TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dallas Bonehead Club Records
Register and Researchers' Guide
Overview of the Collection |
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| Accession No.: | MA83-1 |
| Repository: | Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library1515 Young St Dallas, TX 75201 |
| Creator: | Dallas Bonehead Club |
| Title: | Dallas Bonehead Club Records |
| Dates: | 1919-Present |
| Quantity: | 18 Boxes |
| Language: | The records are in English. |
History
On Friday, April 1, 1919 the Bonehead Club was created in Dallas. An official Texas State Chapter for the organization was granted in May of 1920. Membership consists of businessmen, doctors, lawyers and other professionals. The correct full name is: Bonehead Club of Dallas Texas Museum No. 1, Mother Club of the World (Cosmos). For the past sixty years members of this exclusive organization have kept the same purpose and philosophy of their founders, which is, in their own words, "OUR AIM: NOTHING, OUR PURPOSE, NOTHING, OUR INSPIRATION: NOTHING, MOTTO: TO LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT LESS AND LESS UNTIL, EVENTUALLY, WE SHALL KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT NOTHING!" The true sole purpose of the Bonehead Club is to relax and have fun. It has been expressed that stress and the need for escape are problems of the High-Tech Age of the 1980s and the 21st Century. If that be the case, the Bonehead Club founders were either ahead of their time, or the world was just as stressful for businessmen of the early 20th Century. In either case, the members of the Bonehead Club found their way to temporarily forget the seriousness of their daily lives through complete "refreshing foolishness."
Over the years the Bonehead Club has sponsored such civic minded projects as the wedding of the Dallas Zoo's Camels, Josephine and Napoleon, and participation in the beautification of Dallas by planting a large oak tree in the center of the intersection of Akard and Commerce streets. Other activities included official closing of the State Fair, the day before its official opening, Christmas parties in April and a host of other totally useless but equally crazy events. The Bonehead Club constantly reminds everyone not to take things too seriously. They are a part of the history of Dallas, its members are generally some of Dallas' most prominent businessmen, lawyers, doctors and professional men.
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Scope and Contents
The Bonehead Club Records include the 1919 constitution and 1920 State Charter, membership lists and copies of the official publication, Pithyosseous, from 1943-2002. Newspaper clippings and photographs depict the various activities and members of the organization.
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Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Organizations:
Places:
Titles:
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
MA83-1 Dallas Bonehead Club Records Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library
Processing Information
Processed by Dr. John Geers. Edited by Cindy C. Smolovik, Archivist.
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Detailed Description of the Collection
| Historical Files | |||||||||||
| 1919-1939 | |||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Constitution & By-Laws, Motto, 1919 | |||||||||
| 2 | Club History, Charter, How to Be A Soldier, By-Laws For Affiliated Clubs 1920 | ||||||||||
| 3 | The Bonehead Magazine, clippings, 1921 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Active Member List, clippings, 1922 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Commencement Exercises, Bonehead University, 1923 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Charter Member Badge, 1924 | ||||||||||
| 7 | "MA" Ferguson Inaugural Ball and Banquet, 1925 | ||||||||||
| 8 | April Fool's Day Nite Party, 1926 | ||||||||||
| 9 | Bonehead Pea Knife Company, 1927 | ||||||||||
| 10 | Bonehead Club Section, Dallas Morning News, 1927 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Club Organization Chart, 1928 | ||||||||||
| 12 | Membership Lists, 1929 | ||||||||||
| 13 | Bonehead University Commencement; clippings, 1930 | ||||||||||
| 14 | Members List, Photo Dr. Joe Taylor, Bonehead Wrangler, 1931 | ||||||||||
| 15 | Correspondence, Constitution & By-Laws, 1932 | ||||||||||
| 16 | Newspaper Clippings, 1933 | ||||||||||
| 17 | Club Fifteenth Anniversary Program, 1934 | ||||||||||
| 18 | Meeting Notices, clippings, 1935 | ||||||||||
| 19 | Texas Centennial Proclamation, Centennial News, 1936 | ||||||||||
| 20 | Correspondence, first appearance of Pithyosseous, 1937 | ||||||||||
| 21 | Memorial to Dean Elzy Jennings, Photos, 1938 | ||||||||||
| 22 | Christmas-New Year Brawl, May 21, 1939, photos | ||||||||||
| 1941-1952 | |||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Dick West Article, photos, 1941 | |||||||||
| 2 | Proposed Changes in Constitution, photos, 1942 | ||||||||||
| 3 | The Boneheader, photos, 1943 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Bonehead Solution to news print shortage, photos, 1944 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Clippings, photos, 1945 | ||||||||||
| 6 | The Inimitable "Cap" Long, photos, 1946 | ||||||||||
| 7 | Christmas & New Years Program, photos 1947 | ||||||||||
| 8 | International Convention, Monterrey. Ray Halloran Texas Hater 1948 | ||||||||||
| 9 | 30th Anniversary Christmas party, photos, 1949 | ||||||||||
| 10 | Friday the 13th Homecoming, photos, 1950 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1951 | ||||||||||
| 12 | "The Dizzy Men of Dallas," Texas Parade, photos, 1952 | ||||||||||
| 1953-1958 | |||||||||||
| 3 | 1 | "The Zanymen of Dallas," Real, August, 1953, Mayne Longnecher Speech | |||||||||
| 2 | Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1954 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1955 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Prospectus:Bonehead Banking & Insurance Deposit Company, clippings, photos, 1956 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Clippings, photos, 1957 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Certificate of Merit, Bonehead University; clippings, 1958 | ||||||||||
| 1959-1966 | |||||||||||
| 4 | 1 | Clippings, photos, "Poet Lousee" award, 1959 | |||||||||
| 2 | Clippings, correspondence, 1960 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Correspondence, clippings, Bonehead Club vs Connie B. Gay, et al, 1961 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Ode to Boneheads on 4th of July, Onlender, Reform Tom Eagleston State of Union address, 1962 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Flower show, photos, 1963 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1964 | ||||||||||
| 7 | Homecoming(Poem), wives and secretaries meeting. 1965 | ||||||||||
| 8 | Flower show, clippings, 1966 | ||||||||||
| 1967-1982 | |||||||||||
| 5 | 1 | Inawgral Brawl, April,Correspondence, 1967 | |||||||||
| 2 | Flower Show Entries, clippings, 1968 | ||||||||||
| 3 | 50 Golden Years, 1969 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Annual Meeting program, clippings, 1970 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Membership Lists, annual meeting, 1971 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Azalea Queen, Joe Bailey, photos, 1972 | ||||||||||
| 7 | Pithyosseous - Special Edition, 1973 | ||||||||||
| 8 | Corn, Thesis presented by Freshman Don Clark, 1974 | ||||||||||
| 9 | Photos, correspondence, 1975 | ||||||||||
| 10 | First Annual "mini" Grand Prix, The Fine Art of Sulking, Tom Eagleston, 1976 | ||||||||||
| 11 | "The April Fools Club," Ken Badt, 1977 | ||||||||||
| 12 | "Articles of Incorporation," photos, negatives, 1978 | ||||||||||
| 13 | Annual Report, color photos, 1979 | ||||||||||
| 14 | "Commiepouf Song" - Bonehead of the Year Awards, 1980 | ||||||||||
| 15 | "Nobody's Perfekt" premiere,Pithyosseous, Special Edition, 1981 | ||||||||||
| 16 | "Bonehead of the Year" Nominees, Winner, 1982 | ||||||||||
| 17 | "Bonehead of the year" 1965-1979 | ||||||||||
| 18 | Kennedy Assassination Materials 1963 | ||||||||||
| Miscellaneous | |||||||||||
| 6 | 1 | J. Howard Payne, Chairman, Extension Committee Correspondence, 1921-1959 | |||||||||
| 2 | News Clippings, 1950-1963 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Inaugural Ball program, 1965 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Membership nominations, 1977-1980 | ||||||||||
| 5 | The Telephone Story - Telephone Hour, 1959 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Bonehead Stationary | ||||||||||
| 7 | Moon Warranty Deed | ||||||||||
| 8 | Famous Bonehead Inventions | ||||||||||
| 9 | Printed Items, clippings, notes | ||||||||||
| 10 | Members Resume sheets | ||||||||||
| 11 | Mounted news clippings, 1953-1955 | ||||||||||
| 12 | Poem - "A Bonehead Wife's Lament" 2/15/91 | ||||||||||
| 13 | Letter from Social Security Administration on occasion of Bonehead 65th Anniv. | ||||||||||
| Club Publications | |||||||||||
| 7 | Pithyosseous 1943-1957 | ||||||||||
| 8 | Pithyosseous 1958-1965 | ||||||||||
| Club Publications and Programs | |||||||||||
| 9 | 1 | Pithyosseous - Miscellaneous copies 1968-1980 | |||||||||
| 2 | Pithyosseous - original paste-ups 1975 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Pithyosseous 1975 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Pithyosseous - original paste-ups 1976 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Pithyosseous 1976 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Pithyosseous blank sheets | ||||||||||
| 7 | Christmas & Inaugural Ball programs, 1950-1957 | ||||||||||
| 8 | Christmas & Inaugural Ball programs, 1959-1979 | ||||||||||
| 9a | Pithyosseous 1978-1988 | ||||||||||
| 9b | Pithyosseous 1988-present | ||||||||||
| Photographs | |||||||||||
| 10 | 1-5 | 8 X 10 Photographs | |||||||||
| 6 | Snapshots, Christmas Party 1979 | ||||||||||
| 7 | Snapshots n.d. | ||||||||||
| 8 | Snapshots, Annual Flower Show, 1962 | ||||||||||
| 9 | Snapshots, Annual Flower Show, 1964 | ||||||||||
| 10 | Ramiro Salazar - Dallas Public Library Director at Bonehead Club meeting. 18 March 1994 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Closing of 2005 State Fair of Texas - 29 September 2006 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Photographs and Negatives n.d. | ||||||||||
| 12 | Bonehead Club Section, Dallas Morning News October 9, 1927 | ||||||||||
| Bonehead Activities | |||||||||||
| 13 | 1 | Flower Show meetings, 1961-1963 | |||||||||
| 2 | Flower Show meetings, 1964 | ||||||||||
| 3 | Photostats of Bonehead Articles, Titles: "The Zany Bonehead," "Merry Boneheads of Dallas," and "The Bonehead Wrangler" 1931-1957 | ||||||||||
| 4 | Most Useless Citizen Award, 1957 | ||||||||||
| 5 | Chigger Party, 1956 | ||||||||||
| 6 | Bonehead Life Insurance Company | ||||||||||
| 7 | Doctor of Spanish Calisthenics Forms, Bonehead University | ||||||||||
| 8 | Awards Luncheon, 1980 | ||||||||||
| 9 | Worse Neighbor of the Year | ||||||||||
| 10 | Closing of State Fair, proclamation, 1963 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Initiation Ceremony | ||||||||||
| 12 | "Takeover" of 25th Anniversary "Early Bird" Radio Program | ||||||||||
| 13 | Visitors Information Sheets | ||||||||||
| 14 | Miscellaneous Correspondence | ||||||||||
| 15 | The Electroencephalometer, Text and photos | ||||||||||
| 16 | Gifts to area institutions, 1993 | ||||||||||
| Club, Songs, Speeches, Origional Writings, Membership Rosters, Constitution and By-Laws, and Written Histories. | |||||||||||
| 14 | 1 | Casey At the Bat - Timothy Thayer | |||||||||
| 2 | Ladle Rat Rotten Hut | ||||||||||
| 3 | Revised Rules for Intercollegiate Football | ||||||||||
| 4 | "Owed" to a red neck, Tie J.H. Cullom | ||||||||||
| 5 | Job Creators of America, E. Bottom and D. Stewart | ||||||||||
| 6 | Melody in F, J. Garlock and G. Jones | ||||||||||
| 7 | Telegrams, Dr. Neal Lyons reports on his research, 1953 | ||||||||||
| 8 | 35th Anniversary Article, R. Moncrief, 1954 | ||||||||||
| 9 | Don't put all your Eggs in one Basket, Fathers Chicken,How,Poorman's Poe | ||||||||||
| 10 | April Fools Club,Ben Badt Speech , 1977 | ||||||||||
| 11 | Jack Horn's Phrenology, 1962 | ||||||||||
| 12 | C. Harold Byrd Informal Talk, 1978 | ||||||||||
| 13 | Farewell Speech J. Detweiler, 1957 | ||||||||||
| 14 | Fellow Golfer | ||||||||||
| 15 | Historical Significance of U.S. Foreign policy as seen by Bonehead Freshman | ||||||||||
| 16 | Can He Revive Pro Footballs Sad Sacks, Frank X. Tolbert re Giles Miller, 1952 | ||||||||||
| 17 | Bonehead Songs | ||||||||||
| 18 | Charter #2, Flagstaff Arizona Club, 1928 | ||||||||||
| 19 | It All Started in the Ladies Ordinary, Frank Tolbert, 1962 | ||||||||||
| 20 | Report of Membership Committee, 1961 | ||||||||||
| 21 | Membership Rosters | ||||||||||
| 22 | Constitution & By Laws, 1930-1978 | ||||||||||
| 23 | Prepared Histories of the Club | ||||||||||
| 24 | State Fair Closing Proclamation, 1992 | ||||||||||
| 25 | Ezekiel Airship Mfg. Co. (historical marker) | ||||||||||
| 26 | John R. Harris, Jr. Obituary 1/21/93 | ||||||||||
| 27 | Membership Directory (c. 1974) and Bylaws | ||||||||||
| 28 | Address by Freshman Ralph Fentress Black, Jan. 29 1993 | ||||||||||
| 29 | "Personal Trust Accounts in a Large Texas Bank" by Freshman Thomas B. Chaunault, 18 April 1999 | ||||||||||
| 30 | "How Lucky Can You Be?" by Freshman Charles Busbee, 22 April 1999 | ||||||||||
| 31 | Address by Dr. Ed Basham - "The Chambliss Family", Oct. 6, 2000 | ||||||||||
| 32 | "An Old Bonehead presents - Reflections" Compiled by Brad and Jan Angers March 2007 | ||||||||||
| Miscellaneous Materials | |||||||||||
| 15 | Slides, Movies, Tapes | ||||||||||
| 16 | Scrapbook | ||||||||||
| 17 | Ephemera | ||||||||||
| 18 | Ephemera | ||||||||||