The Order of the Arrow, founded
in 1915 as a camping honor society, became an official part of
the Boy Scouts of America organization in 1948. In 1998 the Order of the Arrow was expanded
to recognize broader service to scouting and the community.
In Nebraska, a scout honor society
called the Order of the Golden Sun of the Tribes of Quivira was
founded about 1923 with unique rituals connected to Native American
culture. The Order of the Golden Sun later spread to nearby states,
including Iowa and Missouri. In 1953 the Order of the Golden
Sun merged with the Order of the Arrow to become Golden Sun Lodge
492 of the OA.
This helmet
is believed to have been associated with Order of the Golden
Sun ceremonies held at Camp Quivira near Louisville, Nebraska.
Source: Loaned by Russ Votava,
Lincoln
Members of the Order of the Golden Sun wore this neckerchief
before the merger with the Order of the Arrow.
Source: 9579-27, Robert W.
Cherny, San Francisco, California
This neckerchief
represents Beatrice Explorer Scout Robert W. Cherny's membership
in Golden Sun Lodge 492, Order of the Arrow. The "www"
stands for Wimachtendienk, Wingoluachsik, Witahemui, Delaware(Lenape)
words that translate as "brotherhood," "cheerfulness,"
and "service."
Source: 9579-26, Robert W.
Cherny, San Francisco, California
The first Order of the Arrow Handbook,
1948
Source: Loaned by Russ Votava,
Lincoln
Beatrice Explorer Scout Robert W. Cherny of Post 221 wore this
shirt about 1960-61. The white
sash with a red arrow set off by two red bars signifies that
Cherny was a "brotherhood" member of the Order of the
Arrow. It is worn with the arrow pointing over the right shoulder.
He secured the signatures of the two founders, E. Urner Goodman
and Carroll A. Edson, while attending the order's national conference.
The patch of Golden Sun Lodge 482, Order of the Arrow, is on
the right breast pocket.
Source: 9579-28, 24, Robert
W. Cherny, San Francisco, California
"To qualify [for the Order
of the Arrow] one must have completed certain merit badges .
. . and be recommended . . . . Initiates were called out
(or tapped out) during summer camp in which all the campers and
members of the OA were dressed in Indian costume. This was followed
by an initial ceremony called the Four Fires, at which the initiates
spent some time, two by two, discussing the importance of Mother,
God, Country, and Others. After the summer camping season and
before school started, there was a three-day initiation ceremony
at Camp Minis Kuya just outside Lincoln."
-Robert W. Cherny, 2008
