Finding Aid for the E Clampus Vitus Records, 1935-1970

Processed by Dan Luckenbill; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Finding Aid for the E Clampus Vitus Records, 1935-1970

Collection number: 211

UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections

Manuscripts Division

Los Angeles, CA

Contact Information

Manuscripts Division
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific Time)
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/

Processed by:: Dan Luckenbill, October 1974
Encoded by:: Caroline Cubé
Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:: Apex Data Services
Online finding aid edited by:: Josh Fiala, June 2002

Descriptive Summary

Title: E Clampus Vitus Records,

Date (inclusive): 1935-1970

Collection number: 211

Creator: E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)

Extent: 2 boxes (1 linear ft.) 1 oversize box

Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

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 at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Language: English.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary 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.

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

Gift of Lindley Bynum.
Gift of Andrew Horn.
Gift of Ward Ritchie, 1957.
Gift of Estate of W.W. Robinson.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], E Clampus Vitus Records (Collection 211). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

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

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:

Materials with notes to or by W.W. Robinson, Lindley Bynum, Andrew Horn, and Ward Ritchie (Box 1).
Statewide (Box 1).
Platrix (Los Angeles) chapter (Box 1).
Other chapters (Box 2).
Events (Box 2).
General publications and newsletters (Box 2).
Oversize documents and keepsakes (Box 3).

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)--Archives.

Container List

Materials (Memorabilia, Notes, Correspondence, etc.)

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. n.d. 10 leaves. Mimeograph. Initiatory ceremonies of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E.C.V., Platrix Chapter. n.d. 3 leaves. Incomplete carbon typescript.

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.

Physical Description: 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. 1936-57, 1962. Includes items printed by Lawton Kennedy.

Box 2, Folder 3

Las Plumas del Oro. Announcement, 1954 (County Centennial) and 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, 1948. Announcements, programs, newspaper, etc.

Box 2, Folder 7

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

Box 2, Folder 8

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

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

Box 2, Folder 13

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

Box 3

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

Scope and Content 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.

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