Arnold L. Moss (5 January 1869 – 18 September 1931) was a New Orleans civic leader and businessman. He was one of five children born to free people of color Frank Moss and Marie-Louise Leavens. For several decades, Moss was employed as a clerk with the clothing firm of Rosenthal Brothers. In 1909, he partnered with Clement J. Geddes to form the Geddes & Moss Undertaking and Embalming Company. This company continues to the present day as the Gertrude Geddes-Willis Funeral Parlor. Moss was an officer of the Colored Civic League of New Orleans and the National Negro Business League. He was first married to Ellen Nolasco on 28 October 1891 and later to Edna Louise Wortham on 10 October 1916. Arnold L. Moss was the President of the Black Pelicans Baseball Club, the name applied to the business end of the Black Pelicans baseball team. The Black Pelicans were just one of several teams in New Orleans and around the country which allowed blacks the opportunity to play professional baseball at a time when they could not play on white teams. Teams were often sponsored by individual black businessmen, grous of civic leaders, insurance companies, undertakers, etc. Moss was also an early supporter of the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club and reigned as King Zulu in 1927. This picture from 1930 shows Moss and the then new bus used by the Black Pelicans.
(Source: The Louisiana Weekly, 29 March,1930 page 8.
J.C.L.H.
