Records of Los Compadres

Finding aid created by Christopher McCluney

Sherman Library & Gardens

Corona del Mar, California 92625

614 Dahlia Ave.

(949) 673-1880

library@slgardens.org

http://www.slgardens.org/

2018

Descriptive Summary

Title: Records of Los Compadres

Dates: 1958-

Collection Number: 2018_02

Creator/Collector: Los Compadres

Extent: 12 document boxes; 1 oversize folder.

Repository: Sherman Library & Gardens

Corona del Mar, California 92625

Abstract: The collection consists of the historical records reflecting the activities and interests of Los Compadres, a bibliographic society based in Orange County, California.

Language of Material: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

Property rights to the physical object belong to the Sherman Library. 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 Sherman Library do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Folder [#], Box [#],Records of Los Compadres. Sherman Library, Corona del Mar, California

Acquisition Information

Portions of the collection were collected over the years by William O. Hendricks; additional materials were donated by Stuart F. Robinson in July 2007 and by Jim Lorson in October 2007.

Adminstrative History

On the evening of February 8, 1958, Hank Givens, publisher of the Santa Ana Independent, gathered a group together at his Tustin home to discuss books and book collecting. Originally calling themselves the Bibliophile Society of Orange County, the group was later renamed Los Compadres. The original members included Hank Givens, Dwight Hamilton, Pat Patterson, Horace Parker, Ed Rice, Bill Rasmussen, and Don Meadows. Although it was not until 1966 that Los Compadres would formally codify its existence through the creation of a Constitution, they adopted the motto, “United by a love of books, art, history, and literature."

It was not until the following year that Los Compadres began meeting monthly on Saturday mornings, and their meeting sites changed from private homes to public venues. First meeting at the Villa Marina in Newport Beach, they moved to the Saddleback Inn in Santa Ana in 1966 and then to Irvine’s Airporter Inn in 1972. Finally, Los Compadres settled in to a regular meeting schedule at the Sherman Library and Gardens, where the organization has gathered since 1976. Although founded as a men’s social organization, Los Compadres began holding an annual breakfast meeting in honor of their wives and sweethearts in 1969; today these special gatherings are held in February to coincide with Valentine’s Day. In 2008 the first female members were admitted.

The organization is administered by a Governing Board and three officers: El Viejo (President), El Jefe (Vice-President), and El Escribano (Secretary and Treasurer). Currently, there are forty-four members of Los Compadres, and the organization meets on the second Saturday of each month except during the months of July and August. Over the years, erudite bibliophiles, librarians, printers, writers, book dealers, historians, biographers, and scientists have presented a varied range of programs at the gatherings and occasionally excursions undertaken for meetings which included visits to binderies, personal residences, and other destinations of interest to Los Compadres.

Scope and Content of Collection

The collection consists of the historical records reflecting the activities and interests of Los Compadres, a bibliographic society based in Orange County, California. These include correspondence, organizational files, financial records, photographs, membership materials, meeting announcements and information, publication project files, and ephemera. Of note in the collection are materials related to the publication of the organization’s twentieth anniversary volume written by historian Don Meadows, Los Compadres: The First Twenty Years (1978) and photographs of an early trip to Anza Borrego by Los Compadres members in 1960. The records related to the organization’s meetings provide an excellent record of the group’s activities and documents a “who’s who" of distinguished speakers from various corners of the bibliographic world.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Organizational Records
Financial Records
Correspondence
Membership Records
Meeting Records
Publications
Photographs
Keepsakes
Miscellany

Indexing Terms

Los Compadres

Book collectors – California – Orange County – History – Sources.

Orange County (Calif.) – History – 20th century – Sources.

A. Organizational Records

Box 1

Folder 1

Organizational records – Constitution and By-laws 1966-1991

Folder 2

Organizational records – Fictitious Firm Name Filing 1969

Folder 3

Organizational records – Governing Board – Minutes and Notes 1972-1984, n.d.

Folder 4

Organizational records – History 1970-1995, n.d.

Folder 5

Organizational records – Insurance 1969-1975

B. Financial Records

Box 1

Folder 6

Financial records 1960-1969

Folder 7

Financial records 1970-1979

Folder 8

Financial records 1980-1989

Folder 9

Financial records 1990-1999

Folder 10

Financial records – Bank statements 1994-1998

Folder 11

Financial records – Bank statements 2000-2009

Folder 12

Financial records 2000-2007

Folder 13

Financial records – Bank statements 2010-

C. Correspondence

Box 2

Folder 1

Correspondence 1958-1964

Folder 2

Correspondence 1965-1969

Folder 3

Correspondence 1970-1974

Folder 4

Correspondence 1975-1979

Folder 5

Correspondence 1980-1983

Folder 6

Correspondence 1984-1988

Folder 7

Correspondence 1989-1994

Box 3

Correspondence (Cont.)

Folder 1

Correspondence 1995-1998

Folder 2

Correspondence 1999-2002

Folder 3

Correspondence 2003-2006

Folder 4

Correspondence 2007-2012

Folder 5

Correspondence 2013-

Folder 6

Correspondence n.d.-

Folder 7

Correspondence – letterheads n.d.-

D. Membership Records

Box 4

Folder 1

Membership 1981-1995, n.d.

Folder 2

Membership – Biographies of members – A-G

Folder 3

Membership – Biographies of members – H-K

Folder 4

Membership – Biographies of members – L-N

Folder 5

Membership – Biographies of members – O-Z

Folder 6

Membership – Biographies of members – Blank forms n.d.

Folder 7

Membership – Collection interests 1990-1995

Folder 8

Membership – List of governing board, current officers, inactive or former members, and deceased members 2003, n.d.

Folder 9

Membership – Mailing labels 2005-2006, n.d.

Folder 10

Membership – Prospective members 1992-1995

Folder 11

Membership – Questionnaire 1996

Folder 12

Membership – Rosters 1960s

Folder 13

Membership – Rosters 1970s

Folder 14

Membership – Rosters 1980s

Folder 15

Membership – Rosters 1990s

Folder 16

Membership – Rosters 2000s

Folder 17

Membership – Rosters 2010s

Folder 18

Membership – Rosters n.d.

Folder 19

Membership – Widows of former Compadres 1979-2000

E. Meeting Records

Box 5

Folder 1

Meetings – Announcements – Sample envelopes 1991-2004

Folder 2

Meetings – Announcements n.d.

Folder 3

Meetings – Attendance lists 1973-1989

Folder 4

Meetings – Attendance lists 1990-1996

Folder 5

Meetings – Attendance lists 1997-

Folder 6

Meetings – Attendance lists – Compilations 1971-1995

Folder 7

Meetings – Attendance lists – Uncompleted forms 2005-2006, n.d.

Folder 8

Meetings – Handouts (folder 1 of 2)

Folder 9

Meetings – Handouts (folder 2 of 2)

Folder 10

Meetings – History n.d.

Folder 11

Meetings – Program lists 1971-1972, n.d.

Folder 12

Meetings – Speakers 1989-2007, n.d.

Folder 13

Meetings – Speakers – Lottery 1991-1993, n.d.

Box 6

Meeting Records (Cont.)

Folder 1

Meeting Handouts 1974-

Folder 2

Meeting Handouts n.d.

Box 7

Meeting Records (Cont.)

Folder 1

Meetings – Announcements 1958

Folder 2

Meetings – Announcements 1959

Folder 3

Meetings – Announcements 1960

Folder 4

Meetings – Announcements 1963

Folder 5

Meetings – Announcements 1964

Folder 6

Meetings – Announcements 1966

Folder 7

Meetings – Announcements 1967

Folder 8

Meetings – Announcements 1968

Folder 9

Meetings – Announcements 1969

Folder 10

Meetings – Announcements 1970

Folder 11

Meetings – Announcements 1971

Folder 12

Meetings – Announcements 1972

Folder 13

Meetings – Announcements 1973

Folder 14

Meetings – Announcements 1974

Folder 15

Meetings – Announcements 1975

Folder 16

Meetings – Announcements 1976

Folder 17

Meetings – Announcements 1977

Folder 18

Meetings – Announcements 1978

Folder 19

Meetings – Announcements 1979

Folder 20

Meetings – Announcements 1980

Folder 21

Meetings – Announcements 1981

Folder 22

Meetings – Announcements 1982

Folder 23

Meetings – Announcements 1983

Folder 24

Meetings – Announcements 1984

Box 8

Meeting Records (Cont.)

Folder 1

Meetings – Announcements 1985

Folder 2

Meetings – Announcements 1986

Folder 3

Meetings – Announcements 1987

Folder 4

Meetings – Announcements 1988

Folder 5

Meetings – Announcements 1989

Folder 6

Meetings – Announcements 1990

Folder 7

Meetings – Announcements 1991

Folder 8

Meetings – Announcements 1992

Folder 9

Meetings – Announcements 1993

Folder 10

Meetings – Announcements 1994

Folder 11

Meetings – Announcements 1995

Folder 12

Meetings – Announcements 1996

Folder 13

Meetings – Announcements 1997

Folder 14

Meetings – Announcements 1998

Folder 15

Meetings – Announcements 1999

Folder 16

Meetings – Announcements 2000

Folder 17

Meetings – Announcements 2001

Folder 18

Meetings – Announcements 2002

Folder 19

Meetings – Announcements 2003

Folder 20

Meetings – Announcements 2004

Folder 21

Meetings – Announcements 2005

Box 9

Meeting Records (Cont.)

Folder 1

Meetings – Announcements 2006

Folder 2

Meetings – Announcements 2007

Folder 3

Meetings – Announcements 2008

Folder 4

Meetings – Announcements 2009

Folder 5

Meetings – Announcements 2010

Folder 6

Meetings – Announcements 2011

Folder 7

Meetings – Announcements 2012

Folder 8

Meetings – Announcements 2013

Folder 9

Meetings – Announcements 2014

Folder 10

Meetings – Announcements 2015

Folder 11

Meetings – Announcements 2016

Folder 12

Meetings – Announcements 2017

F. Publications

Box 10

Folder 1

Publications 1962-1987

Folder 2

Publications – The Bibliophile 1972-1988

Folder 3

Publications – History of Orange County newspapers (proposed) 1968-1969, n.d.

Folder 4

Publications – Los Compadres, an Orange County-Based Bibliophilic Society 2005

Folder 5

Publications – Los Compadres: The First Twenty Years (folder 1 of 2) 1978

Folder 6

Publications – Los Compadres: The First Twenty Years (folder 2 of 2) 1978-1979, n.d.

Folder 7

Publications: Galley proofs of Los Compadres: The First Twenty Years [Withdrawn to oversize folder] 1978

Folder 8

Publications – The Story of Los Compadres by Don Meadows 1973

Folder 9

Publications – Works about Los Compadres and Los Compadres members 1968-1992

Folder 10

Publications – Works by Los Compadres members 1973-1998

Folder 11

Publications – Richard Buffam newspaper articles 1980s-1990s

G. Photographs

Box 11

Folder 1

Photographs – Anza Borrego trip 1960

Folder 2

Photographs – Group portrait 1970s

Folder 3

Photographs – Group portrait 1962-1987

Folder 4

Photographs – Meetings 1981

Folder 5

Photographs – Meetings 1982

Folder 6

Photographs – Meetings 1988

Folder 7

Photographs – Meetings 1989

Folder 8

Photographs – Meetings 1992

Folder 9

Photographs – Meetings 1999

Folder 10

Photographs – Meetings 2005

Folder 11

Photographs – Meetings 2006

Folder 12

Photographs – Meetings 2007

Folder 13

Photographs – Meetings n.d.

Folder 14

Photographs – Novemberfest 1984

Folder 15

Photographs – Novemberfest 1989

Folder 16

Photographs – Novemberfest n.d.

Folder 17

Slides – Temecula trip 1983

H. Keepsakes

Box 12

Folder 1

Keepsakes – various members 1979-, n.d.

Folder 2

Keepsakes – John Class 1982-1984, n.d.

Folder 3

Keepsakes – Gene Freeman 1982-1994

Folder 4

Keepsakes – Ward Ritchie 1982, 1987

Folder 5

Keepsakes – Wm. Erik Voss 1984-1990

Folder 6

Keepsakes – artifacts n.d.

I. Miscellany

Box 12

Folder 18

Ephemera n.d.

Folder 19

Ephemera – Business cards n.d.

Folder 20

Ephemera – Los Compadres membership cards n.d.

Folder 21

Notes 1976-2004, n.d.

Folder 22

Quizzes 1988, n.d.

Folder 23

Other book-related organizations and events 1974-1986

Folder 24

Miscellany: Proclamation recognizing William O. Hendricks on his semi-retirement from Sherman Library [3 copies] [Withdrawn to Oversize Item] 1992

Folder 25

Miscellany: "All's Not Gold That Glitters" [with signatures of attendees at presentation by Gary Kurutz][Withdrawn to Oversize Item] 2003

Folder 26

Miscellany: Leather bookmarks [Withdrawn to Oversize Items] n.d.

Withdrawn to Oversize Items

Box:Fld 10:7

Publications: Galley proofs of Los Compadres: The First Twenty Years 1978

Box:Fld 12:3

Keepsake by Gene Freeman: The First Shakespere Biography [3 copies] 1982

Box:Fld 12:4

Keepsake by Ward Richie: A Printer Dreams a Terrible Dance of Death [2 copies] 1982

Box:Fld 12:5

Keepsake by Wm. Erik Voss: “Of Love – An Essay" 1986

Box:Fld 12:5

Keepsake by Wm. Erik Voss: Ink, Lead & Paper: Twelve Books [broadside] 1990

Box:Fld 12:24

Miscellany: Proclamation recognizing William O. Hendricks on his semi-retirement from Sherman Library [3 copies] 1992

Box:Fld 12:25

Miscellany: "All's Not Gold That Glitters" [with signatures of attendees at presentation by Gary Kurutz] 2003

Box:Fld 12:26

Miscellany: Leather bookmarks n.d.