Clifton's Cafeteria collection of circulars, 1931-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Clifton's Cafeteria.
Abstract:
Clifton's Cafeteria was opened in downtown Los Angeles in 1931 by Clifford E. Clinton, who also opened several other branches of his restaurant in later years. Clinton was also active in local politics and an advocate for civil reform. His restaurant published circulars, beginning in 1931, containing inspirational thoughts, poetry, short prose pieces and a calendar of upcoming events for customers, first weekly and then monthly. It ceased publication in 1995.
Extent:
3.5 linear feet (7 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Clifton's Cafeteria Collection of Circulars (Collection 1827). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Background

Scope and content:

The circulars contain quotes, facts about Los Angeles, announcements for events, meetings and recitals, useful telephone numbers, and observations and sayings for the benefit of Clifton's Cafeteria customers. It began in 1931 and ceased publication in 1995.

Biographical / historical:

Clifton's Cafeteria was opened at its first location in Los Angeles in 1931 by Clifford E. Clinton (b. Aug. 1900; d. Nov. 1969), a member of the Clinton family of restauranteurs (now spanning many generations). Clinton moved the cafeteria to Broadway in 1935 and, though a few more satellite cafeterias were opened in later years, the Broadway location has remained in business ever since that time. Nearly from the outset, Clinton began distributing these sheets of inspirational thoughts, poetry, short prose pieces and a calendar of upcoming Los Angeles events for his customers. After a slightly irregular start, the circulars began to be issued weekly in 1932; that frequency was retained for nearly 40 years, changing to monthly only in May of 1971, just a few years after Clinton's death. The final issue came out in October, 1995, with a note from its editor, Esther York Burkholder: "Over the years it has been a privilege and a pleasure to share with you bits of wisdom and beauty and humor from the pens of many writers. ... Until, and if, we eventually resume publication, dear readers, you have our best wishes always". Throughout the run, the circulars were printed on just one sheet, usually folded in half (lengthwise) to make 4 pages. Up until 1967, the cafeteria's motto ("A tra-ful for a tri-ful") always appeared somewhere near the title; from 1967-1995 the motto changed ("Food for the soul is important too"), and began appearing regularly below the title.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Donald and Robert Clinton, 2008.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically by year:

  1. Box 1: 1931 (The Bulletin board; Clifton's Bulletin board; Restaurant Alliance Bulletin board)
  2. 1932-33 (The Clifton tray)
  3. 1934 (The Clifton tray; The Clifton tray-- Food 4 thot; The Clifton tray of-- Food 4 thot)
  4. 1935-39 (The Clifton tray of-- Food 4 thot)
  5. 1940 (The Clifton tray of-- Food 4 thot; Food 4 thot)
  6. 1941 (Food 4 thot; Clifton's Food for thot) -- Boxes 2-7: 1942-1995 (Clifton's Food for thot).

Physical location:
Stored off-site at SRLF. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance through our electronic paging system using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance through our electronic paging system using the request button located on this page.

Terms of access:

Copyright to portions of this collection has been assigned to the UCLA Library Special Collections. The library can grant permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish must be submitted in writing to Library Special Collections. Credit shall be given as follows: The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the UCLA Library Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Clifton's Cafeteria Collection of Circulars (Collection 1827). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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