Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Zeno Klinker papers (ARA)
- Dates:
- 1890-2000, bulk 1930-1970
- Creators:
- Klinker, Zeno, 1900-1985 and Klinker, Orpha, 1891-1964
- Abstract:
- Zeno Klinker (1900-1985) was a writer most notably for the Edgar Bergen/ Charlie McCarthy show. This collection includes scripts from the Edgar Bergen show, but the bulk of it is joke cards he had written throughout his career. Along with this material there are Kodachrome stereoscopic slides he took from the 1940s and other various material pertaining to the Klinker family, most notably of his sister Orpha Klinker.
- Extent:
- 54 Linear Feet; (54 boxes: 53 cartons, 1 flat box)
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Zeno Klinker papers, PA Mss 251. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Zeno Klinker papers consists of 54 boxes of materials dating from 1890 - 2000, with a bulk of the material from 1930 - 1970. Three boxes maintain correspondence, photographs, publications, artwork and material related to Klinkers personal life. Five boxes maintain scripts from Klinker's time as the lead writer for the Edgar Bergen/ Charlie McCarthy show. Forty-four boxes contain thousands of joke cards that Klinker had written throughout his career. Three boxes house Kodachrome stereoscopic slides Klinker had taken throughout the 1940s. The are also 4 panoramas of masquerade parties and a poster of a newsclip of the moon landing.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Zeno Klinker was born on February 18, 1900 in Iola, Kansas. Thorughout his life he was known as the head writer for Edgar Bergen, but also enjoyed a personal life of flying airplanes and taking photographs. Klinker is related to the well-known artist Orpha Klinker. He died on January 22, 1985 in Los Angeles.
- Custodial history:
-
This collection forms part of the American Radio Archives (ARA), which documents the early history of broadcasting, with an emphasis on California. The ARA was formerly housed at the Thousand Oaks Public Library and was owned and administered by the Thousand Oaks Library Foundation. It was transferred to the UCSB Library in 2021.
- Arrangement:
-
The materials in this collection are arranged into eight series by type.
- Correspondence
- Photographs
- Publications
- Klinker family papers
- Other materials
- Artwork
- Scripts
- Joke cards
- Kodachrome stereoscopic slides
- Newspaper clippings/ comic strips
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-10-01 15:09:22 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.
All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Zeno Klinker papers, PA Mss 251. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara
- Location of this collection:
-
UC Santa Barbara LibrarySanta Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
- Contact:
- (805) 893-3062