Based on museum artifacts introduced into scholarly circulation for the first time, this study examines the history of the emergence of ribbons in the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America. The source base of the study consists of exhibits from the Museum of the History of the American Knights Templar, Houston, USA. In conclusion, the author notes that, as of 2026, the oldest ribbon in the Museum of the History of the American Knights Templar remains the ribbon of Raper Commandery No. 1, which was made and presented on May 14, 1874. This ribbon may be regarded as one of the oldest known ribbons in the Order. In the summer of 1874, information about the use of a commemorative ribbon spread throughout the Order. The leadership did not object, and on December 1, 1874, commanderies and grand commanderies presented their ribbons on a large scale at the Triennial Conclave of 1874 in New Orleans. Thus, the first conclave at which ribbons were widely used was the conclave of 1874, rather than that of 1877, as previously believed.
Source: Taran, Konstantine V. (2026). Early Ribbons (1874) of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States of America. Recorder. 2(2-2): 292-316.
Source web-site: https://easteuropeanhistory.org/journals_n/1782763294.pdf
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