Caldwell, Thomas S.
Biographical Note
Moving from Ontario as a child, Thomas Caldwell began his association in 1902 with the YMCA in Riverside, California. He was employed by the Y in Oakland (Calif.), and subsequently joined the Los Angeles YMCA as the citywide boys’ secretary.
Beginning in 1926, he served 13 years as general secretary of the Riverside YMCA. In 1914, Caldwell was leading camping programs when he created the YMCA Rag Society as a means of rewarding positive behavior among the boys in the program. Ceremonies were held to give “rags” (bandanas) to youth as a challenge to live up to Christian ideals of spiritual and physical health.
The Rag program spread along the West coast and eventually to camps across the country. The YMCA Rag Society, with its seven levels of increasingly higher commitment to values, has had an impact on generations of YMCA campers. Many former and current Y staff, along with thousands of YMCA campers, have personally been inspired by their participation in the Rag Society.