Historical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Preferred Citation
Acquisition
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Los Angeles Corral of Westerners records
Creator:
Westerners. Los Angeles Corral
Creator:
Blew, Robert
Creator:
Cavallo, Joseph
Creator:
Denzel, Carl
Creator:
Duke, Donald
Creator:
Hull, Lonnie
Creator:
Nelson, Eric A.
Creator:
Newton, Frank Q.
Creator:
Nunis, Doyce B. (Doyce Blackman), 1924-2011
Creator:
Robinson, John W., 1929-
Identifier/Call Number: 0117
Identifier/Call Number: 301
Physical Description:
202.8 Linear Feet
114 boxes and 3 mapcase folders
Date (inclusive): 1946-2019
Abstract: The Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners was founded in 1946 and promotes the study and understanding of Western history through
publications and events. This collection contains correspondence, financial and publication records, photographs, artifacts,
scrapbooks and drafts of articles documenting the history of the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners.
Language of Material:
English
.
Historical Note
The first Westerners Corral was established in Chicago in 1944 with the aim of promoting the study and understanding of Western
history. Soon, corrals were springing up all over the United States-- and even internationally-- with the Los Angeles corral
being established in 1946 by oil executive Homer Britzman--who also was elected founding Sheriff. The last remaining founding
member, Glen Dawson, was one of the L.A. Corral's early Sheriffs and was a well-known rock climber, mountaineer, antiquarian
bookseller (Dawson's Bookshop in Los Angeles, founded by his father Ernest Dawson), and also served as Director of the Sierra
Club from 1937 to 1951. The Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners regularly convenes to hear historians and other speakers
present western-related topics as well as to celebrate the western spirit through annual Rendezvous and Fandangos. The Corral
has published 22 Brand Books, almost 250 Branding Irons, and numerous other publications. Originally restricted to men,
the organization now welcomes and encourages women to participate in the Corral.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the records of the Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners, including correspondence pertaining to Westerner
activities, membership and publications, financial records, the publication records of works published by the group, audiocassettes
and DVDs of Westerner programs and lectures, and scrapbooks of photographs of Westerner events. The publication records for
the Branding Iron (a quarterly periodical), the Brand Book (an annual or bi-annual monograph length publication) and Keepsakes
(irregular publications) include correspondence with authors, drafts of articles including art, floppy and zip disks, and
proofs. Artifacts found in the collection include printing plates and a plaque. One of the larger series, the John W. Robinson
collection, is comprised of Robinson's subject files, maps, and photographs-- many of which served as research for a number
of books that he authored.
Arrangement
Within series, records are generally arranged in chronological order. Whenever possible, files that were the provenance of
individual members were kept together with their original file headings, although sometimes spelled out more completely for
clarity.
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access. Consult finding aid for additional information.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection contains published articles; researchers are reminded of the copyright restrictions imposed by publishers on
reusing their articles and parts of books. It is the responsibility of researchers to acquire permission from publishers when
reusing such materials. The copyright to unpublished materials belongs to the heirs of the writers. Permission to publish,
quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder# or item name], Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners records, Collection no. 0117, Special Collections, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Acquisition
The Los Angeles Corral of the Westerners records were donated to USC Special Collections by the Los Angeles Corral of Westerners
in 1985. Since the initial donation of records in 1985, multiple new accessions have also been received.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cowboys -- Poetry -- Archival resources
Frontier and pioneer life -- United States -- Periodicals
Private clubs -- California -- Los Angeles -- Archival resources
Social history -- Societies and clubs -- Social aspects -- Archival resources
California -- History -- Archival resources
California, Southern -- History -- Maps
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- Archival resources
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- History -- Periodicals
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Social life and customs -- Archival resources
West (U.S.) -- History -- Archival resources
West (U.S.) -- History -- Societies, etc.
Audiocassettes
Correspondence
Ephemera
Page proofs
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Branding Iron
Britzman, Homer E. (Homer Elwood), 1901-1953 -- Archives
Cody, Iron Eyes, 1904-1999 -- Archives
Newton, Frank Q. -- Archives
Robinson, John W., 1929- -- Archives