In April of 1925, members of the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (DOKK) were planning an initiation in which hapless new members would be fed to their voracious tiger mascot (pictured.) The DOKK was a side degree of the Knights of Pythias committed to fun and revelry. On his knees, chained to the tiger, and being prepared for slaughter was E.A. Dexter, chancellor commander of the Commencement Lodge of Tacoma. Surrounding him, left to right, were J.A. Falconer, A.N. Bostwick, Ted Strong and Ben Haverkamp. The grand initiation and ceremony was held at the Swiss Hall, 1902-04 Jefferson Avenue. Over three hundred members from across Southwest Washington were expected to attend. More than 50 initiates were being prepared for lunch. At this time, the DOKK had no temple of their own in Tacoma, so the Kuh-Ala-Dagh Temple of Seattle served as host at the initiation. (TNT 4/24/1925, pg. 11) (WSHS)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Play (Recreation)--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias (Tacoma); Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan (Tacoma); Dexter, E.A.; Falconer, J.A.; Bostwick, A.N.; Strong, Ted; Haverkamp, Ben;

International Rally of I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, Washington, September 4-6, 1926.The biggest event was a parade through downtown Tacoma with over 2,000 participants on September 4, 1926. The South Tacoma Lodge No. 89 float is bearing signs, "The God of Nations is the Father of All Men" and "All Men Are Brothers". Lefebvre Auto Laundry in background. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Clubs--Tacoma; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 89 (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930;

International Rally of the I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows), Tacoma, September 4-6, 1926. The rally was a convention for the 300 Odd Fellow & Rebekah lodges in Washington and British Columbia. The East Tacoma Rebekah Lodge float was photographed on the 700 block of Commerce Street. Corner of Colonial Hotel, Tacoma Electrotype Company, Washington Florists truck, Gansen Electric Company, C.A. Beil office. (filed with Argentum)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; East Tacoma Rebekah Lodge (Tacoma);

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) held their seventh annual International Rally in Tacoma on September 4-6, 1926. The largest event of the rally was a parade with over 2,000 participants through the downtown business district that concluded at the Odd Fellows temple at Sixth & Fawcett. The Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge created a float for the parade on the back of a John Dower Lumber Company flatbed truck. The float was photographed in front of the Gansen Electric Company and C.A. Beil, General Contractors, offices at 709-13 Commerce St. The Rebekahs were the affiliated fraternal order of the Odd Fellows as well as a service organization. (TDL 9/4/26, pg. 3-article; 9/5/26, pg. 4-A-article) (filed in Argentum.)

Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Tacoma); Parades & processions--Tacoma--1920-1930; Floats (Parades)--Tacoma--1920-1930; Fern Hill Rebekah Lodge (Tacoma);

Hatasu Dancers. Seven women in matching dresses, handbags and hats. Possibly connected with the June, 1938, Daughters of the Nile convention.

Daughters of the Nile (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940; Women--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Knight Templars from all over the state gathered in Tacoma for the 51st Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Washington. Eleven men pose in plumed hats and uniforms.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma);

Knight Templars parade in conjunction with the 51st Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Washington. Flag bearers cross 9th Street and Broadway and proceed north on Saint Helens Avenue.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma);

Knights Templar parade and reunion on May 6, 1938. A uniformed marching band turns onto Broadway from South 13th Street and passes in front of Knapp's College.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Knights Templar (Tacoma); Marching bands--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Pythian Sisters Bellingham Degree Staff at Grand Lodge, October sixth, 1926. (Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Knights of Pythias (Bellingham); Pythian Sisters (Bellingham);

Publicity for Woodmen of the World (W.O.W) Picnic at Spanaway Lake on August 3, 1924. Family group holding banners, one upside-down. (Argentum)

Woodmen of the World (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Picnics--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Shriners' Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel on June 5, 1937. Two photographers, one a Shriner, taking photographs of couples on the dance floor.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Balls (Parties)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

On June 5, 1937, as a function of the Shrine spring reunion in Tacoma, the Afifi Temple held a Ball and banquet at the Winthrop Hotel. Shriners and their wives were the guests. Here the photographer was setting up camera to take photographs of people in the receiving line.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma);

Thousands of spectators lined the Lake Washington Ship Channel as the Afifi Temple of Tacoma float was towed by during the Shriners Marine Pageant in Seattle 7/10/1936. A huge barge carrying members of the Afifi Temple Band and a large replica of Mount Rainier is pictured just after it passes the draw of the Montlake Bridge in this night scene.The float, designed by Walt Sutter, featured thousands of gallons of water pouring down from an imitation Narada Falls. It was one of the audience's favorites. (T.Times 7/17/1936, pg. 3)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Naval parades & ceremonies--Seattle; Parades & processions--Seattle--1930-1940; Floats (Parades)--Seattle; Rainier, Mount (Wash.);

On June 5, 1937, over 1,000 Shriners gathered in Tacoma for a spring reunion. They kicked off the get together with a parade. A long line of Shriners waited behind their drill leader for the parade to begin. Winthrop Hotel and Roxy theater on Broadway are in background.

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Parades & processions--Tacoma--1930-1940; Hotel Winthrop (Tacoma); Roxy Theatre (Tacoma);

Greek picnic held by the Order of Ahepa and its affiliated organizations, the Maids of Athens and Sons of Pericles, at Five Mile Lake. Group of men dancing outdoors in a circle. Two men are wearing a fez. Crowd and automobiles in background. The Order of Ahepa, a national society of Americans of Greek descent, was holding its annual district convention in Tacoma at the Hotel Winthrop. Over 1500 delegates attended. Sunday was highlighted by special services at St. Nicholas and this lively picnic at Five Mile Lake. (T. Times 6/26/1936, pg. 18)

Order of Ahepa (Tacoma); Greek Americans--Tacoma; Folk dancing; Ethnic groups--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Three men holding a beer stein in the meeting room of an unidentified fraternal organization while a seated man looks at the camera. Three of the four men are wearing lapel pins.

Ceremonial portraits from the Daughters of the Nile convention. The female accompaniment to the Shriners, the Nile daughters traditions hark back to ancient days. The annual session of the Supreme Temple of the Daughters of the Nile was held in Tacoma June 6-10, 1938. It was the first convention of this group to be held in Tacoma since 1925. Members from all parts of the United States would be attending. (photograph also numbered Series 7247, image 11)

Daughters of the Nile (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Evening gowns--Tacoma--1930-1940; Rites & ceremonies--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Shriner's Convention; Afifi Yakima Patrol, circa June of 1938. Group of 24 Shriners in costume. Shriners from around the state gathered in Tacoma to board a special train headed to Los Angeles for the Golden Jubilee convention, June 6-9, 1938. Several of the patrols posed for pictures while in Tacoma. (filed with Argentum)

Fraternal organizations--Tacoma; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma);

Meeting of a group of committee members planning the annual benefit bridge tea of the Chi Omega Sorority. The photograph was taken on April 20, 1938 at the home of Mrs. Richard Jones, alumnae president. Pictured are, left to right, Ruth (Mrs. T.J.) Green, Miss Helen Glans, Mrs. Percy McCormick and Mildred (Mrs. A.D.) Myers. (T. Times 4/23/1938, pg. 8)

Fraternities & sororities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Alumni & alumnae--Tacoma; Chi Omega (Tacoma); Glans, Helen; Green, Ruth; Myers, Mildred;

Members of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine posed for a group portrait on April 30, 1922. Better known as the Shriners from Afifi Temple, they were dressed in traditional uniform. A total of 139 uniformed nobles would be journeying to San Francisco by special train in June for the 48th annual imperial council session. That was expected to be one of the largest delegations in attendance. The Afifi Shriners were led by Frank D. Oakley, Tacoma attorney, who was elected in December of 1921 as the temple's leader or potentate. G23.1-081 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 6-4-22, 8-E)

Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Four members of the Afifi Shrine, wearing traditional costume and fezzes, posed outdoors on April 30, 1922. The group may have included attorney Frank D. Oakley of Tacoma, who was Afifi Shrine's potentate. G23.1-079

Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;

The Afifi Temple Band, with instruments, posed in front of the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave., on April 22, 1928. They are uniformly dressed complete with fezzes. G23.1-078

Afifi Temple Band (Tacoma); Afifi Temple (Tacoma); Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

The Knights Templar drill team stood at attention on April 20, 1930, outside the Masonic Temple, 47 Saint Helens Ave. They are wearing their stately uniforms including plumed hats. G23.1-077

Knights Templar (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1930-1940; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma--1930-1940; Drill teams; Masonic Temple (Tacoma);

Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templar, band and marching unit in full regalia pauses on the bricked roadway of South 7th at Market St. looking west on April 12, 1925. Small groups of children have secured good viewing spots in order to watch the men parade by. April 12th was Easter Sunday and the members had attended special services that afternoon at the Masonic Temple downtown. Twice a year, on Christmas and Easter, the commandery would attend service as a group. G23.1-097 (TDL 4-13-25, p. 2)

Knights Templar (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930; Marching bands--Tacoma--1920-1930;

Seven soldier members of the Salt Lake No. 85 Elks Lodge pose in front of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 on August 16, 1918. They are wearing military uniforms with most carrying flags. A large sign is held by two Elks "warning" others to "Watch Your Girls We're From Salt Lake No. 85." The soldiers represented their lodge during the 14th annual Washington State Elks convention held in Tacoma during August of 1918. They would march in the massive downtown parade along with Elks from lodges across the state and including several Montana Elks stationed at Camp Lewis. G68.1-109 (TDL 8-17-18, p. 7-article)

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Tacoma Lodge No. 174 (Tacoma); Elks Temple (Tacoma); Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Salt Lake Lodge No. 85; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1910-1920; Signs (Notices); Guests--Tacoma--1910-1920;

The Castle Hall at the Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7. Members of the fraternal organization are posed wearing Romanesque regalia. The robes illustrate the story of Damon and Pythias, on which the beliefs of the order are based. The order was founded on the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence. Built in 1906-1907 and carefully preserved, the Pythian Lodge is one of the most beautiful in the nation. The Lodge is currently on the city and national historical registry. TPL-1682, BU-12215, Boland #B3765

Knights of Pythias, Commencement Lodge #7 (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1920-1930;