were prohibited completely. They bathed at least once a
so that they might
put away all marks of the slavery from which the restoration of the
original name had set them free.

The rapid increase in membership made necessary the develop-
ment of a formal organization. Subsidiary organizations had been
established as the need for them arose. Chief of these was the Uni-
versity of Islam to which the children of Moslem families were
sent rather than to the public schools. Here they were taught the
“knowledge of our own,” rather than the “civilization of the Cauca-
sian devils.” Courses were given in “higher mathematics,” astrono-
my, and the “general knowledge and ending of the spook civiliza-
tion.” That women might keep their houses clean and cook food
properly, there was established the Moslem Girls’ Training and Gen-
eral Civilization Class. Fear of trouble with the unbelievers, espe-
cially with the police, led to the founding of the Fruit of Islam-~
a military organization for the’ men who were drilled by captains
and taught tactics and the use of firearms. Each of these organiza-

hy
ay
by the prophet for their task. Finally the entire movement was
placed under a Minister of Islam and a corps of assistant ministers,
all of whom had been selected and trained by the prophet. Within
three years the prophet not only began the movement but organized
it so well that he himself was able to recede into the background,
appearing almost never to his followers during the final months of
his residence in Detroit. This was undoubtedly an important factor
in the cult’s survival after the prophet's departure.

«§ Mrs. William MeQoy, renamed Sister Rota Karriem

under the control of a group of officers train

tions was under the control of a group of officers trained speci



= STRNDARD FORM NO. 64

Office Memorandum ¢ UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

TO: Sad, setrott( (100- Go0n28956)

FROM : &
a <. .
SUBJECT: §=YALLACE LOUD #ORL, vos, ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED «.
eis ae NAS in tiie

He Chicago letter to Uirector, dated 3/10/58.

~

pate: 1/18/58

inveygic: tion wes copcucted at

4

the follow

Dy oA

neferenced ]
cet tr

ror not. the ~..
is identical «

securit nvestigation oquac,
whose icent
ort or c oninr

naving the alias of wvavis sl,
in the report datcd June 16, 1942
in the possession of the Detroit

& cody of 1
FBI Office.

ccording to the
report whic then a i-ic
State Police vet ctive, ane now & trooper stationed
tation 11 in East po eyo! ua rahiamhe



CO 100~-33683

Detroit should attexpt te resolve whether or not the
DAVIS EL alleged to be an alias of W. Ds FARD is identical
with the subject of this investigation. If it is determined
that that individual is identical with the subject of this
investigation, logical investigation should be sonducted to
follow Ais movements since that date and to determine his
present location.

The New D: 8 requested to at t te
reinterview and determine from all
information cencern: appearance of ALLAH or W. D. FARD

at the MCI Temple in Rew York in 1951.

Wew York should advise if the photograph shown to

was the photograph of the subject of Detroit Police
Department number Neti New York d conduct all logical
investigation to verify or disprov: statement that
FARD or ALLAH appeared at the Kew York Temple in 1951. If
this information 1s verified, Kew York should cenduct all
investigation necessary to locate FARD or any information
cence: io



DIRECTOR, FBI

SAC, SAN FRANCISCO (100-43 168)
WeD. FARD

SM=NOI

(00 nicago)

Re San Francisce letter to Bureau 8/27/57, and

Calcago letter to Bureau, 10/3/57.

On 10/./5) ae Identification Officer,
Guidance and Reception Center, lifornia Medical Facility, &
Vacaville, California made available to iin Py O
phétegraph of WALLY D. FORD, 314, which pho tated

wes

taken In June 1926 when the ®%ubject was recived at the

. Feception center.

Subject was A: in Detroit, Michioan, their number 15135

that fauthorities might have a more recent photograph ~ ©
@f the Subject. The aforementioned photograph is enclos

495, the Cuicago office,

Quentin Prison advised i: contain ne
Los Angeles addresses for MARY er PEARL MORTON, The

stated that his records indicate that the

charge of Investication. QHBBBBBB sucgested

MS

226

On 10/9/57, &r Records Section, San

only address contained in the San wuentin file for HAZEL
OSBORNE, nee BARTON, was listed as 4401 Mount Lagle Place,

Los

Angeles, California.

. LEAD INFORMATION CONTAINED

}

ALL
1S UNELASSIF
DETROIT OFFICE SCS So iin
S'

AI_DETRIIT, MICHIGAN
Will attempt to lecate through the files of the Detroit

PD under PD #45138 a more recent-pltograph of the Subject.

2'-

e:

Be

wa (2529163)

- RUC +
Bureau :
Qaicago (Encl. 1
Betroit
Les Angeles
San Francisco (100-34,156)

Le. a

Oe |
S19 :

i

I



STANDARD FORM NO. 64

Office Memorandum + onrrep states GOVERNMENT
WA * :SAC, Detroit (100-26356) pare: January 28, 1958
FROM :Director, FBI (105-63642)

SUBJECT: WALLACE DON FARD
SECURITY MATTER - NOI

Reurlets 10-22-57 and 1-17-58.

Relet dated 10-22-57 advised that a photograph
of the subject was available to your office. Relet dated
1-17-58 advised that Mrs, Marion Kieber, 609 East Baker,
Flint, Michigan, advised she had accompanied her father
during the time he conducted many interviews relative to
the Nation of Islam (NOI). She also stated that she had
observed a photograph of the subject which was hanging
on the wall of a building which she apparently visited
with her father.

You should exhibit a photograph of the subject
to Mrs. Kieber to determine if he is identical with the
individual she knew named Farad, who was the leader of the
NOI at the time her father was interested in this organization.

1 - Chicago (1090-33683) (For information)

oo.



2C

vs and te their know)
SE over vosided there;
Sy  tafome tice adout

is
had lived there
as far as 1936 verr Longs

~ 00054

4%


j

¢) Was je 5 D000 « ron”
MB in tyran wrder The lech tsshep anc
Nukamre uphe dd a3 S. Sed Mtuhin pte
jork none salrhele Vek hacke Ulli pred

7s gl fore Ye have Vee soit Alin Ode

Money Mahamnr€ Llez hl, hepscl | haw ,
E = a



AIRTEL AIR MAIL - REGISTERED _
TO: DIRECTOR, FBI
FROM: SAC, LOS ANGELES (105-4805)

RE: CHANGED: 4, D, FARD, was.
Wallei Ford,
ye WD. fred Dodd
~~ $M + NOI ———
(00:

Re Chicago \letter to Bureau 10/3/57.

The title of this case is being marked "Changed" and
the aliases WALLACE FORD, W. D. FORD and FRED DODD, as furnished
by his former common-law wife, and the name of WALLEI FORD, as
obtained from Los Angeles Police Department records, are being
added to the title.

Records of the Los Angeles County Birth Index were
caused to be searched by SE on 10/15/57 for the
period from 1911 through 1927, and the following birth record
was located:

Records 1920, volume 173, page 7850: Birth of one
WALLACE DODD FORD, mal? child, born on 9/1/20 at the MacDonald
Sanitarium; father - WALLACE FORD, 347 South Flower Street,

3 - Bureau (AM - REGISTERED) ‘
.2.~ Chicago (200- 33663} (am - REGISTERED )
Soke 2 Detroit (100-26355)(Info. )(REGISTERED )
Honolulu (Info..) (REGISTERED )
Portland (AM - REGISTERED)
Richmond (Encl.1)(AM - REGISTERED)
San Francisco (100-43165)(Info. )(REGISTERED )
Washington Field (AM - REGISTERED)
Los Angeles (1 - 105-4805)
(1 - 105- -2604)



CG 10033683

Page 27 of referenced correlation sumary reflects
information contained in a Detroit dated November 12,
1942, entitled, Was. Et al, Morrish
Selence Temple of America, 18 = J, Custodial Detention; Sedition.”

This report contained information which was given to
the Detroit Office by the Michigan State Police in a memorandum
dated June 16, 1942. ‘This memorandum reflected that a W. D.
PARD, alias Davis El, 9316 Oakland Avenue, Detroit, was known
as the Grand Sheik of the Morrish Science Temple of America and
that he was believed to be from Kansas City, Missouri or from
Chicago. This memorandum advised that the Moslems were organized
in Tetroit in 1913 by ROBERT D. OLLIE who was run out ef Detroit
in 1929. Report reflected E. D. PARD reorganized this group in
2930 tae was run out of town by the Police in 193) and returned
in 1936.

Page 3) of referenced correlation sumary reflects
information appearing in New York report of October toe
>

regarding ELIJAH » Was., MOI, aka. Et al, SSA
erty Is =~ 6." report reflected that on August 31,
2

a known Moslem, volun appeared

in the New York Office. At that tine he advised that in 1552

he saw the god ALLAH in New York oity at the MOl Temple on 115th

Street. He pointed out that he could not describe ALLAH but that

he would y be abse to identify him if he say him egain.
rt further tated thet ALLA slwew

Wummees Cursner state: LLAH always appeared

the name of W. D. FARAD. Whe was shown a photegraph of

potiaeayLantiny alas tad or FS wegen” nt
aitiv as or F: uu ea!

% quite Reet was a photograph ef hia. advised that

ALLAH resided in the Holy ‘sity ef Mecea where he always had lived

and where he would continue to

appeared under

live fagever.
3BADS.

The Detreit Division: From the information reported
in this letter it would appear that the Michigan State Police
had eonfused Merrish Seiense Temple ef America with the
Nation of Islan# however, Detroit is requested te eontact the
Miehigan State Polies and determine the source of the information
appearing in their memorandua of June lo, 1942, which reflected

that W. D. FARD alias DAVIS EL, 9316 Oakland Avenue was Grand
Sheik of the Morrish Science Temple of America.

wZe
00958 ,,

3/


—

CG 100-33683

Los Angeles is requested to review Los Angeles -
Police Department record number 1648, and advise Chicago
of the circumstances surrounding the arrest of FARD for ADW
and disposition thereof. It is also requested that a photograph,
if available, be furnished.

San Francisco is requested to contact officials
at San Quentin Prison and review their file #4231), and advise
Chicago circumstances surrounding the incarceration of FARD,

and if available, furnish a photograph.

It is requested that all Offices receiving copies 1g
of this letter we furnished the requested information by /
letter. /

L


SS AA ALICE GF eros dE y 4
Walle Aue

Hye 2 Sob barn Aretye
‘leg

In 7

Maroan cyt >

Parig comphexron

ohra pu a |
buck Hay Le
Brown

Derroi?t Piewisi¢

Resided -|Taymore Hotel,
Wiletlerson, duro

POL A sbowd

ALL INFORMATION CONTANED “> /FLO

HEREIN IS Nees D
DAI -aAls

loo -26386-/(4-e

i
3

00975

449


oa ee

~ —rgpEEARD Pome Wo. 64

: ‘7
| ‘Office Me smorandum + 3 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT _
|

To (3 SAC, DETROIT (100-26 356%) Dats: December 11, 195
6 T ’ 7
i- ‘a
FROM = Ce] eon”
| wl
SUBJECT: WALLACE DON "ORD, was. bai ay
SM - NOI : |

Re Chicago letter to the Bureau, October 30, 1957.

25-367

Photo of WALLACE D. FARAD, in 1933, contained in 1-A
Serial 9 66

Report of SA June 1, 1942, at Washington,
ec Chicago, re W. +] TAMMED, was. ‘“ILLIE MOHAMMED stated
he was born near Sandersville, Ga., on August 5, 1891 and
nis slave name was WILLIE POOLE. WILLIE MOHAMMED advised
he met "ALLAH" or W. D, FORD in Detroit in 1931.

Serial 10 NC

"Report or a ‘Chiéago, June 13, -1942,°H
GULAN BOGANS, was. is report states that a teletype was

received from WFO on May 11, 192 stating that GULAN BOGANS
had been apprehended. The Chicago Temple of the moslems_ =:
was located at 10) East Sist Street. This organization (Hot
further described) was founded in 1931 at Detroit, Michigan,
by W. D. FARD. FARD was reported to have been arrested on
tnree occasions in Detroit for teaching Islam.

| Milwaukee teletype on May 19, 1942, reflect that the re

the Temple in Milwaukee reflect that W. D. FARD was report
to be the "ALLAH" of Islam and in all probability could be
located at 6026 Vernon Street, Chicago, Illinois. .



Hate Received.

Fre

AC
By &
0 ci
To Be Returned Yes ( )
No (mM
Description;
PE. [20 -26356-/p-
_ To meen cap

00073

ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN 1S UNCLASSIFI
DAT S



DE 100-5549

\ - .

| SYNOPSIS:

: Meeting of Twelve Tribes Committze at Tenpie 1, Detroit,
Mich., 10/24/59. Background : iaidimin

: DETAILS:

i Loe The report is dated October 2, 1959, -concerning a meet
_ of the Tweive Tribes Committee held at MUHAMMAD’s Temple #1,
' 11529 Linwood, Detroit, Mictigun, the same date.

The various tribes met and discussed ways and means
of raising funds, Inesmuck as aii groups intend to keep their
plans secret, no 4. $B tion Way age see ture of the

meeti

She reported she was one o
elievers and was in the temple during the days of
WALLACE FARD, the alleged Messizh,

hi

ae |. . She came to

Spe er ae roi tin | “fh continuous residence, “8ha. said.
mdicated she was tirst a follower of MARCUS GARVEY.
Affer He wes run out of Detroit, WALLACE FARD appeared, according
to her report. “She claims there was once 25,000 holy names on
the roll of the temple, ‘She said the first temple was located
on Hastings Street near Wilkins Street, For a while things went
well, she said, She indicated the turn came when the killing
occurred and the blame attributed to the Muslims.

so ES «2°: there were a few Muslins in Detroit
prior to the teacnings of WALLACE FARD.
Moorish Americans



ord

—

OFFICE MEMORANDUM UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

TO

: DIRECTOR, FBI

Date: /O 30/e7

FROM : SAC, CHICAG (00-33683)

SUBJECT: "CHANGED" cs)

WALLACE DON FORD, was.,

W. D. Ferd, "Allen", ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED

aes —
Mohammad /Ali, Fred Dodd, HEREIN 15 UNCLAS: So
Wali Farfad, Wallace Farad, Datele (At) 4 631
W. D. Fgraud, Wallei Ford, 2s 1GLla
oS G re

Wali Mohammad, F. Mohammad-Ali,
Farrad /Mohammad

SECURITY MATTER - NOI

00 - Chicago

Re Chicago letter to Director dated October 3,

1957, Los Angeles airtel to Director dated October 18, 1957.

The title of this case is being marked "Changed"

to list the subject's true name as WALLACE DON FORD and
to include all aliases by which he has been known. This
name and list of aliases was obtained from a review of the
Chicago files, however, documentation for each of the above
- allases is not being included in this letter.
f

The subject shall be referred to hereafter in

this letter as W. D. FARD,

NYE NAN

i) ~ 25-20607
=) aed!)

Bureau (REGISTERED)
Baltimore (REGISTERED)
Detroit (100-26356) (REGISTERED)
Portland (REGISTERED )

Richmond (Info) (REGISTERED)
Washington Field (REGISTERED)
Chicago

eR hot hee



. a | Y : .
Indices Search Sp eee
FD-160 (Rev; 6-31-56} . .

Date

“Spo: “CHIEF CLERK 10/20/57

Subject —_— YY Ww —
WALLACE DON FORD, was., W. D. Fard, "Allah", Mohammad Ali,

Allases Fred Dodd,* Aield Farrad; Wallace Farad, Ww. D. Feraud’ Wallei Ford,
Wali Mohammad’ F, Mohammad-Ali7— Farrad Mohamma@TM) 4, 2, (eBay a—

Address ‘Dicth Date Birthplace
[J exect Spelling Ce Jaain Criminal Case Files Only TC Trestttce to Locality of
JAM References LCriminal References Only
Main Subversive Case Files Only ia Main Subversive (If no Main, list ajl Subversive References)
[L_Isurversive References Only Main Criminal (If no Main, lust ell Criminal References)
File § Serial Number | “Remarks File 6 Serial Number Remarks

Whi aos argh lhg x. Lobe bag oe
yeetesbey Dep ep Daeanagee
LiL s+ aa Kone bone ve
OO - 2 Fe) Cam 4x rT aaa ieee Md WA -
r Bi a, yA -
2iden Apia pie wok -F 2222 bin yee
t- 2b 20l6 * FF U

ary el zo (Dies
620A _ -sveo-y ©)

L / te ‘ YU. até ‘a Cl yan Bhiiginck

Li fh- pe By~\| fog U7) fi IS /D 4b -l¥- aad
bint A 7 HE :

Lick tb aele
WS =. 76 2O

Requested by ri Bquad /Extension File No.

261 100-26356
Searc! Ln hw
(date) 7
onal de io CONTAINED
Consoliasted by Kon ee gus INFORMATIC sso

(date) aceelN 1S UY
HER

evi = "x
~My. if | II sy
hew Symbols

1+ Identical 2 = Not identifiable 00933 4 | 4

NI Not identical U ~ Unavallable reference



SAC, Chicago (100~33633) March 12, 195°

CONFIDENTIAL

wy

5364

Director, PAI (10563642) 22. /t sf
WALLACE DODD FORD Exempt OQ FS. ti STV a vee
SECURITY MATTER - NOI bate of Deusbsui- ication 10,47

Re Chicago letters 2-3-55 and 2-20-58 and
Detroit letter 1-31-53.

Re Chicago letter 2-28-55 requested Buresu

consider requesting investigation be canducted in this
matter in New Zealand. !

Classified

A review of ot's Bufile reflects when
interviewed by the California State parole authorities,
es #@ result of his arrest in Los Angeles in 1926, the
subject advised he was born 2-25-1671 eat Portland, Oregon,
where he resided until 1913. The only information in the
_poasession of the Bureau indicating subject was a
New Zealander is that furnished by subject's former
cumuon-law wife, Hazel Evelsizer, She admitted she knew
nothing about sudject's background and considered him a
New Zealender from hearsay. Further, she sdvised the
subject visited her either in the Summer of 1932 or 1933
at which time he made the remark he was returning to
New Zealand, In this connection it is noted the subject
was errested 5-25-33 at Detroit, Michigan, at which time
he was described es being of Arabian ancestry. After
leaving Detroit he wes alleged to have taught Islem in
Chicago until some time in 1934 when he disappeared,
Actually, it ie not definitely know if Ford or Dodd is
subject's true name. As yet, his birth has not been
verified. Therefore, the Bureau feels investigation in
_. Mew Zealand eneuld be neld in abeyance pending further

investigation .in matter, especially investigation
egees 4 by the P d division by re Chicage letter

Vaguely recelled
vende tao nan in the Negro eults
1 tae pega, ners
° Los Angeles (1 ) (Information)
mm a a
GONFIBRNTIAW 4 ea?



mq

[ek

bac

yeais report reflects that on September 9, 1942, one

/ -

00 3

CG 100-33683

the Negroes in Detroit. TAKAHASHI resided with MUHAMMAD
but left because he considered him a fraud. Page 60

fo
of this report reflects that ABDU, Dis deceased, \oa-  M04-
paying Joon sp—insene—asyluns, No source r vtmee
nformation. "

this

ee
The attention of the Detroit Division is further

directed to Detroit file number 190-6781 and to the report
oof s dated October 27, 1942, at
Detroit entitled "FOREIGN INSPIRED AGITATION AMONG THE

AMERICAN NEGROES IN THE DETROIT DIVISION", Page 5 of

‘OU, APPACANIS was interviewed at Detroit by Sis Qi;
ho ee time he stated
that

@ was National Executive Secretary of the organization
known as the "Development of Our Own", APPACANIS joined
the organization in about 1935, when it was under the
leadership of one MUHAMMAD, who died in about 1935. APPACANIS
stated that MUHAMMAD's wife, after his death, had told
him that MUHAMMAD had taken one SATAKATA TAKAHASHI into
his home when TAKAHASHI was ill at which time TAKAHASHI
learned the principles of MUHAMMAD's organization and
when he was well, approached’ MUHAMMAD, with the thought
in mind —~ ' that the two of them could utilize the
organization to make a great deal of money, MUHAMMAD's
wife related that MUHAMMAD refused this approach.

A copy of this;letter is being directed to the
Richmond Division-for information inasmich as investigation
is presently pending in that Division,

Request of Bureau
6 Bureau is requested to review their indices

and furnish Chicago with all information appearing concerning
the subject under the known aliases listed in the title

of this letter, In view of the implications furnished in

this letter that W. D. FARD may possibly have been instrumental

-h-

00027 377


goo THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

THE ORGANIZED CULT

Maladjusted migrant Negroes came into contact with the prophet
at the informal meetings in their own homes. With the change to
temple services the movement took on a more formal character. The
teaching became systematized. Membership was recognized and
“registered.” The movement itself became organized in a hierarchi-
cal manner. t

The prophet’s message was characterized by his ability to utilize
to the fuliest measure the environment of his followers. Their physi-
cal and economic difficulties alike were used to illustrate the new
teaching. Similarly, biblical prophecies and the teaching of Marcus
Garvey and Noble Drew Ali were cited as foretelling the coming of
the new prophet. As additional proofs of his message, the prophet
referred his followers to the writings of Judge Rutherford, of Je-
hovah’s Witnesses, to a miscellaneous collection of books on Free-
masonry and its symbolism, and to some well-known works, such
as Breasted’s Conquest of Civilization and Hendrik van Loon’s Story
of Mankind. Since many of these people were illiterate, it became
necessary to organize classes in English so that they might be able
to read “the proofs about themselves.’ They were also instructed
to purchase radios in order that they might listen to the addresses
of Judge Rutherford, Frank Norris, the Baptist fundamentalist,
and others. The prophet explained to the people that the recom
mended books and addresses were symbolic and could be understood
only through the interpretation which he himself would give at the
tempie services. The Koran itself was soon introduced as the most
authoritative of all texts for the study of the new faith. The prophet,
however, uded only the Arabic text which he translated and ex-
plained to the believers. Here too they were completely dependent
upon his interpretation.

To give more systematic character to his teaching, the prophet
himself prepared certain texts which served as authoritative manuals
of the religion and were memorized verbatim by all who became
members of the Nation of Islam.

The prophet’s teaching was in substance as follows:

black men in North America are not Negroes, but members of the lost
tribe df Shebazz, atolen by traders from the Holy City of Mecca 379 years ago.

00092 y,,


—_

SAC, DETROIT (100-5519) 1/14/58

BAC, CHICAGO (25-20607)

ALL INFORMATION conan Ss) fu.
stor HEREIN IS, UNC Sy
rom HERE NAS

ee | who has furnished reliable information
in the past and who is in close contact with ELIJAH MUHAMMAD,
the National Leader of the NOI, on January h, 1958, furnished
the following information: .

Informant advised that on J; 1958, an
individual who identified himself as from Detroit,
Mishigan, contacted CLARA MUHAMMAD (wife of ELIJAH). He
stated that he is an artist and the person who drew the
pieture “with the jewels and of Brother ELIJAH about ten
years ago". He stated, "I am a good Muslim and I have had
a whole lot of torment the last few days and something is
trying to kill me to keep me from helping him (possibly
ELIJAH), and told me that I was supposed to help the temple
raise him up because I am a good Musli# and I get messages
from W. D, MOHAMMED (ph) (W. D. FARD),

Detroit f£ sted to furnish identifying infor-
mation concerning oe

Although 1¢ appears tnhat| may be a psycopath,
Detroit is requested to conduct investigation to determine
if there is any basis for his atatement that he ia receiving
messages from W. D. MOHAMMED (W, D. FARD),

it] Ceres reply should be directed to Chicago file
‘]

1100-33683 (Ww. De FARD).

h = Detroit ( RM)"

a b: 200-559 (NOI) —
3 (Ww. D

{

7
1 = 100-6939 (ELIJAH MUHAMMAD)
1 = 100-93683 (W. D. FARD)

ee. ie

_ 00048 4X0


Ate Sita

—

peel

rs

VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS 895,

have severed contacts with the social organization of the community
in which they live, so that they have gained isolation almost as
effectively as did the members of agricultural religious communities
who migrated to new homes.

THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVEMENT

The prophet and founder of the cult made his first appearance
among the Negroes of Detroit as a peddler. Like other Arab and
Syrian peddlers, he went from house to house carrying his wares.

He came first to our houses selling raincoats, and then afterwards silks. In
this way he could get into the people's houses, for every woman was eager to
see the nice things the peddlars had for sale. He told us that the silks he carried
were the same kind that our people used in their home country and that he
had come from there. So we all asked him to tell us about our own country.
Hf we asked him to eat with us, he would eat whatever we had on the table, but
after the meal he began to talk: “Now don’t eat this food. It is poison for you.
The people in your own country do not eat it. Since they eat the right kind of
food they have the Lest health all the time. If you would live just ike the
people in vour home country, vou would never be sick any more.” So we all
wanted him to tell us more about ourselves and about ous home country and
about how we could be free from rheumatism, aches and pains.*

1

At the stranger's suggestion a group of people was invited to one
of the houses visited by him, so that on a particular evening they all
qight hear the story in which all alike were so much interested.
Accustomed as these people were to the cottage prayer meetings of
the Negro Methodist and Baptist churches they found no difficulty
in holding in/ormal meetings in their homes.

The former peddler now assumed the role of prophet. During
the early period of his ministry he used the Bible as his textbook,
since it was the only religious book with which the majority of his
hearers were familiar. With growing prestige over a constantly in-
creasing group, the prophet became bolder in bis denunciation of
the Caucasians and began to attack the teachings of the Bible in
such a way as to shock his hearers and bring them to an emotional
crisis. Brother Challar Shatrieff told of the crisis through which he
himself passed after hearing the prophet’s message:

+ Sister Denke Majied, formerly, Mrs. Lawrence Adams.

cee nmr gatite Te abdgg tent oT “Tata eT

00087

et

46


350 AWALLAGCE PAR)

TO: AC, Detroit DATE* 44/6/59

mo TS ALL INFORMATION CONT)

SUBJECT: NOL HERE TS LOS 1S Tas
IS + NOI

rmpormaneenb im. has furnished reliable tntorvation
n 8 past, protect .

ACTIVITY: October 2h, 1959

RECEIVED: October 27, 1959 B76

: RECEIVED BY: SA » personally

: voccrion: QUI /2-0 = 2025 G— Ad”
| a “Index

A Seriali ces

m 11/6/59

DC
4 FBI = DETROIT

00965 43%



seen rere ae satteene n°

896 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The very first time I went to a meeting I heard him say: ‘The Bible tells
you that the sun rises and sets. That is not so. The sun stands still. All your
lives you have been thinking that the earth never moved. Stand and look
toward the sun and know that it is the earth you are standing on which is
moving.” Up to that day I always went to the Baptist church. After I heard
that sermon from the prophet, I was tured around completely. When I went
home and heard that dinner was ready, 1 said: “1 don’t want to eat dinner.
I just want to go back to the meetings."” I wouldn’t eat my meals but I goes
back that night and I goes to every meeting after that. Just to think that the
sun above me never moved at all and that the earth we are on was doing all
the moving. That changed everything for me.

The report of the prophet’s message spread through the Negro
community. Many of those who heard him invited their friends
and relatives to come to the meetings, appealing either to their
curiosity or to deeper interests. The attendance at the house meet-
ings increased so much that the prophet was compelled to divide
his hearers into several groups, the members of each of which were
permitted to hear his message only at,the time assigned to their
group. The inconvenience was so obvious that the prophet’s fol-
lowers readily contributed money sufficient to hire a hall which was
fitted up as the Temple

THE PROPHET

Although the prophet lived in Detroit from July 4. 1930! until
June 30, 1934, virtually nothing is known about him, save that he
“came from the East” and that he “called” the Negroes of North
America to enter the Nation of Islam. His very name is uncertain
He was known usually as Mr. Wali Farrad or Mr. W. D. Fard,
though he used also the iollowing names: Professor Ford, Mr. Far-
rad Mohammed, Mr. F. Mohammed Ali. One of the few survivors
who heard his first addresses states that he himself said: “My name
is W. D. Fard and I came from the Holy City of Mecca. More about
myself I will not tell you yet, for the time has not yet come. I am
your brather. You have not yet seen me in my royal robes.''s Leg-
ends soon sprang up about this mysterious personality. Many mem-
bers of the cult hold that the prophet was born in Mecca, the son
of wealthy parents of the tribe of the Koreish, the tribe from which

«Brother Chaitar Sharrieff, formerly, Mr. Charles Peoples.

‘interview with Mrs. Carrie Peopies (Sister Carrie Mohammed).

{



RA SATANE stated tnat wren ne

first came to Detroit at the
sistence cf verend JOEN wT a
resiaed

» Of Tacoma, “asnington, ne

Wits 2.0L MOON am tor dpcroxine vely two > Weeks
NAKANL stated ne left the residence cf DUL NO
ne considered FONAMOLD a fraud. Poss0owing this
several colorea cinurenes ana frecuented tne YNCA's in this
city and at tne insistence of the colored people whom oe met
was instrumentel in orzanizine the DOOC, wnicn was incorporated
in tne State of vicninan. Le alleg zes this orsanization was
starteu in 194u altnoush turou.rvout trc invostiration no one
coulc vevember its existence before tne latter part of 1932
or tre ecsrly part of 1942, Le stated tac pode “aconme

3 t
inactive after ais Geportation to Japan in 193

‘yapen's vivine
ne states te

=ssion! was admittecly written
ne Gic not give this at any of
mievines of eiuner organ.zation sponsored pv Poe
speech 'ire Sinking Ship an the Life Soat', was written by

M } was read at several of the meetings
but accordins = was too conblicated for the people

to understana. Cras Lb mentioned hereinbefore is
alleged to be decea sed at resent time, naving died in

an insange nospitel."

vane Toresoins paracrath was set out in tne resort between
two paragraphs setting out invormation furnisried cy

pA

curing an interview. it is not xnown wretner or not vA. Als
ned toe invormption re tne ceath OT .3.ll hCrnre nD.
a cee
100-15357-7 . ’

On August 9, 1957,
of vetroit in ssion, 3115 ta
a) eS a
¥ ana nas Since April 27,
her nusband

since March 2
opinion

tnat
has been deceased
further advised thet in nis

00044 4907


sme

Ve
OFFICE MEMORANDUM * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

TO : DIRECTOR, FBI (100- ) DATE: 70 -3-57
FROM 2 .SAC, CHICAGO (100-33683)
SUBJECT ¢

W, D. FARD ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED
SECURITY MATTER - NOT wee US sa CLASSE
0.0." Chicago parebe= 2A-ASi

Reference San Francisco letter to Bureau 8/27/57.

For the information of the Honolulu, Portlarid, and
Washington Field Offices, as a result of a recent inspection
of the Chicago Office, it was suggested that a concerted effort
be made to determine the whereabouts of W. D. FARD, reportedly
the founder of the Nation of Islam (NOI).

According to speeches and writings of ELIJAH MUHAMMAD,
the National leader of the NOI, "ALLAH" came to Detroit,

Michigan, from Mec the person of one W. D. FARD,
who taught him, MMAD, for three years concerning TsIam.

MUBAMMAD claing that FARD taught Istam in Detroit, Michigen,
at which time he was asked to leave roit

by the_De rere Police Department ard subsequently came to

Chicago, Illinois, FAND taught Islam until 193), at which time

he disappeared and nothing, has been heard from him since
that time. MUHAMMAD has also indicated that FARD returned
to Mecca,

2 Bureau (REGISTERED)

Detroit (100-26356) (REGISTERED)
Honolulu (AIR MAIL-REGISTERED)

Los Angeles (105-805) (REGISTERED)
Portland (REGISTERED)

Sen Francisco (100-3165) (REGISTERED)
Washington Field Office (REGISTERED)

Chicago

rT ors Mice

Bron enhyy



STANDARD Fon No. 64

Office Memorandum * UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

TO + SAC, Detroit (100-26356) DATE: 1/16/58

FROM

subject: WALLACE DON FORD, WAS.,
SM - NOI

Re Chicago letter to the Director 10/30/57.

Detroit, file 100-6603-140 which 4
5/16/43, at Detroit entitle TAS. y
ET AL, INTERNAL SECURITY - J; CUSTODIAL DETEN' A A ER

THROW OR DESTRUCTION GOVERNMENT. Page 4 of this report reflects
that SA interviewe
Detroat, Michigan on 1/6/43, At that tim

he MSTA Temple at Pontiac, Michigan. According a

several years previously an individual by the name of FARD (phonetic)
whom he believed to be an Algerian, was instrumental in having many
members leave the MSTA and affiliate themselves with a group which

he refers to as 'MOOSELEMS!,

LEAD AT PONTIAC, MICHIGAN: Will attempt to locate interview
who as above reported in 1943 wa of the
Fat Pontiac, Michigan, terview as to fa one FARD

i : ni’
led a sthism from the MSTA. Show @@iy tached photograph of W.D.
FARD, Detroit PD #45138 to determine if this is the that led

the schism from the MSTA. Gnee aa Cs me
For the infarthat’on of the Resident Agency at Pontiac:

win” to this date at Detroit has failed to locate

cTTo RONAN >
AULIUN REVUES ied: f
a

° CONTA t
Assign LEAD at Pontiac. Ae SSIGEO
BY,

1



reeords at Vacaville, California, and consequently no
photograph of the Subject is available at the present
time. Efforts will be made in the immediate future to
obtain a photograph of FORD from the State Record's
Office at Vacaville, California, when these records
are filed and made available,

SBAD
SAN FRANCISCO:
AT VACAVILLE, CALIFORNIA

W111 obtain a photograph of WALLIE 5. FORD,
San Quentin number 4231).

00016

38a


Date
TO: CHIEF CLERK
Subject
Altai =
Address Birth Date | Birthpiace

|

Exact Spelling

Main Subversive Case Files Only

Subversive References Only

(7 Jmain criminal Case Files Only

Criminal Reference:

Main Subversive (If

= Only

Main Crimina) (If no Main, Mat all Criminal References)

(7 Trestict to Locality of

no Main, Mat all Subversive References)

Fite & Serial Number Remarks File 6 Serial Number Remarks
- 7
ae Yl alhittutac
LoD LEVINS ZL
ble Apad place |e s Ayal Zz
oer = Pp gn bh
yy 7 “Ly
LOL ane Ae es penal .
eee Oe
i
f
quad Extension File No.
‘
‘Searched by i
(date)
Consolidated by
(date)
Reviewed by
(date)

File Review Symbole

2 - Not identifiable
Unavailable reference

Identical

Not fdentical u-

00036

Alb


|

‘Director, FBI Oetober 22, 1957
- vp” BAC, Detroit (100-26356) ~
We De PARD, was. AL FoRMATON CONTAINED.
sh wor” EN inca iain
f ° 00: =GHIGAGO
Re Ban Franciseo letter to Burean instant captian as caption 5S.
Fenn Bryer fe and Los Angeles airtel te Bureau instant eaption f

/
Referenced Ban Prancisco letter sets out a lead
for the Detroit Office te locate a file at the Detroit
Felice Department on captioned individual under Detroit |

FD Wo. 5138 in an attempt to. obtain a Fesent Pas tegraph

of the Subject.

AR Por the infersa’ he Bureau and San Francisco,
1957, EX rn ee fron Patrolman
- Detroit artment, that Subject as
> Detroit PD No. 45138, was arrested 25,
1933, by that department fer investigation at the Frayzore
Hotel as Ghief of the Voodoos. PARAD was then described
aa age 33, 5°8", 135 lbe., Arabian ancestry, eesuration

Uisted ag minister. Ko disposition appeared and Ro

other details were availebdle from the pelice department
filles. A photograph of the Subject was ebtained fron the
Detroit Pelice Department and wag forwarded te the Chicago
Office, it being nated that the phetograph was ene taken
of the Subject 19336

bo bea s i -

Ale aaa Bid mathe ead -web- out “tn referenced San we
. Frenelese letter te locate the above-mentioned file will

not be fone as nce ee

aaa ' en, | |

dite

¥

0b = 926 866 -O
‘Searched



Lc

LA 105-4805

Los Angeles; race white, age 2€, born in New Zealand, occupation
restaurant keeper; mother - maiden name HAZEL BARTON, 347 South
Flower Street, race white, age 25, born state of New York,
occupation - none, The birth was certified on 9/2/20 by HARLEY
E. MacDONALD, physician, with offices at 1521 South Hope Street,
Los Angeles,

Attached to the above birth certificate was an amend-
ment to the certificate dated 7/10/40, filed by HAZEL FORD
EVELSIZER of 4776 Hub Street, Los Angeles, mother of WALLACE
DODD FORD, who was born in the city of Los Angeles on the first
day of September, 1920, as stated in the certificate of birth
filed by HARLEY E, MacDONALD on 9/2/20. The amended birth
certificate changed the original certificate to read: Full
name of child, WALLACE MAX FORD; occupation of mother changed to
read housewife. Affiant of the above amended birth certificate
was HAZEL FORD EVELSIZER of 4776 Hub Street. It was sworn to
on 7/1/40, CLIFFORD EVELSIZER of 4776 Hub Street also sub-
scrived to the above information on 7/1/40 before notary public
in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California.

Ox sx caused a check to be made on
10/15/57 of the Los Angeles County Marriage Records for the
period 1/1/12 through 12/31/26, and of the Los Angeles County
Superior Court Divorce Records for 1/1/14 to 12/31/30, and
no record of marriage or divorce was found between FARD or

FORD and HAZEL BARTON, HAZEL FORD or HAZEL OSBORNE,

Mrs. CLIFFORD EVELSIZER, who stated that her full
name was HAZEL BARTON FORD OSBORNE EVELSIZER, was interysewed
at her residence, 4776 Hub Street, Los Angeles, by SA

—: October 37, 1957, at which time she furnished the
following information:

f

Her maiden name was HAZEL PARTON. In 1919 in Los
Angeles she met WALLACE FORD who was operating a cafe at
347 South Flower Street, Los Angeles. HAZEL began living with
him and their residence was an apartment above the cafe. A
male child was born on 9/1/20 in Los Angeles and was named
WALLACE DODD FORD, In 1921 or 1922 she moved out on FORD and
took the child with her, She continued to live in Los Angeles.
Her second "husbénd" was OSBORNE who lived six months and died,
and then she met’ her third "husband," CLIFFORD EVELSIZER, with
whom she is still living. CLIFFORD EVELSIZER is a retired
employee of the city of Los Angeles.

-2-

00918 390


BAC, Chicago (100-33683) August 29, 1957
jie Detroit (2100-26356)

W. D. FARD, wa, Wallace Parad
au - NOX

Reference is made to your letter of duly 31, 1957,
with respect to captioned Subject.

review of Detroit Indices reflects that Chicago
has received all intelligence available in the files ef this
Office, a

Investigative Clerk’ August 9
1957, ascertained from Patro Detroit Police
Deparment, that Subject as W. Olt Police
Department #i 5138, was arrested Hay 25, 1933, by that
Department Foe Investigation at the Fraymore Hotel as chief

of the Voodoos. FARAD was then deseribed as 8ge 334 5' 6",
135 lbs,, Arabian ancestry, minister, Wo disposition

and no other details were available from the Detroit

ep
- pertee De it files. A photograph ef Subject obtained
forwarded as

from the roit Police Department is being f
an ane losure herewith.
a —s (ss

vVAGTE

Detroit SAD,
Cle hat the f: 9, 29
reflect any en identirsadle with instant

a
&: Giteags (inel-2} (nzarsTERED) ;

Wale =.

{ . Soerched
— |

00007 3797
[60 “RUGS 6-F


DEPT. OF POLICE, Detroit, Michigan & Bureau cf Identificatior
Crime
Date of Arrest Time Prect. No. -
Officers .
Where Arrested Residence ‘
Associates
aT Age Hair
{
Heieht _. Color of Eye
Weight Complezion
Nationality, _ Teeth
Born Upper
Build _ . |__ Lower
Occupation Chin
DETAILS OF ARREST
909079
POSS



—

CG 100-33683

in the founding of the organization known as the "Development

of Our Own", the Bureau is requested to consider having our

Attache at Tokyo determine if NAKANE, who was reported za
deported from the United States to Japan, is still alive /(06-/53 2-7
and if so to interview him for-any information he might

possess concerning W. D. FARD.

Undeveloped Leads -
The Baltimore Division

Will check the files of G-2 for all information
appearing concerning W. D. FARD and especially for any
information appearing concerning his founding of the NOI
and the "Development of Our Own", If the source of the
information appearing in the G-2 report dated December 30,
1950 at Detroit, mentioned above, is shown, should determine
if that source is available and be contacted by the Bureau,

The Detroit Division

Will attempt to_locate
who was reported in 1943 to have been
MSTA Temple at Pontiac, Michigan. I
located, he should be thoroughly interviewed for all information
he possesses concerning the fact that one FARD led a schism
from the MSTA. He’ should be shown a photograph of W. D. FARD,
Detroit Police Department Number 15138, to determine if
this is the person that led the schism from the MSTA.

=e)

00028


CG 100-33683

HONOLULU_OFFICE

AT_ HONOLULU, HAWAII

Will determine if there is,'or ever was, a
Ford Bottling Works located in Honolulu. If so, will
determine who the present officers of this company are,
and will interview them concerning ZARED and BEATRICE
FORD and concerning WALLIE D. FORD. It should be deter-
mined whether the FORDs or any of their relatives ere
still alive and if any information concerning WALLIE D.
FORD is known. If any relatives or if WALLIE D. FORD
are located, consideration should be given to interviewing
them to determine if WALLIE D. FORD is identical with W. D.
FARD, and, if so, for any information concerning his
founding of the NOI. If Honolulu is not in possession of
information concerning W. D. FARD's founding of the NOI
and such information is necessary to conduct an interview,
Honolulu should request same from Chicago.

Credit and criminal checks concerning ZARED
FORD, BEATRICE FORD and WALLIE D. FORD should be conducted,
if deemed advisable,
LOS ANGELES OFFICE

AT LOS ANGELES , CALIFORNIA

It is noted that records at San Quentin Prison
reflect that WALLIE D, FORD had been married to HAZEL E.
OSBORN at Los Angeles, possibly around 1920, and that they
were divorced sometime prior to 1926, It is also noted that
FORD was the father of one child which would have been five
years of age in 1926,

Los; Angeles should check marriage records to
attempt to locate a record of the marriage of WALLIE D. FORD

-h-

oo ene OOON4
"386


Lov-6701-ll-2 .
in Detroit between 1931 to 193! tnere were approximately 7
members of an organization called "The tiation of Islan, a
pseudo-relicious order in which the members of the above

. organization purported to be allied with tne Monaniedan relicion.
Tais organization was establisned by \. D. cD.

pion

anc

R Negro wes apprenencied =
to register under the JeLective Service ct.
se was "Susilim” vnc ais relipion forhic resi

“AP DOSE.
yen cnestionec

sévisod
lecal le

00039 495


VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS gor

The prophet came to America to find and to bring back to life his long lost
brethren, from whom the Caucasians had taken away their language, their
mation and their religion. Here in America they were living other than them-
eeives. They must learn that they are the original people, noblest of the nations
‘of the earth. The Caucasians are the colored people, since they have lost their
original color. The original people must regain their religion, which is Islam,
their language, which is Arabic, and their culture, which is astronomy and higher
mathematics, especially calculus. They must live according to the law of
Allsh, avoiding all meat of “poison animals,” hogs, ducks, geese, possums and
cattish, They must give up completely the use of stimulants, especially liquor.
Uhey must clean themselves up—both their bodies and their houses. If in this
way they obeyed Allah, he would take them back to the Paradise from which
they had been stolen—the Holy City of Mecca.””

Those who accepted this teaching became new men and women,
or, as the prophet expressed it, were restored to their original and
true selves. As a mark of this restoration the prophet gave them
back their original names which the Caucasians had taken from
them. Since a sum of money-~usually ten dollars— was required to
secure the original name, this work must have been extremely profit-
able ta the prophet. Each new believer wrote g separate letter asking
tos bis original name, which the prophet was supposed to know
through the Spirit of Allah within him. Examples of the changed
ames are:

Joseph Shepard became Jam Sharrieff

Lindsey Garrett became Hazziez Allah

Henry Wells became Anwar Pasha

Witiam Blunt became Sharvieff Allah,
Apparent mistakes sometimes occurred when three or more brothers
applied for new names, neglecting to mention in their letters that
they were blood brothers. Thus, despite his omniscience, the prophet
once gave the summames of Sharrieff, Karriem, and Mohammed to
the three Poole brothers. The prophet explained this seeming mis-
take as due to his divine knowledge of the different paternity of the
three brothers. ‘

+7 Compiled from the three texts issued by the prophet: Teaching for the Lost Found
Nation of Islam in a Mathematical Way. consisting of 34 problems. This text was
printed, but given only to registered Moslems. Secret Ritual of the Nation of Islam,
Pact L, in 14 secs., ibid., Part I, in 40 secs.

The Secret Ritual was, and still is, transmitted orally. The entire teaching is sym-
bolic and can be understood oniy by the initiates,



CG 100-33683

and HAZEL E, OSBORNE, possibly around the year 1920.

Los Angeles should also check birth records for the child
born to FORD and should check divorce records for
information concerning FORD's divorce from OSBORNE. From
these records all background information concerning FORD,
OSBORNE and the child should be obtained. Logical
investigation should then be conducted to locate OSBORNE
and the child, If they can be located, they should be
interviewed for all information they can furnish about
WALLIE D. FORD.

PORTLAND OFFICE

AT PORTLAND, OREGON

If available, will attempt to locate a birth record
for WALLIE D. FORD reportedly born February 25, 1891, at
Portland, Oregon.

If available, will review Public School records
for any information identifiablé with FORD and report
information contained therein.

‘

If deemed logical, will conduct credit and criminal
checks concerning FORD and his father and mother, ZARED and
BEATRICE FORD. ~

SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE

AT_SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA

Will check the subject's record at San Quentin
Prison to determine if there were any addresses listed for
HAZEL E, OSBORNE, MARY BROWN, PEARL MORTON, all of Los
Angeles, California, who corresponded with FORD during his
incarceration at San Quentin,

on 00015
3

$7


VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS 907

Temple People raise to the rank of prophet the former Minister of
Islam, Rlijah Mohammed," now a resident of Chicago. He is always
referred to reverently as the ‘Prophet Elijah in Chicago.” A former
assistant of his, the Haitian Theodore Rozier, has become the
minister and director of the new movement.

Thus continues the chain of these movements, each running
through its cycle of growth and decay and all of them interwoven
as strands of a web. Fundamental to them all is the effort of migrant
Negroes to secure a status satisfactory to themselves after their
escape from the old southern accommodation of white and Negro.

University oF MicHican

* His slave name was Elijah Poole. The prophet conferred on him the name of
“flijah Karriem." The Temple People claim that Mr. W. D. Fard himself changed this
name later to “Elijah Mohammed” to indicate the higher status to which the minister
was called. Moslems opposed to the Temple People deny this and continue to speak of
“Brother Elijah Karriem,”

* One of the newer converts, Brother Theodore Rozier, admits that he never saw
the “Savior,” Mr. W. D. Fard, and that he learned of Islam solely through his contact
with the "Prophet Elijah Mohammed.” (Opponents of the Temple People contend that
Brother Theodore Rozier is not qualified 10 be minister of Islam since he received the
revelation “second-hand.”



a

22¢ Trooper

SAC, D8TROIT (100-5549) é February 17, 1940
>

ALL INFORMATION cour
HEREIN IS UNCLASS EN

NOI DATty DAS

Is - NOI é&
~
On February 11, 1960, Sergeant SIS,
MSP, East Lansing, ML lephonica ed that New

York State Troopers and were in
contact with Michigan State ice @ state prison
officials in regard to captioned organization. The troopers
had been sent to Illinois and Michigan to discuss police
problems in handling members of NOI , particularly while
confined to state prisons. They were also interested in
information which would assist the New York Attomey General's
Office in handling petitions to have their "religion"
recognized by the State in order that they could hold meetings
within the New York state prisons.

MED consactes the "riter
on February 12, I%60, and reiterated the above information.

They also statei that, if possible, they would like to have
any information which would establish the whereabouts of
4.0. FARD, the originator of the NOI. The troopers advised
that they realized the confidential nature of our records
but requested any public source information or other items
that would be of assistance to them. They were furnished
with the FBI number and Detroit Police Department number of
FARD imasmuch as the initial check with the Detroit Police
Department had failed to reveal a police record for FAR).

It is to be noted that extensive inwestigation has
been previously gonducted without establishing the whereabouts
of FARD at my time since he left Detroit in 193k.

Above for information only.
- 1000-26356 (W.D. FARD)

> 2b

69st



00074

447


LA 105-4805

HAZEL recalled that in 1919 when she first moved in
with FORD he mentioned that he had been married, possibly in
Oregon; that there had been a bitter separation and FORD
had been unable to obtain a divorce, and that was one of the
reasons she and FORD were never married. FORD had a boy of
this marriage, HAZEL thinks the boy was born sometime prior
to 1914 or 1915, possibly in Oregon.

In 1926 FORD, while operating his cafe, was
associated with a man who was half Chinese, and the two of
them sold narcotics for which they were arrested and both
sent to prison. The other person was paroled, but FORD told
HAZEL that he would serve out his time and did not want a
parole as he wanted to be a free man when he was released.

After his release from San Quentin on 5/27/29 FORD
went to Chicago and was in Chicago and Detroit from then until
1932 when FORD visited HAZEL, her present husband and the
child in Los Angeles. FORD was driving a 1929 Model A Ford
coupe with California license plates. FORD had white sheets
over the seats of the car, He left the sheets with HAZEL,
saying that he would not need them any more as he was going
back to New Zealand. FORD gave no explanation as to why he
used white sheets. On this singular visit FORD advised HAZEL
and her family that he was only eating one meal a day and
that this was his new way of life. HAZEL advised that FORD
was wearing his hair long and full in the back. Previously
he had always had a short conventional haircut.

FORD said that since his release from San Quentin
he had been selling doctors' supplies. During this visit in
1932 FORD gave HAZEL a small box containing self-+threading
needles, This box was postmarked 4/28/30 from the Marcellene
Chemical Company, 1900 West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia,
and was addressed to W. D.’ FORD, General Delivery, Chicago,
Illinois. HAZEL gave the box to the interviewing agent and
the same is being retained in the Los Angeles file in instant
case,

HAZEL advised she corresponded with FORD from 1929
to 1932, All of her letters were addressed to him care of
General Delivery;in either Chicago, Illinois or Detroit, Michigan.
She corresponded with FORD on an average of once or twice a
year. She tried to get FORD to send money for the support of
the child, HAZEL recalls that when FORD did write he said he
had no money to send.

-he
000290
392


CG 100-33683

For the information of Baltimore, the following
information concerning the Nation of Islam is being supplied:

According to the speeches andiwritings of ELIJAH
MUHAMMAD, the National leader of the NOT, "Allah" came to
Detroit, Michigan, from Mecca in 1930, in the person of
one W. D. FARD, and taught MUHAMMAD for three years concerning
Islam, MUHAMMAD claims that FARD taught Islam in Detroit,
Michigan from 1930 until 1933, at which time he was asked
to leave Detroit by the Detroit Police Department. He
subsequently came to Chicago, Illinois, where he taught
Islam until 1934, at which time he disappeared and nothing
has been heard from him since, MUHAMMAD has indicated that
FARD returned to Mecca. In the current philosophy of the
NOI, W. D. FARD is referred to as the founder of the NOI
and the Savior of the "so-called" Negro.

The following information was obtained from a =<
review of Chicago files:

The Moorish Science Temple of America (MSTA)
flourished in Chicago in the late 1920's under the seas
of a Negro calling himself NOBLE DREW ALI. During World C
War II the Bureau conducted extensive investigation of
the MSTA because of the possibilities of Japanese Anfluence ,
in that organization.

ee
The attention of 4 on is atewn aN
to the report of SA a March 16, 1943,

at Detroit entitled wase, ET AL;

INTERNAL SECURITY - EDITION ;

OVERTHROW OR DESTRUCTION OF THE, GOVERNMENT", Detroit file
Ss



DIRECTOR, PBI i Jeruary Si, 1958

. i. . oo
, : THON CONTAINED
ty es mae ee a
_ 08 Chicege : . . h

Detrett leveer te Director, samaary 17s toss Mo Me oat

Kiforte to lecate GEMEED 0+ Freatian, Hichigan,
were unsuscessinl,

reooris of soe tientitleation bubves *Poline Dope

Depart
ment he the ecoperation ef 0 th tive
88« the sane date, ne record the Thentitiee-

p Bareas ef the Cakland County Sheritt's (ffies. Dunklass by
Also, om that da’ or
the Rapa’ tthe Fontan Orettt Senet MOPEPIE no
/: Se ie Pentiae
if 9) ° re _

vi Detvelt, Local velephene end
fated bo refieet tus piesent smarenbouse



Bs Da

VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS ges

ests and talk violently of the war of the C.1.0. against Allah, and
the need of removing from the Planet Earth all Union organizers.
While this trend seems very pronounced at present, it is unlikely
to leave any permanent impression upon the movement, and still
less likely to detach from the Nation of Islam any of its members.

ADJUSTMENTS OF CULT MEMBERS IN THE
URBAN ECONOMY

At the time of their first contact with the prophet, practically all
the members of the cult were recipients of public welfare, unem-
ployed, and living in the most deteriorated areas of Negro settle-
ment in Detroit. At the present time” there is no known case of un-
employment among these people. Practically all of them are work-
ing in the automobile and other factories. They live no longer in
the slum section around Hastings Street, but rent homes in some
of the best economic areas in which Negroes have settled. They
tend to purchase more expensive furniture, automobiles, and clothes
than do their neighbors even in these areas of higher-class residence.
This improved economic adjustment is due, doubtless, partly to post-
depression conditions of employment and to the increased hiring
of Negroes as a result of recent labor troubles. The members of the
cult, however, claim that they have secured work much more easily
than have other Negroes. They offer thanks to Allah for this evi-
dence of his favor. To some extent their claim appears to be justi-
fied, though no statistical study has yet been made of comparative
unemployment of cult members and other recent Negro migrants.
Through the Nation of Istam they have gained a new status and a
new confidence in themselves. When they meet Caucasians, they
Tejoice in the knowledge that they themselves are superiors meeting
members of an inferior race. Employment managers tend to accept
more readily pérsons whose appearance gives evidence of clean liv-
ing and self-reliance, than those who show the marks of debauchery,

defeat, and despair.
The ascetic manner of life of the Moslems also has contributed to
their economic improvement. No moncy whatever is spent by them
on liquor, tobacco, or pork. Their one meal of the day consists al-

Written io August, 1937



The 1957 Phone Directory lists the following and it is not
known if this is identical with the in whom ~
you are interested.

Lr.

RE: EEUL

MED
100-5519-29

Tris serial is cate stamped Cetober 21, 1912.

ACNLD, Abdul (deceased)
Detroit, Tdenisan CO Ts

{a) OLD card, FARPRAD, Wali, Sr. (witn eliases),
10/12/23

ved 9/23/N2.

(6) GND card, Setion of Islan,

jating sort: “Subject, necro, a “first officer" of
Detroit MWomple" of Xation of Islam, nerro-monammedan
cult, was host of Satekata Taahashi, arent of Black
“pagon Society of Japan, at timc of latter's arrival in
Tetroit in early 1930s. In 1939 T SHI advised FBI
that he came to Detroit at instance of Rev. John WHITz,
colorec minister in Tacoma, “ashington, wno nad received
communications from Suvjeet, enecourarine "some Japanese
in that verritory to proceed te Setreit to work among the
colored people." i «I said that ne left Gubject's
home after two week “stay because he thoucht him a "fraud."
Tnereafter, according to PARANA » he founded an organ-
ization really for the bdst intere St of negroes, called
Development of Our Own. Meanwhile it is reported that
Subject is oppesition to the doctrine of the Nation of
Islam (re?. ») that Negro-ohammedans did not belong io
America anc that they were citizens of the Holy City of
Mecca, with alleciance only to the Mosiem flag, seceded
and “organized a small Moslem group of nis own in whicn
the cardinal principle was loyalty to tae Constitution of
the United States anc to its flac." Sub ject aied prior

C. to 1939, alleredly in an insange hospical."

-7 +

00043 409


LA 105-4805

HAZEL advised that FORD never had any unusual
political, economic, social or religious beliefs, and that
he had never indicated any interest in such things.

Mr. and Mrs. EVELSIZER are leaving Los Angeles on
10/21/57 for a winter vacation in trailer parks in Florida.
They will return to Los Angeles on 4/15/58. In the interim
they can be contacted through P.O. Box 42-554, York Station,
Los Angeles 42, California. :

Enclosed with this airtel to Richmond is a copy of
relet, :

LEADS
Copies of this airtel are being furnished to Detroit,
Honolulu and San Francisco for their information in view of
the pending investigation in those offices.
PORTLAND OFFICE

Will check marriage records in an effort to locate
a marriage for FORD sometime prior to 1914 or 1915.

RICHMOND OFFICE

WAL1 contact ti.e Marcellene Chemical Company, 1900
West Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, and obtain any background
information they may uave concerning the subject, noting that
they were in contact with him on 4/28/30 and that he was
allegedly selling doctors' supplies during that period.

WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE /

Will check INS records for any information concerning
the subject, noting that he allegedly came from New Zealand.

" RUC,

00024
393


is deceased.

Dstt:

At Dearborn, ijehisen:

polative to tne inforna
Mted dune 16, 1942, I
of report be
nis recollection ina
Detroit Office.

cllow, inte val
appeering in th

copy

Ten 00064

— fe en 499


DIRECTOR, FBI 8/21/87 6

SAC, SAN CISCO (10043165) ) e
ATION CONTAINEL
. We De nib A TR UNCLASST
SM - NOL paleo 21 = Geo
00: CHICAGO 351

Re Chicage letter to Detroit dated July 31, 1957.

Zz ‘On August 15, 57, Records Section,
20 San Quentin State P an ‘uentin, California, made avail=
able to information pertaining to WALLIE
D. FORD, San Ouentin r 4231. :

These redords reflect that under the name of WALLIE De

FORD, indicnted as the true name of the Subject, he was received
at San Quentin Penitentiary June 12, 1926, from Los Angeles
County, California, where he had been convicted for a violation
of the State Poigen Act. These records further indicated that
FORD was born at Portland, Ore:on, on February 25, 1891, his
father bein. ZARED FORD, mother, BaATRICE FORD, both of whom
were born in Hawaii, ZARED FORD's ocoupation was listed as
operator of the Ford Bottling Works, Honolulu, Hawaii. The
followin. description was noted relative to WALLIE D. FORD:

Race White

Ocoupation Coo!

Beizht 3 $.3/0"

Wei:ht 33 pounds

Complexion Dari

Eyes _ Maroon

Bair . Black

Marital Stetus Mexried

Children ; One, ace 5 + 1926.

sehen Edueation Publis schools, Pertiand,

; COR.

Former address | 4401 Mount Eazle Place,

Les Angeles, Califor:ia,

When interviewed by California State Parole Authorities
. eoncerning his past, the records indicate that FORD furnished
information as follows: .

: {
2 = Bureaw (REG)
lL © Chieage (1600-33653) (REG)
Oz Detroit (Info) (REC)
= Les Angeles (Info) (REG)
2 = San Pranoiseo (100-3165)
(1 = 2529163)

Qe

x!


~

wien

VOODOO CULT AMONG NEGRO MIGRANTS 903

SCHISMS AND PERSECUTIONS
Inherent apparently in the prophet’s message were certain teach-
ings which, from the very beginning of the movement, led to schisms
within the membership of the cult and to persecution from without.
The prophet proclaimed that his followers did not belong to Amer-
ica. They were citizens of the Holy City of Mecca and their only
allegiance was to the Moslem flag. Their children must be removed
from the public schools and sent to the University of Islam. In
revolt against this position, Abdul Mohammed, one of the first offi-
cers in the temple, seceded and organized a small Moslem group of
his own in which the cardinal principle was loyalty to the Constitu-
tion of the United States and to its flag- The attendance officers
of the Board of Education and the police attempted to break up
the University of Islam and to compel the children to return to the
public schools. This led to a severe riot in which the members of the
cult tried to storm the police headquarters. Fearful of race riots,
the judges of the recorder’s court released with suspended sentence
almost all of the rioters. Since that time the University of Islam
has continued its classes
More serious difficulties arose over the question of human sacri-
tice The prophets position on this question was never made clear.
He taught explicitly that it was the duty of every Moslem to offer
as sacrifice four Caucasian 4evils in order that he might return to
his home in Mecca.'* The prophet also taught that Allah demands
obedience unto death from his followers. No Moslem dare refuse
the sacrifice of himself or of his loved ones if Allah requires it. On
November 21, 1932, the people of Detroit became conscious of the
presence of the cult through its first widely publicized human sacri-
fice. A prominent member, Robert Harris, renamed Robert Kar-
riem, erected an altat in his home at 1249 Dubois Street and invited
~ his roomer, John J. Smith, to present himself as a human sacrifice,
so that he might become, as Harris said, “the Saviour of the world.”
Smith agreed, and’ at the hour appointed for the sacrifice—g:00
a.M.—Harris plunged a knife into Smith’s heart. After constant re-
currences of rumors of human sacrifice or attempted sacrifice, on
January 20, 1937, Verlene McQueen, renamed Verlene Ali, brother

° Fard, Secret Rituc!, Part 1.2. fo.

{
1



“Indices Search Sip
FD-160 (Rev, 6-11-56y

Date
TO: CHIEF CLERK
Subject
Aliases
Address Birth Date [Birthplace

Te Jexcct spetiing

All References

Cc]

Main Subversive Case Files Only

Subversive References Only

[77 Jaain Criminal Cane Fites Only

Criminal References Only

Main Criminal (If no Matn, list all Criminal References)

[7 Treatrtet to Lecatity of

Main Subversive (If no Main, list ali Subversive References)

File & Serial Number

Remarks

File & Serial Number

Remarks

=

-

Ge RESTS

fod Linh
* L

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Lhe,

CGH STV GN 0 c

Me RES TE

Sue /é ier 7
Li Lhacwv A
hich ns at het : Lon 5b 2 TRY tL

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2 (Wt)

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22.29:6(ND)

£58 (ND

{00-565 0:
O42 6S" -.50

~S&3 - is,
61-2194 2-2-7 0
wot Ps 3 (NE,
Requested by Bauad [Extension File No.

f

Searched by

(date}
Consolidated by

(date)
Reviewed by

(date)

File Review Symbols

I + Identical
NI - Not identical

2 - Not identifiable
U - Unavailable reference

00034 4/4


STANOARD FonM no, 64

Office Memorandum * Ul. ° ED STATES GOVERNMENT

To + SAC, D@troit (100-26376 DATE: 12/18/57
~ “
SUBJECT: = ©. FARD

SM-NOI

(OO: Chicaso)

Reference is made to Chicago letter to the Birector dated
10/3/57 and captioned as above, as well as Detroit letter to the
Director in the same matter of 11/29/57,

It is noted that the latter sets out UNDS’ELOPED LEADS in
this Office at Flint and Detroit, ijichigan. A review of the
FADS at Detroit appear to be old addresses and former contacts
of some 25 years ago, while it is noted that the LEAD to contact
SROMATY DOANE SEPYON at 212 Chandler Street, Flint, 3, Michigan
was current as recently as March 19546 from the University of
Michigan Alunni Records.

Therefore, it is recommended that a LZAD CiRD be prepared
to locate and interview RENYON at Flint, Michigan in accordance
with the reference letter from the Director. In the interim, no
effort will be made at Detroit to locate BENYON at the old addresses,
UNDEVELOP::D LAADS
THE DsTROIT OFFICE, At Flint, Michigan: Will forward to

Resident Agency covering serials 5 and 10 of captioned file
for appropriate handling to locate and interview BENYON,

, £0,

@,

HIT

00045