Images(2)

Vest

Object number2011.119.2

Date1966-1970

Mediumleather; wool; polyester

Credit LineGift of Keith Harper

DescriptionChild's light brown leather vest. Leather is unfinished. Stitched with dark brown leather on shoulders and sides. Hand burned text and image of campfire on back. Four circular, multi-colored patches on front; four multi-colored, various sized patches on back.Dimensions15 x 13.5 in. (38.1 x 34.3 cm)
InscriptionsFour patches on front:
Front, proper left side of vest: top patch has text "Y.M.C.A. INDIAN GUIDES / FALL / HARVEST CAMPOUT"; bottom patch has text "Y-INDIAN / GUIDES" around perimeter and, in center, "FATHER AND SON / PALS FOREVER" and "YMCA".

Front, proper right side of vest: top patch has text "YMCA INDIAN GUIDE / 1968" around perimeter, and in center "FALL CAMPOUT"; bottom patch has text "TRIBAL CHIEF / Y INDIAN GUIDES”.

Four patches on back:
Back, proper left side of vest: top patch has text "MY DAD IS"; middle patch has text "NATION CHIEF / Y INDIAN GUIDES"; and bottom patch has text "PLANTING MOON CAMPOUT / SOUTH HILLS AREA Y.M.C.A. INDIAN GUIDES" around perimeter and in center "SPRING / 1969".

Back, patch in bottom proper right corner has text "South Hills Area YMCA / INDIAN GUIDES / BEAVER CLAN / BUFFALO CLAN / EAGLE CLAN / Spring Family Wityati/1970".

Hand-burned on back: "HIAWATHA / TRIBE / LITTLE / SMOKE / [drawing of a campfire] / ME LIKE / TO / SCAPS [sic]".
Historical NotesChild's Indian Guide vest. The Indian Guides program began in 1926 in Richmond Heights, Montana. Harold S. Keltner of the St. Louis YMCA was motivated by talks with his American Indian friend Joe Friday who emphasized the role fathers play in native culture in the teaching of their sons. Since that time the program spread throughout the United States. Donor Keith Harper was in the Indian Guides program with his father, William Harper, from 1966 to 1968. They were part of the Hiawatha Tribe that ran out of the South Hills YMCA.

Related institution Young Men's Christian Association

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