E Clampus Vitus Records, 1933-1984

Summary

Title:

E Clampus Vitus records

Dates:

1933-1984

Creators:

E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)

Abstract:

This collection contains the records of the Platrix Chapter (Los Angeles) of E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order).

Extent:

8 Linear Feet (5 boxes, 4 folders)

Language:

Materials are in English.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. E Clampus Vitus records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

A collection of 1,655 items which contains the records of the Platrix Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. The records include correspondence, publicity, photographs, and material related to the history of the Platrix Chapter from 1933 to 1984. Most of the material came from the files of Sidney Davidson Platford (1889-1980), a long-time leader in this southern California group and titled the first Sublime Noble Grand Humbug of the Grand Council.

Biographical / historical:

E Clampus Vitus was a benevolent social organization prominent in California during the Gold Rush; it existed as a burlesque of the usual fraternal societies, but it also engaged in charitable activities. It is thought to have started in western Virginia or eastern Pennsylvania, traveled to the Midwest, then overland with the Forty-niners to California. There are rival claims in California for the location of the first chapter: Downieville, Sierra City, and Stockton. It was revived in 1932 by historian Carl I. Wheat and others with the establishment of the "Yerba Buena" chapter in San Francisco. A year later a chapter was formed in Los Angeles, known as the "Platrix" chapter. This irreverent organization was founded mainly for fun and as a social organization for men interested in Western history. There are now chapters throughout the state that hold treks to various locations and install historical plaques.

Acquisition information:

Gifts of Dr. Robert Stragnell, January 1983, January 1984, February 1986, May 1986; Gift of Ted N. Weissbuch, April 1985; Gift of Thomas Bent, August 1989.

Processing information:

Processed by Huntington Staff, circa 1985-1988. In 2020, Gayle Richardson created the finding aid derived from a legacy in-house summary report.

Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Related resources

Related material:

E Clampus Vitus. Platrix Chapter, no. 2 : 1983 directory of members and the history of the first 50 years (480854); E Clampus Vitus-Platrix Chapter No. 2 slide collection (photCL 265).

Indexed terms

Subjects:

Brotherhoods -- California
Fraternal organizations -- California, Southern
Business records -- California -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- California -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- California -- 20th century

Names:

Platford, Sidney Davidson, 1889-1980

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:

Gayle Richardson

Date Encoded:

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2021-06-22 08:47:05 -0700 .

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. E Clampus Vitus records, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:

Huntington Library, Manuscript Collections

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, CA 91108, US

Contact:

(626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

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