Title: Leon Varjian papers
Inclusive Dates: 1974-1984

Creator:

• Varjian, Leon

Unique Identifier: uac13

Quantity:

• 9.23 cubic feet
• 2 record cartons, 2 letter document boxes, 6 oversize boxes

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. University Archives and Records Management

Abstract:

Leon Varjian was a University of Wisconsin – Madison graduate student who served as Vice President of the Wisconsin Student Association and was a member of the Pail and Shovel Party during the late 1970s and early 1980s. This collection consists of artifacts, fliers, photographs, postcards, typed and written articles, hand-crafted posters, newspapers, correspondence, and paper documentation. The bulk of the collection includes fliers related to Wisconsin Student Association events, Pail and Shovel election materials, newspapers, articles, the Verne and Evelyn show, Wisconsin Student Association notes and minutes, papers relating to the Community Television Council, Pail and Shovel created newspapers as well as events including the Boom Box Parade, Kazoo Koncert, and the statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota prank. Other material within the collection include personal correspondence with Varjian, material in his education, and his involvement in the Madison community.

Language: Collection materials are in English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-ua-uac13

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This collection is unprocessed and may have restrictions or is in a format that is not currently accessible. Please consult University Archives staff prior to access.

Gift of Doris Cross and Scott Mindock, 2017.

Leon Varjian (1951-2015) was Vice President of the Wisconsin Student Association and a member of the Pail and Shovel Party during the late 1970s up until the early 1980s. The Pail and Shovel party were elected into the Wisconsin Student Association in the late 1970s and were renowned for their extravagant pranks and absurdist humour. A New Jersey native, Varjian completed his bachelor's at Montclair State University and his masters at Indiana University. Varjian came to the University of Wisconsin – Madison to pursue another master's degree but did not complete his program of study. He became very well-known across campus during his time in Madison and was incredibly active in the Wisconsin Student Association, having orchestrated such projects and events as the Boom Box Parade, the statue of Liberty on Lake Mendota prank, the Toga Saturday event, and the infamous lawn flamingo prank on Bascom Hill.

In addition to his work within the Wisconsin Student Association, Varjian's participation extended outward into the Madison community. He ran for City Council in the 8th District, produced the Vern and Evelyn Show, was affiliated with the American Association of Madison, and was an avid fan and supporter of the Madison Muskies.

Formerly Accessions 2017/001 and 2015/385

https://www.library.wisc.edu/archives/archives/use-the-archives/citing-archives-resources/

The collection includes minutes, reports, articles, notes, posters, fliers, newspapers, photographs, postcards, and artifacts. Main subjects include the Wisconsin Student Association, the Pail and Shovel Party, Leon Varjian, the Vern and Evelyn Show, the Madison Cable Regulatory Commission, and the Community Television Council. Date ranges within the collection span from 1970 to 1984, with the bulk of materials dating between 1977 to 1980. Most Pail and Shovel related materials span between 1977-1979 and take up a large part of the collection - materials include fliers, notes, and articles related to campus events and pranks. Materials related to Leon Varjian include letters, correspondence, photographs, newspapers, and articles, of which the bulk of materials range from between 1977-1980. Materials on the Vern and Evelyn Show, as well as the Madison Cable Regulatory Commission and the Community Television Council all span between 1983 to 1984 and include correspondence, newspapers, and various documentation.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction. Use of designs or artwork requires permission from Doris Cross or Scott Mindock until March 1, 2022. After that time period, or upon the deaths of both people, permissions revert to the UW-Madison Archives. Contact archives staff for additional contact information for Doris Cross and Scott Mindock.

Leon Varjian papers, 1952-1979 at Indiana University: http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/findingaids/view?doc.view=entire_text&docId=InU-Ar-VAD9380

Student governmentPractical jokesPail and Shovel Party

Box [89131225716]   1   folder 1	Pail and Shovel - Budget, Expenses, and Funding 1978-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 2	Pail and Shovel - Campaign and Election (1 of 3), 1978-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 3	Pail and Shovel - Campaign and Election (2 of 3), 1978-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 4	Pail and Shovel - Campaign and Election (3 of 3), 1978-1980
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 5	Pail and Shovel - Licenses and Permits, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 6	Pail and Shovel - Event Fliers, 1978-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 7	Pail and Shovel - Event Fliers and Dayshift, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 8	Pail and Shovel - Campus Notes, Daily Carnival, and Screen Germs 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 9	Pail and Shovel - Student Court of Appeals and Review, 1979-1984
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 10	Wisconsin Student Association - Meetings, Minutes, and Phone Logs 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 11	Toga Saturdays - Notes and Newspapers, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 12	Marijuana Rally Special, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 13	Pail and Shovel - EXTRA!, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 14	Crazy Days, 1978-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 15	The Crapital Times, 1977-1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 16	Fun City (1 of 3), 1976-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 17	Fun City (2 of 3), 1976-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 18	Fun City (3 of 3), 1976-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 19	Pail and Shovel - Lady Liberty Lake Mendota, 1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 20	Daily Horrible-Terrible and Indiana Daily Stupid, 1976
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 21	The Wacko Times, 1977
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 22	The Only Money We Wasted…, 1979
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 23	Daily Carnival - Notes and typed articles, 1977-1980
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 24	Wisconsin Student Association - Notes, News, Agenda, and Correspondence (1 of 2) 1978-1984
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 25	Wisconsin Student Association - Notes, News, Agenda, and Correspondence (2 of 2) 1978-1980
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 26	Pail and Shovel - University of New Jersey, 1977-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 27	Montclair State College, 1971-1978
Box [89131225716]   1   folder 28	Pail and Shovel - Notes and Brainstorming, 1977-1979
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 1	Nobody for President - Newspaper Articles, 1976-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 2	Nobody for President -Fliers, Notes, and Correspondence 1982-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 3	Boom Box Parade - Planning, Permits, and Applications 1982-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 4	Boom Box Parade - Letters and Newspaper Articles, 1982-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 5	Boom Box Parade - Fliers and Advertisements, 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 6	Kazoo Koncert, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 7	Madison Muskies - Muskie Songbook 1984 and Notes (1 of 2), 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 8	Madison Muskies - Muskie Songbook 1984 and Notes (2 of 2), 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 9	Madison Muskies - Chicago White Sox Baseball Club, The Sporting News, and Notes 1982
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 10	Madison Muskies - Fliers, Advertisements, and Score Sheets 1982-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 11	Madison Muskies - Booster Club and News, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 12	Appeal to Madison Cable Regulatory Commission (1 of 5), 1980-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 13	Appeal to Madison Cable Regulatory Commission (2 of 5), 1982-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 14	Appeal to Madison Cable Regulatory Commission (3 of 5), 1982-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 15	Appeal to Madison Cable Regulatory Commission (4 of 5), 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 16	Appeal to Madison Cable Regulatory Commission (5 of 5), 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 17	The Vern and Evelyn Show - Programming, Letters, and Notes 1983-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 18	Cable Fee Hike Madison - Articles, 1980-1981
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 19	Television - Pay Cable Articles and Notes, 1980-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 20	Television - Work Notes and Articles, 1980-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 21	Television - Co-op Article and City Hall Letter, 1982-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 22	Community Television Structure Agreement, Rules, and Correspondence 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 23	Community Television Council - Guidelines, 1980-1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 24	Community Television Negotiations (1 of 2), 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 25	Community Television Negotiations (2 of 2), 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 26	Public Access Television Producers - Membership, Guidelines, and Bylaws 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 27	Public Access Television Producers - Bylaws and Programs, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 28	Madison Community Access Center - Cablecasting Logs, 1980-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 29	Complete Channel Television, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 30	Community Television Council - Meetings, programs, and Letters 1983-1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 31	Application for A Cable Television Franchise, 1983
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 32	Public Access Television Producers - Meetings, Budget, and Letters 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 33	Leon Varjian - City Council 9th District, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 34	Newspaper Clippings - Wisconsin Student Association Events, 1979
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 35	Leon Varjian - Armenian Association of Madison, 1984
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 36	Indiana University - Fun City and Department of Theatre and Drama, 1976-1977
Box [89131225724]   2   folder 37	Pail and Shovel - Lawn Flamingos on Bascom Hill, 1980
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 1	Pail and Shovel - Criticism and Financial Controversy, 1978-1979
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 2	University of Wisconsin - Registrar, Student Handbook, and News 1977
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 3	Articles - On Education, Theatre, and School System 1970-1972
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 4	Segregated University Allocation Committee - Meetings and Minutes, 1978
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 5	Leon Varjian - General Files, Academic Work, and Employment 1978-1979
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 6	Leon Varjian - General Files and Material from Denis Kitchen, 1979
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 7	Leon Varjian - Letters and Correspondence (1 of 2), 1974-1984
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 8	Leon Varjian - Letters and Correspondence (2 of 2), 1978-1980
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 9	Leon Varjian - General Files, Music, and Cinema 1978-1984
Box [89131225732]   3   folder 10	Leon Varjian - Politics and Newspapers (1 of 4), 1978-1980
Box [89131225740]   4   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Politics and Newspapers (2 of 4), 1979-1980
Box [89131225740]   4   folder 2	Leon Varjian - Politics and Newspapers (3 of 4), 1978-1979
Box [89131225740]   4   folder 3	Leon Varjian - Politics and Newspapers (4 of 4), 1974-1979
Box [89131225740]   4   folder 4	Leon Varjian - Assorted Photographs, 1978-1983
Box [89131225740]   4   folder 5	Leon Varjian - Original Artwork, 1977-1984
Box [89131225773]   5   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Lady Liberty Lake Mendota Newspapers, 1979
Box [89131225773]   5   folder 2	Leon Varjian - Pail and Shovel Newspapers, 1978-1979
Box [89131225773]   5   folder 3	Leon Varjian - Boom Box Parade Newspapers, 1983
Box [89131225799]   6   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Custom Posters, 1977-1980
Box [89131225799]   6   folder 2	Leon Varjian- Transparencies, 1977-1980
Box [89131225781]   7   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Lawn Flamingos, 1980
Box [89131225765]   8   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Oversized Fliers, 1977-1980
Box [89131225757]   9   folder 1	Leon Varjian - Artifacts, 1977-1980
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 1	Pail and Shovel - Oversized Campus Notes, Daily Cardinal, and Screen Germs 1977-1980
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 2	Daily Cardinal - Oversized Notes and Typed Articles, 1977-1980
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 3	Boombox Parade - Oversized Newspapers and Fliers, 1982
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 4	Nobody for President - Oversized fliers and Stickers, 1978
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 5	Madison Muskies - Oversized posters, Calendar, and 1983 Booklet 1980-1983
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 6	Pail and Shove - Oversized notes and Brainstorming, 1980-1983
Box [89131225807]   10   folder 7	Wisconsin Student Association - Bubbles Concerto Oversized, 1974-1980