Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
The Improved Order of Red Men (IORM) bills itself as the oldest fraternal organization in the United States, "descending" from the Revolutionary secret societies such as the Sons of St. Tammany and Sons of Liberty who dressed as Native people to conceal their identities as they dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act in 1773.
White settler colonialists—American Revolutionaries—appropriated Native culture, going so far as to create a new and "improved Red Men" based upon their consumption of Native people—complete with Indian names, ceremonies, clothing, and symbols. Of course, this was only possible after the settler colonialists felt they had assimilated or eradicated Native people to a point where they could admire them. This badge came from the Sanford Sagamore Tribe, No. 33, of the Improved Order of Red Men.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Improved Order of Red Men badge, Sanford, ca. 1900
- Creation Date: circa 1900
- Subject Date: circa 1900
- Location: Sanford, York County, ME
- Media: Silk
- Dimensions: 23 cm x 6 cm
- Local Code: 1996.221.21
- Object Type: Physical Object
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Badges--Maine--Sanford
- Fraternal organizations--Maine--Sanford
- Heraldry
- Improved Order of Red Men
- Insignia
- Ribbons
- Sagamore tribe, No.33
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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