The First Elks: A. F. Judd, Jr., Lodge Secretary – First & Fast

It would seem Albert Francis Judd, Jr. had little choice in his life’s work.  A. F. Jr. would not run away from the law to play music as did fellow Yale Law school grad and Elk Sonny Cunha.¹  Born Dec. 20, 1874, he was the grandson of Dr. Gerrit P. Judd, cabinet minister to Kamehameha III.  He was the son of Albert Francis Judd, Hawaii Attorney General later Supreme Court Justice.  In 1899, he married Madeline Hartwell, daughter of another Hawaii Supreme Court Justice, and options narrowed.

After the expected Punahou School and Oahu College degrees, he attended Yale 1893-97 and Yale Law School, being admitted to the bar in 1899.  He initially practiced law with partner and fellow Elk A. L. C. Atkinson.  Their office was in the Judd Building² and naturally Albert Francis lived on Judd Street!

Unlike many fellow Elks, he wasn’t a member of multiple clubs.  He did, however, belong to the Hawaii Society, Sons of the American Revolution³, and the Social Science Club, an exclusive intellectual discussion group.

Never a trial lawyer, Judd specialized in trust work and was an officer of Guardian Trust.  In a pre-internet / fax / cell phone era, he networked to attract clients by taking on powerful, influential positions.  Some of his activities were:

Business:

• 1906 Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association – arranged first Ilocano workers

Health:

• 1895 inspector cholera epidemic
• 1900 inspector bubonic plague
• 1911 yellow fever commission

Government:

• Territorial senate
• Police Commission
• Archives Commission
• Member of Tax Board
• Commission to revise Territorial laws, 3 times
• Army Reserve Quartermaster Corps
• World War I Postal Censor, Chief of Examiners

Education:

• Dept. of Public Instruction[4] Board
• Barstow Foundation Trustee: 1930s program to modernize education in American Samoa.  Judd had a scholarly interest in Samoan culture.
• Punahou School Trustee 25 yrs
• Bishop Estate / Kamehameha Schools Board
• Bishop Museum Board: many years president; involved in establishing Yale-Bishop Museum fellowship bringing distinguished scholars to the islands

With all those lawyer genes in his blood, it is not surprising that some recall him as a competitive fellow.  E. H. Bryan, Jr.⁵, the many decades Bishop Museum Curator of Collections, told this Judd story:

On weekends the Museum’s biology staff liked to go hiking.  Judd often invited himself along and, from the staff perspective, spent the hike testing to find a plant or insect the biologists couldn’t identify.  Staff tolerated the grilling, said Bryan, because they used the time to talk up improvements in Museum exhibits, facilities, or an expedition to advance knowledge.  At later Board meetings, Judd often brought up the ideas for discussion.

A. F. Judd, Jr.’s death caused flags to fly at half-staff at the courts, Bishop Estate and Bishop Museum.  A. F. Jr. was a life and charter member of 616.  He faithfully paid his dues until shortly before his death Dec 18, 1939.  He served as the first Lodge Secretary, but resigned May 18, 1901, barely a month after the first meeting, April 15.  He appears to be the Lodge’s fastest officer.  His BPOE membership is credited in biographies and obituaries, often stating “first secretary”! 

Anita Manning, Lodge Historian, manning@lava.net

References:
Bryan, Jr., Edwin Horace. 1975. B. P. Bishop Museum Curator of Collections, retired.
Personal Communication.
Honolulu Advertiser Judd Rites Set Today, 19 Dec 1939, p 1, 9, editorial
Honolulu Star Bulletin Albert F. Judd Noted Kamaaina Dies, 18 Dec 1939, p1
Prominent Men of Hawaii, 1913.
Men of Hawaii, 1917, Honolulu Star-Bulletin Printing.
Minutes, BPOE 616, 18 May 1901
Report of Director 1939. 1940. Albert Francis Judd. Bishop Mus. Bull. 167

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[1] Tiler, Compose, Politician, Aloha Elk, Jun 2001, 58(3): 5

[2] Judd Bldg stands today at the makai, Diamond Head corner of Merchant & Fort St. Mall.

[3] A. F. Sr. was a founding member.  See their web site at http://groups.msn.com/ hawaiisocietysonsoftheamericanrevolution

[4] The Dept. of Education of that era

[5] Bryan’s father was among the visiting Elks initiating 616 in 1901