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Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Records
0208  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Conditions Governing Access
  • Immediate Source of Acquisition
  • Arrangement
  • Preferred Citation
  • Processing Information
  • Conditions Governing Use
  • Related Materials
  • Scope and Contents
  • Biographical / Historical

  • Contributing Institution: Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
    Title: Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Records
    Identifier/Call Number: 0208
    Physical Description: 2.0 Linear Feet 1 25x19x5 box
    Date (inclusive): 1970 - 2002
    Abstract: The Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Records contain two scrapbooks of KCIC programming and news coverage from 1970 to 2002. Beginning with a small display in 1963, since 1964 KCIC organizers have committed to sharing a Christmas crèche at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Webb Way. Accompanied by related programming for and by the Malibu community throughout the season of Advent, these efforts are intended to center the birth of Christ as the true meaning of Christmas.
    Physical Location: PAYSON 360 Row 3
    Language of Material: English .
    Container: 1

    Conditions Governing Access

    Advance notice required for access.

    Immediate Source of Acquisition

    These scrapbooks were given by Jackie Sutton.

    Arrangement

    The scrapbooks composing the Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) records are housed in their original scrapbooks. Interfiled materials in the scrapbooks were maintained in their original order within the scrapbook with the addition of enclosures out of preservation concerns.

    Preferred Citation

    [Box/folder# or item name], Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) Records, Collection no. 0208, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.

    Processing Information

    This collection was arranged and described by Anastasia Armendariz, November 2022.

    Conditions Governing Use

    Copyright restrictions may apply.

    Related Materials

    See also the the Malibu Times Collection and the Spinks (Johanna) Malibu Portraits Collection.

    Scope and Contents

    These records consist of two scrapbooks from the Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) organization. KCIC was founded in 1963 by Mary Kuepper with the support of Our Lady of Malibu Church (OLM). One scrapbook is indicated as KCIC volume II. It covers the KCIC crèche and related events from 1984 to 1993. This coverage includes photographs, photographic negatives, slide reversal film, newspaper clippings, fliers, and bulletins. The scrapbook is interfiled with other photographs and bulletins from the 1970s and 1980s. The other scrapbook includes coverage of KCIC from 1994 through 2002. It was interfiled with photographs, photographic negatives, clippings, and cards from 1978, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1988. These scrapbooks document KCIC's annual efforts from fundraisers through to construction and programming for the Advent season, with musical performances, readings, and performances of the Nativity story.

    Biographical / Historical

    Mary Kuepper's efforts to center the birth of Christ in Christmas in Malibu began in 1963. Kuepper reached out to the Malibu Chamber of Commerce with a proposal for a "Keep Christ in Christmas" installation. With their approval, she set up a Christmas display at the corner of Webb Way and Pacific Coast Highway. This included a Christmas tree and a painted sign reading "Peace on Earth" with a silhouette of Mary and the infant Jesus.
    In 1964, Kuepper petitioned her church, Our Lady of Malibu (OLM) for a more ambitious Christmastime display. Kuepper was moved by the Vatican II reforms and viewed the KCIC as a way to reach out to other Christian churches and believers in an ecumenical effort. Three additional Malibu churches— Shepherd by the Sea Lutheran, Malibu United Methodist, and Malibu Presbyterian— to fundraise for a more spectacular display. Her invitations for involvement extended from other Malibu churches to community organizations from the Optimist's Club to 4-H. The officially incorporated KCIC Project is a volunteer-ran organization.
    KCIC rented the first crèche in 1964. This was assembled by Bill Wilmott and Frank Coe. For Advent and Christmas season 1965, Ed Grippe, Joe Shiro, and Tom Lienhard designed an A-frame crèche. A later crèche was designed by Manny Gonzalez, Jr. Within a few years, KCIC raised enough money to commission 15 statues from a workshop in the Tyrolean village of Ortezay, or Urtijei, at the base of the Alps. In addition to the holy family and an angel, these sculptures included shepherds. sheep, a donkey, a camel and the three kings. Crafted in 1938, each of the original statues was carved from a solid block of larchwood, cured, and then re-carved for finer detail. The statues were colored with a hand-rubbed mixture of linseed oil and special pigments.
    Mary Kuepper was also supported in her early efforts by a small but passionate group of KCIC volunteer members. One of these initial supporters was Jackie Sutton. Jackie Sutton moved to Malibu in 1954 and became highly involved at OLM along with her husband, Doug Sutton. Jackie Sutton also created the docent program at the Getty Villa and helped start the education department at the Getty Museum. Sutton eventually became KCIC President and served through 2013. During the latter portion of her time of service, Jackie Sutton was supported by KCIC manager Susan Schoen. Mary Motley took on the mantle of leader of KCIC from 2014 to 2022.
    Since 1964, KCIC has set up the crèche in advance of the first Sunday of Advent. A long-standing central component of KCIC programming was Las Posadas. This traditional Mexican procession marks the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. In Malibu, Las Posadas involved locals dressed as Mary and Joseph. Along with live farm animals, all would proceed from OLM past City Hall to the site of the community crèche. It was followed by a reenactment of the Christian Christmas story and a ceremonial lighting of the first Advent candle along with caroling and other musical performances. The crèche remains up through the New Year.
    Local churches and members of the Malibu community alternate caroling services, readings, and other programming throughout the following Sundays of Advent. The organizers of KCIC also hosted annual themed art and essay contests for school-aged students. Top prizes were awarded and certificates of participation distributed to all.
    Over the years, the Malibu KCIC crèche has endured a range of threats. The crèche statues were originally stored in the basement storage room of Serra Retreat. After the violent fire of September 1970, the crèche and carved figures were found nearly untouched by the flames. Their off-season storage was moved to Roberts Ranch in Solstice Canyon. While Roberts Ranch was devastated by the 1982 Dayton Canyon Fire, the statues were again found intact. In 2017, KCIC organizer Mary Manley had scheduled the repair and lowering of the crèche roof in just enough time for it to be spared from the Woolsey Fire.
    The crèche has also endured thefts and attempted vandalism. After an angel was stolen in 1987, a fundraiser was held for its replacement. The statue of Jesus was stolen twice as of 2014, with locals including actress Roma Downey offering up funds for replacements. One stolen lamb was eventually located on a mailbox, while another lost sheep was never recovered. In 2011, KCIC leadership installed alarm systems and screening around the crèche as a theft deterrent. Early in Mary Motley's time as organizer, the electricity for the crèche lighting and PA system was compromised. Thanks to fundraising efforts, KCIC was able to send out the statues for repairs in 2020. This mitigated decades of accumulated cracks and other wear.
    KCIC members and supporters have navigated fundraising challenges in the wake of waning support for Christmas displays in favor of more secular wintertime displays in public spaces. KCIC no longer hosts a Las Posadas procession. One year, just as the procession wrapped up and the actor playing Mary dismounted the donkey, it bolted across PCH. While the donkey was safely recovered, that marked the final year of the procession. KCIC organizers also noted that many more locals were interested in the KCIC display after Woolsey. In an extension of the ecumenical spirit of founder Mary Kuepper, KCIC invited the Jewish community to add a menorah to the display. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the sculptures remained in storage and were replaced with a nativity scene backdrop. The children's art and essay contest is on expected hiatus through 2022.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Malibu (Calif.) -- History
    Scrapbooks
    Photographs
    Posadas (Social custom)
    Crèches (Nativity scenes)