History and Records of the Elephant Club

Q. K. Philander Doesticks (1832 - 1875) and Knight Russ Ockside (1830 - 1898)

Mortimer Q. Thomson (September 2, 1832 – June 25, 1875) was an American journalist and humorist who wrote under the pseudonym Q. K. Philander Doesticks. He was born in Riga, New York and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He attended Michigan University in Ann Arbor, but was expelled along with several others either for his involvement in secret societies or for "too much enterprise in securing subjects for the dissecting room." After a brief period working in theater, he became a journalist and lecturer.

For his published writings he used the pen name "Q. K. Philander Doesticks, P. B.", a pseudonym he had first used in university (the full version is "Queer Kritter Philander Doesticks, Perfect Brick"). Knight Russ Ockside is apparently a pen name for Edward Fitch Underhill, however no information is available for either name. The Elephant Club describes the formation and adventures of six strangers who all met by chance the same day and decided that they would like to continue the group by forming a club to get to know their city, New York, again and share their experiences. THE ELEPHANT CLUB, and having in view the following OBJECTS:

1. The enjoyment and amusement of its members through.

2. A profound study of the Metropolitan Elephant, by surveying him in
all his majesty of proportion, by tracing him to his secret haunts, and
observing his habits, both in his wild and domestic state.
- Summary by Wikipedia, Don W. Jenkins

Genre(s): Humorous Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 How They Met Don W. Jenkins
00:27:57
Play 02 How the Club Organized Don W. Jenkins
00:12:41
Play 03 The Elephantine Den Don W. Jenkins
00:08:04
Play 04 First Discoveries of the Club Don W. Jenkins
00:31:19
Play 05 First Evening with the Club Don W. Jenkins
00:59:25
Play 06 The Colored Camp Meeting Don W. Jenkins
00:16:21
Play 07 Further Discoveries Don W. Jenkins
00:54:41
Play 08 The Club in an Uproar Don W. Jenkins
00:31:16
Play 09 Johnny Cake's First Spree Don W. Jenkins
00:23:12
Play 10 The Police Courts Don W. Jenkins
01:12:25
Play 11 The Hamlet NIght Don W. Jenkins
00:16:46
Play 12 Mrs. Throughby Daylights Fancy Dress Jam Don W. Jenkins
00:16:42
Play 13 Conclusion Don W. Jenkins
00:04:46