The Ancient Order of A-kep-ot Ster-boo was an organization formed June 3, 1916 in

Topeka, Kansas Topeka ( ; Kansa language, Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the Capital (political), capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the County seat, seat of Shawnee County, Kansas, Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the ...

. The organization's headquarters were located in the Hamilton Building at Sixth and Quincy Streets. Modeled after the

Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation is a 501(c)(3) civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska. History The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide ...

from

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

, which took its name from spelling “Nebraska” backwards, the organization based its name on the phrase “Topeka Booster” and was "...entertaining the Democratic population of Topeka and delegates to conventions in this city with the mystic degree work." Its ritual told the story of an Assyrian pirate crew marooned on a south sea island and contained a total of three degrees. The first initiation was held on June 7, 1916 during Merchants' Week in Topeka. Membership was open to any interested person and anyone attending an initiation were required to become members of the organization. Initiations typically began with a parade containing current members and new initiates, who were frequently "captured" and taken to their initiations in a cage which was included in the parade. The officers of the organization consisted of Imperial Petoka; Chief Petoka; Assistant Chief Petoka; Scribe; Kepota; Second Petoka; Third Petoka; Guardian and Mysterious A-kep-ot. The Imperial Petoka, Chief Petoka and Assistant Chief Petoka also had assistants. The organization also consisted of a membership committee and music committee.

References

Organizations established in 1916 Topeka, Kansas {{org-stub