the order of the rainbow for girls was founded in mcalester on april 6, 1922 by rev. w. mark sexson. from the initial installation class of 86 girls, the order grew to 50,000 members in 1940. in 1941, the order began plans for a larger office building that would serve as a memorial to those who had made the order possible, and a shrine for members worldwide. the building was designed by the tulsa firm black and west, and the funds for the building were approved at the 1950 supreme assembly session. the contract for the construction was granted to the dewey loveall construction company in august 1950, and the cornerstone was masonically laid on may 2, 1951.