Ready Reference Files

E Clampus Vitus

E Clampus Vitus is a men-only organization which flourished in the California mining camps during the Gold Rush days. After many years of being dormant, it was revived in the early 1930's, and has chapters throughout the West. It has been described by Carl Wheat, a San Francisco historian who helped to revitalize it, as the "comic strip on the page of California's history."
Chapters local to Santa Cruz are:

• The Branciforte Outpost No. 1797 P.O. Box 1333 Santa Cruz, CA 95061
• Monterey Viejo Chapter No. 1846 P.O. Box 4912 Salinas, CA 93912
• Mountain Charley Chapter No. 1850 P.O. Box 23564 San Jose, CA 95153

For additional information on E Clampus Vitus, see:
Glasscock, Carl B. A Golden Highway. Bobbs, New York, 1934., pp.175-188. (917.94 G46)
Dickson, Samuel. San Francisco Kaleidoscope. Stanford University Press, 1949, pp.151-159. (979.461 D56)
Rather, Lois. Men Will Be Boys: The Story of E Clampus Vitus. Rather Press, Oakland, California, 1980. (CALIFORNIANA OVERSIZE 366 R18)

Source: Rather, Lois. Men Will Be Boys: The Story of E Clampus Vitus. Rather Press, Oakland, California, 1980.

Verified by: GM, 5/98

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While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.