It was at this time that the Society for Creative Anachronism became a non-profit corporation. Jon de Cles, Diana Listmaker, and Harold Breakstone were the first members of the Board of Directors. Jon de Cles was the Steward, Chronicler, and Editor of TI. Diana Listmaker was Mistress of the Arts. Siegfried von Hoflichskeit was the first Chancellor of the Exchequer, but turned the office over to Jon de Cles in August. Harold Breakstone was Laurel King of Arms and head of the national College of Heralds. Siegfried von Hoflichskeit was the Registrar. David of Ilwherlane (mundanely an attorney) was the Society’s legal counsel and saw to the incorporation of the Society, but then resigned to become Chancellor for the Kingdom of the West. At this time the offices of the Kingdom of the West were separated from those of the Society. Jon De Cles was Seneschal for the Kingdom of the West. Robert of Dunharrow was Chancellor of the Exchequer. Edwin Bersark was Earl Marshal. Randall of Hightower was Clarion Principal Herald for the Kingdom. Karina of the Far West was Banner Pursuivant. Alfonso de Castile was Master of Music. Diana Listmaker was Mistress of the Lists. Johanna von Griffenhurst was Artist to the College of Heralds.
Annotations:
“Just a question - Who was Marshal of the SCA? - or was the office
created later?” – Kevin Peregrynne
“I believe Siegfried may have been SCA Marshall briefly, but Edwin was soon essentially in both Kingdom and SCA posts until he passed the Kingdom office over to Caradoc. So, at the beginning, both the Kingdom and SCA had the same Seneschal/Steward and same Marshal. I think there was no official SCA Marshal for a short time.” – Stefan de Lorraine, who relieved Don of the job of Kingdom Seneschal – I believe it took awhile longer before Edwin turned over the Marshallate to Caradoc.“One item of fallout from incorporating that took place several years later ... Being a non profit corporation, with its federal tax implications, was one of the reasons that I cited when we opened the lists to both genders. (I for one had no intention of laying the Kingdom or corporation open to litigation over civil rights violations).
“When Don/Jon came around at a tourney and announced that he needed $100
to incorporate the SCA, most everyone all but rolled on the ground
laughing at the apparent absurdity of the SCA being able to cobble
together anything like A HUNDRED DOLLARS!!! We had until then used
only free sites and occasional collections for odd expenses drew mostly
small coin. However, later that day Jerry Pournelle asked if I would
make him a helm like mine. (I had made 3 more for penniless teen-aged
fighters as well, but Pournelle was far from poor.) So I said I
would for $50, but give the money to Don to incorporate the SCA and
perhaps he can raise the other $50 somehow. Well, Henrik loaned the
SCA $25 (which it still owes him, I believe) and I guess Don begged
enough from others to make the needed amount. It seemed like a reasonable
idea at the time. I was in favor of growing the SCA beyond the SF Bay
Area (in contrast to a small faction that didn't want it too big for
everyone to know everyone else) and thought that having a national HQ as a
coordinating structure would help. So I'm partly to blame for that.
“I didn't become the first West Kingdom Chancellor
of the Exchequer in July III. Don took the existing funds ($1.50 annual
TI subs) to the Corporate level of course, and the West had not a penny
to its name, nor an officer to be concerned about it until the following
Spring (just after March Crown, III) when King Caradoc, at Crown Prince
Siegfried's recommendation, appointed me Kingdom Ch. of Excheq.
I then had to create all the rules and procedures for the office and had
to teach the populace to put real paper money into the helm so we could
afford overnight sites that cost $25 to rent (and it soon went way up
after Prop. 13 hit the East Bay Regional Parks very drastically).” –
Robert of Dunharrow
“Pournelle has told this story for years, with the minor change that he alone paid for the entire incorporation expenses (which over the years have become a tad more) and he has always felt the SCA was extremely ungrateful in not knighting him for his efforts.” – Flavia Beatrice Carmigniani
Description of this event,
© Copyright 1980 by William R. Keyes (Wilhelm von Schlüssel)
This is from The History of the West Kingdom, Volume 1 (the only
volume produced). When reading this text, please keep in mind the following
disclaimer:
Disclaimer: This history may have errors in it, as much of the detail is “remembered” history, or as one of the cover pages of the original type-written manuscript states “The material within is derived from the information printed in The Crown Prints and in The Page, and from the memories of the participants.” The original document was typed on onion-skin paper, with hand-written notes (often in the margins). All attempts have been made to reconcile the notes with the original document.
Annotations, when they are added, are from The Annotated History of the West, Volume 1, which is the same text as Master Wilhelm's mentioned above, with commentary from members of the SCA who were active at the time of the event, and are added to help clarify questions and expand on what happened and why. This volume is copyright © Ken Mayer (Hirsch von Henford).
The West Kingdom History Website was created by and is maintained by Hirsch von Henford (mka Ken Mayer).