#Understanding

Understanding Cemetery Symbols #91 - Fraternal Organizations #5 IORM
When walking around cemeteries I look for interesting fraternal organizations, especially ones I haven’t seen an example of but know about. Tui Snider’s book, ‘Understanding Cemetery Symbols’ [tinyurl.com/e3...] has quite a few of them but this is one that isn’t there. There are all types of different clubs, secret societies, and organizations that were once extremely popular. At least half of the populace was a member of one organization or another and by 1900 there were over 2000 groups. Some were simply drinking organizations for fun and a little debauchery, others had specific charitable goals, and others were political in nature. Most of these clubs/secret societies/organizations were popular because they provided services for their members and their families. Some of these clubs were for white men only as well were many women organizations. [1] The one I came across this time is the ‘Improved Order of Red Men’ which builds itself as Americas oldest fraternal organization. The problem here is the organization was growing as the US was conducting genocide, and after the 1890’s; Indian Schools were created to basically destroy their culture. See the ‘Cultural Appropriation? The Improved Order of Red Men?’ [shorturl.at/DhJrQ] and the video ‘American Holocaust Of Native American Indians: 2001 Documentary’ [shorturl.at/pgVqA] to get a better understanding of the historic situation.
As for the IORM, according to their webpage the organization dates back to 1765 and is descended from the Sons of Liberty. These patriot partisans (or in today’s terminology & from the British point of view; terrorist) concealed their identities as Indians and worked "underground" to help establish freedom and liberty in the early Colonies. The webpage continues to say they patterned themselves after the Iroquois Confederacy and its democratic governing body. After the War of 1812, the name was changed to the Society of Red Men and in 1834 to the Improved Order of Red Men. They kept the customs and terminology of Native Americans as a basic part of the fraternity. [2] Most would say, at the very least, this is cultural appropriation.
The Uhl family has been in the Albany area since the mid-19th century. William J Uhl was born in 1861. He was a clerk for the D. & H. Railroad for 45 years, retiring in 1933. He was a member of the Brotherhood of the Evangelical Protestant Church and of the
Improved Order of Red Men. He was survived by his son, Walter J. Uhl. His wife, Mrs. Emma B. Wagner Uhl predeceased him in 1918. [3]
As for a cultural historian and one who teaches about Native American History (Please see below Dr. RGST’s BOOKS ) I find this type of club pretty disgusting. It’s one thing to have been around in the 19th century, when the perceptions of truth were unfortunately different. But for an organization like this to still be in ‘business’ is pretty difficult to understand. Even the YMCA because of changing times and attitudes changed the name and design of the ‘Indian Guides’ club to the ‘Adventure Guides’ club. You would think a group of people could change the group especially when times are changing. Then on the other hand most groups like this are dying off. It’s just the idea of people dressing up to look like ‘Indians’ gives me great pause. Well, I hope you like the video and please leave a comment and of course, tell others. Thanks for watching!
[1] Tui Snider. Understanding Cemetery Symbols: A Field Guide to Historic Graveyards, Texas: Azle Press, 2017, 158-159.
[2] The Improved Order of Red Men. Who Are The Red Men?, www.redmen.org/..., 2024.
[3] Find A Grave. Pub. in The Albany Evening News, Albany, N. Y., Friday, May 8, 1936, Page Seventeen, www.findagrave..., 2024.
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[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

As for a cultural historian and one who teaches about Native American History (Please see below Dr. RGST’s BOOKS ) I find this type of club pretty disgusting. It’s one thing to have been around in the 19th century, when the perceptions of truth were unfortunately different. But for an organization like this to still be in ‘business’ is pretty difficult to understand. Even the YMCA because of changing times and attitudes changed the name and design of the ‘Indian Guides’ club to the ‘Adventure Guides’ club. You would think a group of people could change the group especially when times are changing. Then on the other hand most groups like this are dying off. It’s just the idea of people dressing up to look like ‘Indians’ gives me great pause. Well, I hope you like the video and please leave a comment and of course, tell others. Thanks for watching!😎

[@burtont3773]

Amazing that you mentioned Redman club near Roch. Products. As a teenager, I remember going to that club for fish fries. A fish fry was 1 dollar every Friday. This was about 1963.

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

The place has changed a lot since then. RPD is gone, Delco. . . remember the GEM store farther down Mt. Read. It was like Costco or Sam's Club. Thanks again! 😎

[@jeffersonspace]

There is a bunch of minstrelsy in my own family's history which is sad. Gosh - that Albany rural is pretty. Did you know there was a scene in the movie "Ironweed" that was filmed there?

[@The_Cultural_Historian_DrRGST]

I didn't know about the movie I'll have to look it up. Thanks for watching and commenting. It truly means a lot and is appreciated. 😎