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Finding Aid for the E Clampus Vitus Records, 1935-1970
211
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Title: E Clampus Vitus Records,
Date (inclusive): 1935-1970
Collection number: 211
Creator:
E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)
Extent: 2 boxes (1 linear ft.)
1 oversize box
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: The revival of E Clampus Vitus was begun by Carl I. Wheat and others around 1931 as a parody of mining fraternities of the
nineteenth century. E Clampus Vitus events were organized around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical significance.
The collection consists of correspondence, membership rosters, and artifacts related to events and activites of the California
chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the
copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
- Gift of Lindley Bynum.
- Gift of Andrew Horn.
- Gift of Ward Ritchie, 1957.
- Gift of Estate of W.W. Robinson.
[Identification of item], E Clampus Vitus Records (Collection 211). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Revival of E Clampus Vitus was begun by Carl I. Wheat and others around 1931 as a parody of mining fraternities of the nineteenth
century; E Clampus Vitus almost always organized its events around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical information;
a history of the organization can be found in the book,
Credo Quia Absurdum (Placerville, California: Onager Press, 1949).
The history of the Ancient & Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus is given in the book
Credo quia absurdum (Placerville, California, 1949). The present social organization is a revival of mining fraternities of the nineteenth century,
parodies of the then-popular mysterious fraternal orders. The present organization delights in the mock-serious aspects of
the originals.
E Clampus Vitus almost always organizes its events around historical anniversaries or in a place of historical importance,
so that keepsakes and announcements offer historical information, as well as providing records of the club's activities. Often
the keepsakes are printed by noted California printers, such as Lawton Kennedy.
Prominent Californians were involved with the revival of the organization in the early nineteen-thirties, so that the history
and papers of the organization are important in a study of California. Carl I. Wheat was one of the first to start the revival,
around 1931. The present collection is made up of items donated by Lindley Bynum, Andrew Horn and Ward Ritchie; and of items
from the W.W. Robinson collection.
Note
note: Because of the completeness of materials collected by W.W. Robinson held in the Department of Special Collections, items
taken from that collection have been stamped with his name. Other items not pertaining to the individuals above have been
distributed throughout this collection without indicating the donor.
Collection consists of correspondence, membership rosters, and artifacts related to events and activites of the California
chapters of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.
Arranged in the following series:
- Materials with notes to or by W.W. Robinson, Lindley Bynum, Andrew Horn, and Ward Ritchie (Box 1).
- Statewide (Box 1).
- Platrix (Los Angeles) chapter (Box 1).
- Other chapters (Box 2).
- Events (Box 2).
- General publications and newsletters (Box 2).
- Oversize documents and keepsakes (Box 3).
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
E Clampus Vitus (Fraternal order)--Archives.