Series 3. Elephant races, 1962
Scope and Contents
One grey and red beanie made for an elephant that Chapman entered in an elephant race in 1962 at the newly formed Orange County State College at Fullerton (now California State College at Fullerton) in conjunction with publicity for the new college. This series also contains photographs and information about the event, including clippings and a one-page typed history of the Elephant beanie and photographs.
Dates
- 1962
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
To get publicity for the newly opening Orange County State College at Fullerton (now California State University, Fullerton) the institution announced it was going to hold competitive elephant races. Professor Don Booth, of Chapman College, rented Babe from a wild animal farm north of Corona. For the race, Babe was called "Calvin Coolidge". To give color to the elephant, Miss Willy Van Rooijen, a sophomore, made it a grey and red felt beanie. Many universities, mostly local, participated including Harvard. The race was held in a corn field just south of the campus.
Upon the occasion of Willy receiving her Masters degree from Chapman in 1975, she presented the elephant beanie to Don Booth as her graduation gift to him.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
- California State University, Fullerton Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Chapman College -- History Subject Source: Local sources
- Elephant races. Subject Source: Local sources
Repository Details
Part of the University Archives, Frank Mt. Pleasant Library of Special Collections & Archives Repository
