This is a very scarce lot for an active participant in the Fort Armstrong Centennial Celebration June 18-24, 1916. White silk ribbon measures 7 1/2" tall overall, is in excellent condition and reads "1816-1916 - Ft. Armstrong Centennial - Guide - U.S.S.B.". The Button is 1 1/4" diameter and reads "Member - Honor League - Fort Armstrong Centennial - 1816-1916 - June 18-24".

I had a hard time figuring out what the U.S.S.B. was, until I stumbled across the article "Descendants of Black Hawk: Generations of Identity in Sauk Portraits" in the American Quarterly Magazine. The United Sunday School Band can be loosely described as a pack of young hooligans who dressed as Indians and whooped it up, engaged in digging up Indian graves searching for relics - even going so far as posing for photographs with Chief Black Hawk's skull.

An interesting and very scarce bit of Americana.

The original period Photo came from the same estate. 6"x8" Cabinet Photo is mounted on an approx. 8"x10" Matte. I originally tied it to the United Sunday School Band items; however, it is most likely a photo from the same period of a local Rock Island, Illinois Order of Red Men fraternal group. I am selling it with the U.S.S.B. items, with the total price marked way down.