Charm

Name/Title

Charm

Entry/Object ID

8282 GE

Description

Order of Elks Talisman. Material: metal, tooth, enamel. Size: 5/8" W. x 1 1/8" L. x 3/8" D. Description: off-white polished elk's tooth with a copper cap loop at top for chain; metal enameled "Order of Elks" logo design displayed on cap: red star in a white field with a blue border encircled with the numerals 1 - 12; metal elk's head below logo with "BPOE" on its collar.

Context

Waseca City Organizations - BPOE (Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks). Wearing the elk teeth as decorations by BPOE Lodge members may even have been appropriated by west-bound Elks upon seeing the ceremonial clothing worn by American Indians in various touring Wild West shows bedecked with hundreds of teeth, adopting the practice as a fashion fad. In the early 1900s, Elk members then had to defend themselves from charges of decimating western elk herds just for teeth, and easily did explain that the supply from Indian trading and a vast stockpile existing long before the Order came into being precluded killing a single animal for decorative purposes. Collection: Bernie Bierman was a football coach at the University of Minnesota for the Golden Gophers. Bernie Bierman was the grandson of a Waseca County pioneer, Heinrich F. Bierman. In 1855, Heinrich made a claim in sections 13, in Wilton and 18 in Otisco where he lived until December 22, 1882, when he was accidentally killed by a fall from a wagon. His wife and five children lived in Waseca after his death. Luella and Marguerite Herbst are the granddaughters of Mr. and Mrs. Heinrich Bierman, and the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Herbst. Mrs. Herbst was Elizabeth Bierman. They also donated items from Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Perrin. Mrs. Perrin was Emma Bierman.

Cataloged By

Legacy Photo Import

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Charm

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Spiritual

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Belief Symbols

Nomenclature Class

Personal Symbols

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Exhibitions

Notes

9/02-Janesville

Create Date

February 16, 1999

Update Date

November 21, 2024