urn:taro:dalpub.08301 Dallas Bonehead Club Records Register and Researchers' Guide Finding aid prepared by Processed by Dr. John Geers. Edited by Cindy C. Smolovik, Archivist.. Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library July 31, 2007
1515 Young StDallas, TX 75201
 Finding aid encoded by Bryan McKinney on July 31, 2007 Overview of the Collection Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library
1515 Young St Dallas, TX 75201
 Dallas Bonehead Club Dallas Bonehead Club Records 1919-Present 18 Boxes MA83-1 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.

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.

 Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations: Dallas Bonehead Club Places: Dallas (Tex.) Titles: Dallas Bonehead Club Records 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.

 Detailed Description of the Collection Historical Files 1919-1939 1 1 Constitution & By-Laws, Motto, 1919 1 2 Club History, Charter, How to Be A Soldier, By-Laws For Affiliated Clubs 1920 1 3 The Bonehead Magazine, clippings, 1921 1 4 Active Member List, clippings, 1922 1 5 Commencement Exercises, Bonehead University, 1923 1 6 Charter Member Badge, 1924 1 7 "MA" Ferguson Inaugural Ball and Banquet, 1925 1 8 April Fool's Day Nite Party, 1926 1 9 Bonehead Pea Knife Company, 1927 1 10 Bonehead Club Section, Dallas Morning News, 1927 1 11 Club Organization Chart, 1928 1 12 Membership Lists, 1929 1 13 Bonehead University Commencement; clippings, 1930 1 14 Members List, Photo Dr. Joe Taylor, Bonehead Wrangler, 1931 1 15 Correspondence, Constitution & By-Laws, 1932 1 16 Newspaper Clippings, 1933 1 17 Club Fifteenth Anniversary Program, 1934 1 18 Meeting Notices, clippings, 1935 1 19 Texas Centennial Proclamation, Centennial News, 1936 1 20 Correspondence, first appearance of Pithyosseous, 1937 1 21 Memorial to Dean Elzy Jennings, Photos, 1938 1 22 Christmas-New Year Brawl, May 21, 1939, photos 1941-1952 2 1 Dick West Article, photos, 1941 2 2 Proposed Changes in Constitution, photos, 1942 2 3 The Boneheader, photos, 1943 2 4 Bonehead Solution to news print shortage, photos, 1944 2 5 Clippings, photos, 1945 2 6 The Inimitable "Cap" Long, photos, 1946 2 7 Christmas & New Years Program, photos 1947 2 8 International Convention, Monterrey. Ray Halloran Texas Hater 1948 2 9 30th Anniversary Christmas party, photos, 1949 2 10 Friday the 13th Homecoming, photos, 1950 2 11 Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1951 2 12 "The Dizzy Men of Dallas," Texas Parade, photos, 1952 1953-1958 3 1 "The Zanymen of Dallas," Real, August, 1953, Mayne Longnecher Speech 3 2 Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1954 3 3 Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1955 3 4 Prospectus:Bonehead Banking & Insurance Deposit Company, clippings, photos, 1956 3 5 Clippings, photos, 1957 3 6 Certificate of Merit, Bonehead University; clippings, 1958 1959-1966 4 1 Clippings, photos, "Poet Lousee" award, 1959 4 2 Clippings, correspondence, 1960 4 3 Correspondence, clippings, Bonehead Club vs Connie B. Gay, et al, 1961 4 4 Ode to Boneheads on 4th of July, Onlender, Reform Tom Eagleston State of Union address, 1962 4 5 Flower show, photos, 1963 4 6 Correspondence, clippings, photos, 1964 4 7 Homecoming(Poem), wives and secretaries meeting. 1965 4 8 Flower show, clippings, 1966 1967-1982 5 1 Inawgral Brawl, April,Correspondence, 1967 5 2 Flower Show Entries, clippings, 1968 5 3 50 Golden Years, 1969 5 4 Annual Meeting program, clippings, 1970 5 5 Membership Lists, annual meeting, 1971 5 6 Azalea Queen, Joe Bailey, photos, 1972 5 7 Pithyosseous - Special Edition, 1973 5 8 Corn, Thesis presented by Freshman Don Clark, 1974 5 9 Photos, correspondence, 1975 5 10 First Annual "mini" Grand Prix, The Fine Art of Sulking, Tom Eagleston, 1976 5 11 "The April Fools Club," Ken Badt, 1977 5 12 "Articles of Incorporation," photos, negatives, 1978 5 13 Annual Report, color photos, 1979 5 14 "Commiepouf Song" - Bonehead of the Year Awards, 1980 5 15 "Nobody's Perfekt" premiere,Pithyosseous, Special Edition, 1981 5 16 "Bonehead of the Year" Nominees, Winner, 1982 5 17 "Bonehead of the year" 1965-1979 5 18 Kennedy Assassination Materials 1963 Miscellaneous 6 1 J. Howard Payne, Chairman, Extension Committee Correspondence, 1921-1959 6 2 News Clippings, 1950-1963 6 3 Inaugural Ball program, 1965 6 4 Membership nominations, 1977-1980 6 5 The Telephone Story - Telephone Hour, 1959 6 6 Bonehead Stationary 6 7 Moon Warranty Deed 6 8 Famous Bonehead Inventions 6 9 Printed Items, clippings, notes 6 10 Members Resume sheets 6 11 Mounted news clippings, 1953-1955 6 12 Poem - "A Bonehead Wife's Lament" 2/15/91 6 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 9 2 Pithyosseous - original paste-ups 1975 9 3 Pithyosseous 1975 9 4 Pithyosseous - original paste-ups 1976 9 5 Pithyosseous 1976 9 6 Pithyosseous blank sheets 9 7 Christmas & Inaugural Ball programs, 1950-1957 9 8 Christmas & Inaugural Ball programs, 1959-1979 9a Pithyosseous 1978-1988 9b Pithyosseous 1988-present Photographs 10 1-5 8 X 10 Photographs 10 6 Snapshots, Christmas Party 1979 10 7 Snapshots n.d. 10 8 Snapshots, Annual Flower Show, 1962 10 9 Snapshots, Annual Flower Show, 1964 10 10 Ramiro Salazar - Dallas Public Library Director at Bonehead Club meeting. 18 March 1994 10 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 13 2 Flower Show meetings, 1964 13 3 Photostats of Bonehead Articles, Titles: "The Zany Bonehead," "Merry Boneheads of Dallas," and "The Bonehead Wrangler" 1931-1957 13 4 Most Useless Citizen Award, 1957 13 5 Chigger Party, 1956 13 6 Bonehead Life Insurance Company 13 7 Doctor of Spanish Calisthenics Forms, Bonehead University 13 8 Awards Luncheon, 1980 13 9 Worse Neighbor of the Year 13 10 Closing of State Fair, proclamation, 1963 13 11 Initiation Ceremony 13 12 "Takeover" of 25th Anniversary "Early Bird" Radio Program 13 13 Visitors Information Sheets 13 14 Miscellaneous Correspondence 13 15 The Electroencephalometer, Text and photos 13 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 14 2 Ladle Rat Rotten Hut 14 3 Revised Rules for Intercollegiate Football 14 4 "Owed" to a red neck, Tie J.H. Cullom 14 5 Job Creators of America, E. Bottom and D. Stewart 14 6 Melody in F, J. Garlock and G. Jones 14 7 Telegrams, Dr. Neal Lyons reports on his research, 1953 14 8 35th Anniversary Article, R. Moncrief, 1954 14 9 Don't put all your Eggs in one Basket, Fathers Chicken,How,Poorman's Poe 14 10 April Fools Club,Ben Badt Speech , 1977 14 11 Jack Horn's Phrenology, 1962 14 12 C. Harold Byrd Informal Talk, 1978 14 13 Farewell Speech J. Detweiler, 1957 14 14 Fellow Golfer 14 15 Historical Significance of U.S. Foreign policy as seen by Bonehead Freshman 14 16 Can He Revive Pro Footballs Sad Sacks, Frank X. Tolbert re Giles Miller, 1952 14 17 Bonehead Songs 14 18 Charter #2, Flagstaff Arizona Club, 1928 14 19 It All Started in the Ladies Ordinary, Frank Tolbert, 1962 14 20 Report of Membership Committee, 1961 14 21 Membership Rosters 14 22 Constitution & By Laws, 1930-1978 14 23 Prepared Histories of the Club 14 24 State Fair Closing Proclamation, 1992 14 25 Ezekiel Airship Mfg. Co. (historical marker) 14 26 John R. Harris, Jr. Obituary 1/21/93 14 27 Membership Directory (c. 1974) and Bylaws 14 28 Address by Freshman Ralph Fentress Black, Jan. 29 1993 14 29 "Personal Trust Accounts in a Large Texas Bank" by Freshman Thomas B. Chaunault, 18 April 1999 14 30 "How Lucky Can You Be?" by Freshman Charles Busbee, 22 April 1999 14 31 Address by Dr. Ed Basham - "The Chambliss Family", Oct. 6, 2000 14 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