The Knights of Peter Claver, Inc. was founded by four priests of the St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Fathers Conrad F. Rebesher, John H. Dorsey, Samuel J. Kelly, and Joseph P. Van Baast, S.S.J.s and three lay men of the Diocese of Mobile, Alabama, Messrs Gilbert Faustina, Frank Collins and Frank Trenier, they have all now passed to their eternal rewards.
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The order was founded November 7, 1909 and incorporated July 12, 1911 in Mobile, Alabama
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The Meritorious Fourth Degree Knights were authorized in 1917.
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The Junior Knights were authorized January 14, 1917 and recognized as a Division of the National Council October 1, 1935.
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The Ladies Auxiliary was authorized in August 1922 and recognized as a Division of the National Council at Galveston, Texas, August, 1926
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The Junior Daughters were established in 1930
Claverism in Texas
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The first Council in Texas, St. Nicholas Council 15 was activated in 1916, organized by Brother A.E. Woodley. A dedicated Claver, Brother Woodley went on to organize Council 28 in Beaumont, 32 in Port Arthur, 33 in Ames, 35 in San Antonio, and 44 in Orange.
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Brother Woodley helped organize the first Texas State Conference hosted by Council 28 in Beaumont, Texas around 1923.
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In 1938, Brother Henry Nichols of Council 20 in Galveston and Lady Bertha Balque of Court 44 in Orange were elected as the first Presidents of the Texas State Conference.
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Today, there are over 30 Councils and Courts within the State of Texas working to fulfill the mission of our patron saint, Peter Claver.
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