These 50 States: Michigan
Posted in These 50 States by John E. Pannell on July 26th, 2008 at 5:02 am 
Ag-Im 156 1993 Events Issues
Here is the next entry in the series of posts on state shaped patches, and state shapes used in patches. About a third of the states have now been covered. Previous entries may be found in the category, “These 50 States.”
Michigan is one of the more difficult states to depict on a patch. Its territory consists primarily of two peninsulas, roughly positioned perpendicular to each other. It is largely bounded by Lakes Huron, Superior and Michigan. As such, no patch is in the shape of the entire state. Many patches depict one of the state’s two peninsular. Ag-Im has issued two sets of event patches shaped like the state’s upper peninsula.
Manitous 88 X27?
Manitous 88 has been known for issuing some rather innovative patches. They recent NOAC issues have been eagerly sought out by many collectors. Their 2005 Jamboree sets are not among their most innovative issues but the sets, S24+X23 and S25+X24, depict the state of Michigan on their bottom pieces.
In 2007 Manitous lodge hosted the C2A Conclave. In honor of that occasion and in celebration of 60 years of conclaves (and area fellowships) in Michigan they issued two patches in the shape of Michigan’s lower peninsula, shown on this site as X27? and X28?. The “X27?” is pictured here.
Mischigonong 89 Niswi Ishkoden R1
Mischigonong 89 depicts the whole state of Michigan within the body of a turtle on its 2000 NOAC site, S33+R4. Niswi Ishkoden chapter also shows the state of Michigan on its R1.
Indian Drum 152 S26+X8
Indian Drum 152 has used a map of the lower peninsula of Michigan to show the lodge’s location at the northwestern corner of this peninsula. This is a fairly common practice among the Michigan lodges as you will see. Lodge issues using this scheme as part of these design include the S20+X4 and S26+X8. The eN1975 and eN1976 from Wa Wa Esh Ki chapter also show a similar map.
Ag-Im 156 X3
Ag-Im 156 has depicted the upper peninsula of Michigan on many of its issues. These include: S24 and S25 with the X14, S26 and X15, S27, S28, S29, X3 ( also listed as eX1983-5), X10, eX1971, eX1977, 1993 events set, 2003 events set.
The “S27?” from Quapaw 160 includes the shapes of both Arkansas and Michigan in its design. This patch is shown in the post for Arkansas.
Several issues from Migisi Opawgan 162 use one or both peninsulas of Michigan in their design. The Nen-Zhe chapter A1a, pictured, is one a collector could have a hard time placing as there is nothing on the patch to indicate what lodges this is from. Besides the chapter patch, this lodge’s N1, S53+X3, X1, eR1978-2 all depict Michigan’s lower peninsula.
Migisi Opawgan 162 X1
The X1 is a neat piece in a couple of ways. The text on the patch refers to the 1958 NOAC as the “Lawrence Kansas National Meeting”. The designer also chose to depict the lower peninsula as a mitten, a moniker that is sometimes applied to it.
Migisi Opawgan 162 S102?
The R9, R10, S102? and S103? depict both peninsulas. In my opinion the last two issues created are visually impressive and especially well done.
There is a patch bearing the name of Ottawa 198 that uses Michigan in its design. I have shown it online as “ZR1?”. There is absolutely no connection between this patch and Ottawa lodge, any successor, or former members. It’s strictly a private creation.
Wakazoo 203 F1
Wakazoo 203 had a traditional representation of their black bass totem, used on many of their patches. It depicted the bass superimposed over a map of Michigan’s lower peninsula with a star marking their council’s headquarters in Kalamazoo. This basic design was used on the lodge’s F1, F3, F3.5, F4, R1-R3, S1, and ZS1.
Cuwe 218 S19a
Cuwe 218 paid tribute to their 50th and their council’s 75th anniversaries with two flaps listed as their: S18 and S19. Both of these show the entire state of Michigan, and marking the lodge’s location within the state.
Carcajou 373 A1a
Carcajou 373 used a map of the lower peninsula to show the lodge’s location at the southwestern corner of the state. This design scheme was use on the varieties of the lodge’s: A1, A2, A3, R1, and X1.
Nacha-Mawat 373 eR1986-1
Taking a cue from its predecessors, Nacha-Mawat 373 used the outline of the lower peninsula to depict their location within the state on the varieties of their S2 and S5. The same part of the state was also imaginatively depicted on the lodge’s eR1986-1. Look carefully: It may not be immediately apparent to some.
Tittabawasink 469 X1
Lastly Tittabawasink 469 depicts the lower peninsula on two of its patches. The P1 varieties used the shape in their design. The X1 is a classic patch shaped like the lower peninsula. It surely stood out in its day!
This is a fairly long list of issues. Some of the lodges were showed a lot of imagination in how they depicted their state. Do you know of any others I have missed?
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