Where does the name “Quips and Cranks” come from?
John Milton’s poem “L’Allegro.”
The name comes from the following verse:
“Haste thee nymph, and bring with thee
Jest and youthful jollity,
Quips and Cranks, and wanton wiles,
Nods and becks, and wreathed smiles.”
This verse can be found in the first 1895 Quips and Cranks (page linked here). For more information about the origins of the name “Quips and Cranks,” please read this post on our blog: “Quips, Cranks, and Wanton Wiles: Origins of the College Yearbook’s Title.”
The Rare Book Room holds many of Milton’s works, including “L’Allegro.” To find out more about our Milton collection, please search the Library’s catalog and filter by location on the left sidebar (choose “Rare Book Room”). If you would like to view any of these materials, please email archives@davidson.edu or Special Collections Librarian Sharon Byrd (shbyrd@davidson.edu) to make an appointment.