Finding Aid for the E Clampus Vitus Records LSC.1796

Finding aid prepared by Dan Luckenbill; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library Special Collections
© 1999
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
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Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: E Clampus Vitus Records
Creator: E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.1796
Physical Description: 2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
Physical Description: 1 oversize box
Date (inclusive): 1935-1970
Abstract: The revival of E Clampus Vitus was begun by Carl I. Wheat and others around 1931 as a parody of mining fraternities of the nineteenth century. E Clampus Vitus events were organized around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical significance. The collection consists of correspondence, membership rosters, and artifacts related to events and activites of the California chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.
Physical Location: Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Language of Material: Materials are in English.

Restrictions on Access

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
  • Gift of Lindley Bynum.
  • Gift of Andrew Horn.
  • Gift of Ward Ritchie, 1957.
  • Gift of Estate of W.W. Robinson.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 9912179103606533 

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], E Clampus Vitus Records (Collection 1796). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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Biography

Revival of E Clampus Vitus was begun by Carl I. Wheat and others around 1931 as a parody of mining fraternities of the nineteenth century; E Clampus Vitus almost always organized its events around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical information; a history of the organization can be found in the book, Credo Quia Absurdum (Placerville, California: Onager Press, 1949).

Biographical Narrative

The history of the Ancient & Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus is given in the book Credo quia absurdum (Placerville, California, 1949). The present social organization is a revival of mining fraternities of the nineteenth century, parodies of the then-popular mysterious fraternal orders. The present organization delights in the mock-serious aspects of the originals.
E Clampus Vitus almost always organizes its events around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical importance, so that keepsakes and announcements offer historical information, as well as providing records of the club's activities. Often the keepsakes are printed by noted California printers, such as Lawton Kennedy.
Prominent Californians were involved with the revival of the organization in the early nineteen-thirties, so that the history and papers of the organization are important in a study of California. Carl I. Wheat was one of the first to start the revival, around 1931. The present collection is made up of items donated by Lindley Bynum, Andrew Horn and Ward Ritchie; and of items from the W.W. Robinson collection.
note: Because of the completeness of materials collected by W.W. Robinson held in the Department of Special Collections, items taken from that collection have been stamped with his name. Other items not pertaining to the individuals above have been distributed throughout this collection without indicating the donor.

Scope and Content

Collection consists of correspondence, membership rosters, and artifacts related to events and activites of the California chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged in the following series:
  1. Materials with notes to or by W.W. Robinson, Lindley Bynum, Andrew Horn, and Ward Ritchie (Box 1)
  2. Statewide (Box 1)
  3. Platrix (Los Angeles) chapter (Box 1)
  4. Other chapters (Box 2)
  5. Events (Box 2)
  6. General publications and newsletters (Box 2)
  7. Oversize documents and keepsakes (Box 3)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)--Archives.

 

Materials (Memorabilia, Notes, Correspondence, etc.)

General note

With notes to or by the following:
box 1, folder 1

W.W. Robinson, 1949-51 and n.d.

box 1, folder 2

Lindley Bynum (Officer of Platrix Chapter), 1949-57 and n.d.

box 1, folder 3

Lindley Bynum. Correspondence, much of it dealing with the workings of the organization, 1943-58 and n.d.

box 1, folder 4

Andrew Horn, 1950 and n.d.

box 1, folder 5

Ward Ritchie. Early membership mailings, 1935-36.

box 1, folder 6

Ward Ritchie, 1949-50 and n.d.

 

Statewide

box 1, folder 7

Rosters, n.d.

box 1, folder 8

Printed items, reports, announcements, etc. 1947, 1955, mostly n.d.

box 1, folder 9

Clippings. 1940, 1948, 1953 and n.d.

 

Platrix (Los Angeles) Chapter

box 1, folder 10

Rosters. Printed, 1953, 1956, 1960, 1963.

box 1, folder 11

Rosters. Mimeographed, 1950-51 and n.d.

box 1, folder 12

Draft: Initiatory ceremonies of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E.C.V., for May 21, 1949 conclave. 8 leaves. Carbon typescript. Initiatory Ceremonies of the Ancient & Honorable Order of E.C.V., Platrix Chapter. 10 leaves. Mimeograph. Initiatory ceremonies of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E.C.V., Platrix Chapter. 3 leaves. Incomplete carbon typescript. n.d. n.d.

box 1, folder 13

Petition for membership forms. n.d.

box 1, folder 14

Letterhead samples, printed envelopes. n.d.

box 1, folder 15

Letterhead mailings, 1949-57.

box 1, folder 16

Announcements of events, mimeographed or small. 1935-49 and n.d.

box 1, folder 17

Announcements of events, 1949-58 and n.d.

General Physical Description note: Legal size or larger.
box 1, folder 18

Announcements of events, using old newspaper mastheads, 1954-61 and n.d.

box 1, folder 19

Reservation forms for events, 1950-55 and n.d.

box 1, folder 20

Miscellaneous enclosures sent with announcements. Mimeographed maps, historical notes relevant to sites visited, etc. n.d.

box 1, folder 21

Postcard announcements, 1936-39.

box 1, folder 22

Postcard announcements, 1941-44; 1946-49.

box 1, folder 23

Postcard announcements, 1950-55.

box 1, folder 24

Postcard announcements, 1956- and n.d.

box 1, folder 25

Keepsakes. 1960-61, 1970.

 

Other Chapters

box 2, folder 1

Hangtown (Placerville). Printed roster, letterhead sample, announcements, etc. 1938-58 and n.d.

box 2, folder 2

Yerba Buena (San Francisco). Letterhead samples, newsletters, keepsakes, etc. Includes items printed by Lawton Kennedy. 1936-57, 1962.

box 2, folder 3

Las Plumas del Oro. Announcement, (County Centennial) and 1954 1956.

box 2, folder 4

Downie. Membership application, n.d.

box 2, folder 5

Matuca. Announcement, 1949.

 

Specific Events

box 2, folder 6

Coloma celebration, 100th anniversary of the discovery of gold, Announcements, programs, newspaper, etc. 1948.

box 2, folder 7

Mariposa Centennial. Announcement, reservation forms, brochures, newspapers. 1954.

box 2, folder 8

Fresno. 100th anniversary of Fresno County, Announcements. 1956.

 

General Publications, Newsletters

box 2, folder 9

Announcements of E Clampus Vitus publications. 1935, 1937(?) 1949, 1956.

box 2, folder 10

The Clamper: Official Publication of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. Stockton, California, 1961- .

Scope and Contents note

vol.1 no.1-6; vol.2 no.1-5; vol.3 no.1-4; vol.4 no.1,2,4.
box 2, folder 11

The Hewgag Brays. Cedar Springs, 1962(?)-May 5, 1962; September 29, 1962.

box 2, folder 12

Mariposa Gazette. Mariposa, vol.83 no.1. Has headline: Official Organ of E Clampus Vitus. June 4, 1936.

box 2, folder 13

The Placer Herald: Official Organ, Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus. Auburn, Placer County, California, Saturday, vol.83 no.40. June 1, 1935.

box 3

The Pony Express: Stories of Pioneers and Old Trails. Placerville, 1934(?)- .

Scope and Contents note

vol.16 no.8-9; vol.17 no.2,8-9; vol.18 no.2,11; vol.20 no.3 (These issues 1950-53).
 

Oversize Announcements, Keepsakes, etc.

 

Various chapters, v.d.