1893 MANUSCRIPT LEDGER OF MINUTES, MEMBERS, MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE ORIGINAL AMERICAN SECRET FRATERNAL SOCIETY FORMED TO HONOR THE NATIVE INDIANS THAT ASSISTED THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARIES AGAINST ENGLAND: THE IMPROVED ORDER OF THE RED MEN

On offer is a super, original manuscript relic of late 19th Century secret societies and fraternal organizations being an 1893 - 1895 IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN TRIBES Minutes Book. The book proper, published specifically for the Club has printed forms for the IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN TRIBES. Pages on the left side of the open ledger have a Printed Heading with space for filling in information by hand. The page heading reads: "HUNTING GROUNDS OF", "WIGWAM OF", "TRIBE NO", "IMP. O.R.M.", "SLEEP", and "MOON, G.S.D.4" then below the heading information is printed information for the TRIBE to record Minutes, Activities, Events, the INITIATION OF NEW MEMBERS, etc. Includes such titles as: "Keeper of Wampum", "Application of Paleface", "Record of Previous Council Fire read", "Twig box was opened by", "New Business", "Council Fire was then Quenched", etc. Almost all pages are filled in with various handwritten minutes and notes about the REDMEN meetings, including dates (1893-1895), place (Croton-on-Hudson, New York), events (New Member Induction, Bill needing Payment, Committee Reports, Problem members, General Problems, Plans, Political Stands, etc.). Pinned-on to one of the pages is a 2 page handwritten letter on "Improved Order of Red Men, Wigwam of Kitchawau Tribe No. 237" letterhead. [We cannot help but note that this book and the Society it represents predates the Washington Redskins baseball team controversy declaring the team name racist yet this fraternal organization clearly honors Native Americans and stands as an homage to their tribal attributes. Please read the Wiki article after the description.] The ledger is also a treasure trove of genealogical and social history of the Westchester County area with many, many names of members and their activities. The book has a leather spine and corners, leather edged with gilt, paper title label on front cover, 8.5" x 13.5", pages printed on watermarked paper "Kenilworth", approximately 200-300 unnumbered pages. The front cover is split at its spine fold and is almost disbound. Internally, a couple signatures, including the first, are shaky; one page is loose and is pinned-on to another page, otherwise the pages are quite nice - tight, bright and clean, with writing that is clear and fully legible. HISTORICAL NOTES: Wiki: The Improved Order of Red Men traces its origin to certain secret patriotic societies founded before the American Revolution. They were established to promote Liberty and to defy the tyranny of the English Crown. Among the early groups were: The Sons of Liberty, the Sons of St. Tammany, and later the Society of Red Men. Their rituals and regalia are modeled after those used by Native Americans. The organization claimed a membership of about half a million in 1935, but has declined to less than 38,000. Notable members: Theodore Roosevelt, Warren G. Harding and Franklin D. Roosevelt. [Note: Please ask seller for link to a pair of 20th century Maryland Tribe of Red Men ledgers being sold separately] ; Manuscript; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, RED MEN FRATERNITY, IMPROVED ORDER OF THE RED MEN, KITCHAWAU TRIBE, CROTON-ON-HUDSON, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON REDSKINS, SECRET PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES, AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE SONS OF LIBERTY, THE SONS OF ST. TAMMANY, THE SOCIETY OF RED MEN, DEGREE OF POCAHONTAS, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIETIES, BROTHERHOODS, SECRET SOCIETIES, MOUND CITY LODGE, PYTHIAN CASTLES, PYTHIAN SISTERS, DRAMATIC ORDER KNIGHTS OF KHORASSAN, THE NOMADS OF AVRUDAKA, PYTHIAN SUNSHINE GIRLS AND THE JUNIOR ORDER, ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR, HALF CENTURY MATRONS CLUB, PRINCE HALL AFFILIATION, SISTERHOODS, RELIGION, AOKMC, THE ANCIENT ORDER OF KNIGHTS OF THE MYSTIC CHAIN, MASONS, MASONIC, FREEMASONS, CHIVALRY, ARCANE, OCCULT, AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, AUTOGRAPHED, AUTHORS, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, KEEPSAKE, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, PERSONAL HISTORY, ARCHIVE, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNAL, LOG, PRIMARY SOURCE, FIRST HAND ACCOUNT, SOCIAL HISTORY, PERSONAL STORIES, LIVING HISTORY, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL,