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Ribbon Badges Worthy of the Occasion In 1910, Whitehead and Hoag of Newark, New Jersey, one of the country’s largest manufacturers of novelty advertising items, proclaimed that “there is practically no event for which we cannot make an appropriate badge.” The firm, founded in 1892, created ribbons and badges for promoting products and for political campaigns, labor unions, and fairs. As seen in an illustration from an 1894 catalog, the company produced a wonderful variety of ornate ribbon badges. The ribbons made by Whitehead and Hoag and other concerns were worn by thousands of Masons and members of fraternal groups at parades, meetings, and other gatherings. Marchers wearing ribbons on clothing and hats at processions to identify them as members of a group is long-standing tradition. Often printed on silk and
Patriarchs Militant Member, ca. 1890. Museum Purchase, 2016.003
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pinned to garments, ribbons worn at processions were intended to be used just once or only a handful of times. Few ribbons from the early 1800s survive to the present day. The oldest ribbon in the collection of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library is engraved with an image of George Washington and commemorated the 1832 centennial of his birth. The owner likely wore this simple ribbon pinned to his coat at a gathering observing this anniversary. A portrait of Zachary Taylor, the twelfth President of the United States, was printed on a ribbon for a different reason. The black outline surrounding the portrait, along with the 1850 date, suggest that this ribbon was
intended to be displayed at an event commemorating Taylor’s sudden death. Incorporating a square and compasses, the design on this ribbon reflects the mistaken belief, held by many in Taylor’s lifetime, that the former hero of the Mexican War was a Freemason. Over time, event organizers have used ribbon badges of different colors and designs to distinguish members of a group and to sometimes signify a wearer’s role—such as a guest at or organizer of a meeting. Ribbon badges also served as souvenirs of special occasions. The member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows portrayed in this photograph, dressed in Patriarchs Militant regalia, wears a ribbon that declares his status as a representative of the I.O.O.F. Grand Lodge of Iowa, letting others know his role even if they did not know him personally. The light-colored ribbons attached to the coats of men gathered for an 1886 meeting of the General Masonic Relief Association of the United States and Canada held in St. Louis helped identify them as members of the group. A boldly striped ribbon topped by a button showed the wearer was an attendee at a 1920 Shrine ceremonial event and parade organized by Ziyara Temple of Syracuse, New York. Created for a one-time occasion, this badge was also a souvenir of what was doubtless a memorable parade of 3,500 Shriners. In the late 1800s, ribbons printed specifically for particular gatherings enjoyed huge popularity. The many Knights Templar Commanderies which organized pilgrimages and
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