A Very Brief History of Iron Arrow

Shortly after the beginning of classes at the brand new University of Miami in 1926, the newly appointed Executive Secretary, Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe, had conversations with Francis Spencer Houtaling about his idea of beginning a tap society for men employing Seminole Ritual. It was decided that if it could be started in 1926, the society would start traditions of the University from its very beginning.After Dr. Ashe had met with Professor Howard Southgate about the same topic, a meeting was called which included nine names (the "Founding Nine"); Dale C. Clarke, Robert Fink, Harry Gray, Francis Spencer Houghtaling, Norman Ted Kennedy, John C. McGuire, Gavin S. Millar, Howard Southgate, Leonard M. Tuttle and Clarke B. Wilson. The purpose of the society was to honor those male students who had contributed significantly to the "glory, fame & growth" of UM. The name "Iron Arrow" was a combination of parts of two ideas -- Arrow from Bow and Arrow (straight path) and Iron from Iron Age. Dr. Ashe was the first sponsor of Iron Arrow.

Iron Arrow prospered from this time until the War period, when it was nearly forgotten and lost to the past. Thurston "Doc" Adams rekindled the flames just after the war, and Iron Arrow roared again. In 1952, Dr.Ashe died, which led to Dr. Jay F. W. Pearson becoming the second sponsor of IA. During this time, many of the tribe's oral traditions and rituals were written down, and in subsequent years, a constitution drawn up. In March 1957, Iron Arrow helped unveil a statue in honor of Dr. Ashe. In 1966, Dr. Henry King Stanford became the tribe's third sponsor. Soon after began a very turbulent period for Iron Arrow. The feminist movement challenged Iron Arrow's policy of not admitting women, and there were charges that the tribe was demeaning to native Americans. The case was investigated by the Department of HEW, who found nothing demeaning to native Americans, but had a problem with the non-admittance of women.

A number of votes were taken by the tribe on several occasions to allow women, but all failed. As a result of IA's resistance, the society was severed from the university in 1976. Prior to this IA had established the Bowman F. Ashe In-Memorium Award, and the Seminole Scholarship. The society had also acquired a number of memorabilia from Chief Howard Osceola, from whom our jackets are obtained. Also in 1976, Iron Arrow: A History was written by Randolph Femmer. No on-campus IA functions were allowed by the HEW, for which IA filed a law suit. In 1981, Edward T. Foote II, became the fourth president of UM, and advises the tribe that it would not be allowed back on campus unless it decided to admit women, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.

Finally, in 1985, a motion to allow women into Iron Arrow was passed at a special meeting (after no less than six previous attempts) and the tribe returned to the University of Miami campus. The tribe tapped the first woman to be tapped into IA, Dorothy Ashe-Dunn, daughter of Dr. Ashe, on February 28, 1985 . The first undergraduate woman, Sheera Greenspan was also tapped at that time. The following year, President Foote was tapped into the tribe, and declared the fourth sponsor of Iron Arrow. In 1988, Elizabeth Rodriguez became the first female chief. From that time to present, Iron Arrow has been vibrant and alive with the traditions which it created, and continues to be highly respected by all. Iron Arrow is not only the trustee of the traditions of the University of Miami , but a living tradition as well. The tribe certainly has taken "A Straight Path to Tradition" as envisioned by its Co-founders, Dr. Bowman Foster Ashe and Francis Spencer Houghtaling.