Abstract: An automatic elevator latch is connected to the elevator of a drilling rig for automatically clamping the drill stem or pipe of the drilling rig. The automatic elevator latch includes a pair of arms connected to the elevator for closing the elevator. The arms are responsive to the operation of a pair of air pots, each of which includes a plunger which moves one of the arms forward on each side of the elevator to close the elevator. The air pots are in turn responsive to a compressed air system which is operated by the derrickman to automatically close the elevator. As a result, the automatic elevator latch of the present invention enables the derrickman to quickly, efficiently and safely close the elevator of a drilling rig.