Omaha Magical Society Records

Records of the Omaha Magical Society include materials by and about the Omaha Magical Society (circa 1990-2014); organizational documents of other magical societies, notably the Society of American Magicians (parent organization of the Omaha Magical Society) (circa 1900-2003), the International Brotherhood of Magicians (1926-2003), and The Magic Circle (1958-1991); and event programs from various magicians conferences and gatherings (1938-2009).

Materials by and about the Omaha Magical Society include:

A narrative of the history of the organization with profiles of prominent members and a list of past presidents (1921-2005).

Printed copies of the oath taken by members.

The parliamentary procedure booklet used by the organization.

Member directory (1990).

Omaha Magical Society Club Library inventory list, printed and bound as a booklet (1993 edition)

One issue of the organization's newsletter (February 2008)

Local event programs, including the Midwest Magician's Conclave (1971) and the Wizard's Banquet (2007-2008).

Articles and information about members, including a Creighton University Window article about Thomas Zeph (Summer 1991); an Omaha World-Herald article about Joe Cole (August 17, 2001); an undated card introducing Bob Buczkowski (aka "Bob the Magic Man"); and a thank you card from Joan Haselwood of the Southwest Church of Christ to Bob the Magic Man, thanking "all you generous magicians in the Magic Club" for their children's show.

Four photographs, including one group photograph of the Omaha Magical Society membership (February 2007) and three photographs of members performing. Note that the three performance photographs are water damaged and stuck together.

"50 Secrets of the Omaha Magic Society" binder. For preservation reasons, the pages have been removed from the three-ring binder. The front cover originally had three altered playing cards and a business card tucked in with the title sheet. A photocopy has been provided of the original cover arrangement. A length of rope which was tucked between the pages has been left in place. Red dot stickers have been removed to prevent damage from adhesive seepage.

Printouts of magic tricks, some printed from websites and others from Bob Buczkowski's email (circa 2003). These printouts were together in an unmarked folder with the Omaha Magical Society collection. The pages have some water damage.

Miscellaneous magic tricks and paraphernalia. Single-sheet instructions for magic tricks, some still in the original envelopes from the magic shops that sold them; an envelope marked "Gimmicks for Lecture notes #2" containing five modified playing cards and other small pieces; one loose modified Joker card; clippings and photocopies of instructions for magic tricks from unidentified books.

Souvenirs and autographs collected by Omaha Magical Society members, including three programs for Harry Blackstone's magic shows (1949, 1954, and 1979, with the latter two signed by Blackstone); signed photographs of Terry Seabrooke, Tim Hannig, and Scotty McLean; and two postcards of K. Lal, a magician in Calcutta, India.

"Our Magic Club" seminar materials and notes, for a workshop attended in 2014 by Omaha Magical Society officer Thomas Neddo. For preservation reasons, the pages have been removed from the three-ring binder. The toner on the first and last page have been damaged from prolonged contact with the binder. A photocopy has been provided of the original cover.

Collected materials from other magical societies include:

The Invisible Lodge membership roster (October 1974), article on "Magicians and Freemasonry," and life member certificate (issued 1976).

The International Fellowship of Rotary-Magic membership roster (November 1979), policy statement (circa 1979), letter welcoming new member (1979), certificate of membership (issued 1979), and data sheet (1977).

Magic Dealers Association membership roster (October 1963).

Materials from the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.), including member directories (1946, 1947); "Ritual" booklet (1977); pamphlet (circa 1920s); description of the symbolism in the emblem (circa 1900s); membership application (circa 1900s); recruitment brochure (circa 2003); constitution and bylaws (circa 1967); and annual conference programs (1953, 1958, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996). Note that the 1958 S.A.M. conference was held in Omaha, Nebraska, hosted by Assembly No. 7, the Omaha Magical Society.

Materials from the International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.), including "Who's Who in Magic" membership directory (1926-1927); leaders of I.B.M. Rings (1981-1982); leadership reference directory and supplement (1976); constitution and bylaws of the Coachella Valley Ring #291, Palm Desert, California (circa 1992); "Magic Days to Remember" organizational history booklet by Len Vintus (1981); and annual conference programs (1938, 1940, 1946, 1949, 1952, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1978, 1981, 1989, 1990, 2003). Included with the 1978 conference program is a souvenir 50th I.B.M. Convention medal on a purple ribbon.

Materials from joint conferences of S.A.M. and I.B.M., including conference programs for the first combined convention (1950,) the Mid-Century Convention (1951), the joint Midwest Magic Jamboree (1983, 2005, 2007), and a newsletter with early information for the 1970 joint conference.

Materials from The Magic Circle, including member lists (1965, 1984, 1991), rules and constitution (1966, 1987), and event programs (1958 Festival, undated First Annual International Magic Circle Conclave).

Programs and materials from various other magic conferences attended by Omaha Magical Society members, including:

Cincinnati Academy of Magic and Allied Sciences (C.A.M.A.S.) (Cincinnati, Ohio, 1970).

Desert Magic Seminar (Las Vegas, Nevada,1989, 1990).

FISM World Championships of Magic (Beijing, 2009).

Houdini Club of Wisconsin (Burlington, Wisconsin, 1962; Appleton, Wisconsin, 1988).

International Festival of Children's Magicians (IFCM) (Williamsburg, Virginia, 1992).

Magic Touch of Louisville (Louisville, Kentucky, 1986).

Magicruise (Caribbean, 1987).

New England Convention of Magicians/New England Magicians Convention (Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1950; New Haven, Connecticut, 1951; New Haven, Connecticut, 1976).

New York and Canada Conclave of Magicians (NYCAN) (Rochester, New York, 1977).

Pacific Coast Association of Magicians (P.C.A.M.) (Oakland, California, 1942; Honolulu, Hawaii, 1972).

Texas Association of Magicians (Dallas, Texas, 1970; Corpus Christi, Texas, 2001).

Wizards' Conclave (Mentor, Ohio, 1975).

World Magic Seminar (Las Vegas, Nevada, 2003, 2005, 2006).