Finding Aid to the Knights of the Clocks Collection, 1950-2012 Coll2014.087
Loni Shibuyama
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Knights of the Clocks collection
creator:
Knights of the Clocks
creator:
Byrd, Merton L.
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.087
Physical Description:
0.1 Linear Feet
1 folder.
Date (inclusive): 1950-2012
Abstract: Articles of incorporation, event invitations, and meeting notes, circa 1950-2012, from Knights of the Clocks, an interracial
homophile social organization founded in 1951 by Merton Byrd.
The Clocks, more commonly known as the Knights of the Clocks, was founded by Merton Byrd, Louis Wells, and Donald Grant, and
incorporated in California in June 1951. The group formed as an interracial homophile group in Los Angeles with rituals and
an organizational structure inspired by Freemasonry. The collection documents indicate that the organization was also known
as The Cloistered Loyal Order of Conclaved Knights of Sophisticracy.
This collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
A photocopy of the Articles of Incorporation were acquired from the California Secretary of State Business Programs Division
in 2012 by Charles Schewene. Donor and date of remaining materials unknown.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Knights of the Clocks Collection, Coll2014-087, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, October 2014.
W. Dorr Legg Personal Papers, Coll2010-004, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, Los Angeles, California
AC0412, W. Dorr Legg speech at meeting of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) [sound recording], 1982 http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/1464/rec/1
The collection comprises articles of incorporation, event invitations, and notes, circa 1950-2012, from Knights of the Clocks,
an interracial gay men's social organization founded in 1951. The notes describe procedures for the installation of officers,
an oath repeated by members during meetings, membership dues, and an historical sketch of the organization.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African American gay men
Los Angeles -- Gay clubs
Social aspects -- Homosexuality
Knights of the Clocks
Byrd, Merton L.
Folder 1
Knights of the Clocks collection