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The Crimson Bull (1920) collection, 1920-1921

A Guide to the Records at the Indiana University Archives

Finding aid prepared by Madison Chartier

Summary Information

Repository
Indiana University Archives
1320 East Tenth Street
Herman B Wells Library E460
Bloomington, IN 47405-7000
Phone: 812-855-1127
Email: archives@indiana.edu
http://www.libraries.iub.edu/archives

Creator
The Crimson Bull (1920)

Title
The Crimson Bull (1920) collection, 1920-1921

Collection No.
C640

Extent
0.1 cubic feet (5 items)

Language
Materials are in English

Abstract
This collection consists of a cover design proof and two issues of the short-lived student humor magazine the Crimson Bull (1920). The magazine, which was published with financial support from the Indiana University chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, satirized aspects of university life through comedic sketches, cartoons, articles, and editorials contributed by IU students.

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Advance notice required.

Administrative History

The Crimson Bull was a humor magazine founded by students at Indiana University in 1920. Many of the founders were members of the IU chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, a professional journalistic fraternity, and/or were involved in other campus publications, including the Indiana Daily Student (IDS) and the Arbutus (yearbook). The fraternity also funded the magazine, supplementing income from subscriptions and advertisements.

The first issue of the Crimson Bull was printed in October 1920 under the leadership of Elmer W. Sherwood, editor-in-chief. The magazine satirized aspects of university life through comedic sketches, cartoons, articles, and editorials, and the editors solicited contributions from IU students through announcements published in the IDS. The editors released two more issues in 1920, but the Crimson Bull officially ceased publication sometime in 1921, apparently from a continued shortage of funding, subscriptions, and creative contributions from the student body. Calls for contributors that appeared in the IDS indicate that issues were planned for February, March, and May 1921, although it is unclear whether any of these were officially published. A brief articles appearing in the IDS in 1922 mentions that the Crimson Bull had three editors during a total run of four issues.

In 1947, Lawrence Wheeler, a journalist, Executive Director of the Indiana University Foundation, and original member of the 1920 Crimson Bull student editorial board, served as faculty advisor to a new version of the Crimson Bull, also a student-run humor magazine, which ran from 1947-1956.

Arrangement

Collection is arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

This collection consists of the second and third issues of the Crimson Bull (1920), as well as cover art for the February 1921 issue, which may or may not have been published.

While lacking the very first issue, the second and third issues evidence the first efforts to incorporate a broader university-wide collaboration of artists, writers, and humorists to reflect, critique, and poke fun at certain issues and “hot topics” concerning campus life, administration, and policy.

An overarching theme governs each issue’s content. The second issue, titled “The Purdue Number,” focuses much of its content on Indiana University’s long-standing rivalry with Purdue University. The third issue, “The Rhinie Number,” covers the freshman experience adjusting to college life at Indiana University.

Related Material

Related photographs may be available in the University Archives Photographs Database.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information
Accession: 2005/095, 2016/041
Usage Restrictions
Copyright interests for this collection have not been transferred to the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, contact the Indiana University Archivist.
Preferred Citation
[Item], The (1920) collection, Collection C640, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.
Provenance
One copy of Vol. I, no. 2 was transferred from the IU School of Journalism records (Accn. 2016/041). The other issues were transferred to this collection from the IU Archives publications collection. The cover design proof was donated to the IU Archives by Tom Patterson in September 2005.
Processing Information
Processed by Madison Chartier.

Completed in April 2017

Container List


Series: Box 1 The Crimson Bull, 1920-1921 

“The Purdue Number,” Vol. I, no. 2, November 1920 

(3 copies)

[image]View item(s)

“The Rhinie Number,” Vol. I, no. 3, December 1920  [image]View item(s)

Cover art signed “DMH” (Dorothy M. Hutchinson?), circa January-February 1921  [image]View item(s)

The illustration features a young woman in a black dress with a bob haircut, leading a “crimson bull” pull toy.

Historical note

An article appearing in the January 13, 1921 edition of the Indiana Daily Student announced, “An attractive drawing by Dot Hutchinson has been selected as the cover of The Crimson Bull for the February issue.” Dot Hutchinson was also listed as a member of the editorial board for the December 1920 issue.


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