Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1926-1951

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Seattle Repertory Playhouse
Title
Seattle Repertory Playhouse records
Dates
1926-1951 (inclusive)
Quantity
36.54 cubic feet (86 boxes and 1 package)
Collection Number
1284, 1556
Summary
Records of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Burton and Florence James opened the Seattle Repertory Playhouse in 1928 as a forum for “Classical” and socio-political theater and as an alternative to what they perceived as Seattle’s limited theatrical choices. Until the SRP, Seattle theater bills were dominated by vaudeville, touring Broadway companies, and local stock performances of light comedy. Florence summed up the SRP’s credo in a 1939 radio interview: “The Repertory Playhouse has always believed true theater should mirror the ideals and aspirations of the people . . . To reflect life, to explain it, to inspire love toward some of its aspects and detestation towards others, is well within our province.” Participating prominently alongside the Jameses was Albert Ottenheimer, a 1927 magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the UW. Ottenheimer did nearly everything for the Playhouse, serving as a press agent, writing and directing plays, and acting in more than 150 roles.

The emphasis on “classical” works allowed Seattle’s social leaders to demonstrate a fashionable support for the arts through their support for the company. One particularly successful production was Ottenheimer’s adaptation of Henrick Ibsen’s long dramatic poem, Peer Gynt, which ran in 1930-31. Not only did the play sellout its first week before opening night--and remain sold out throughout its run--but one actress recalled how “practically the whole Norwegian community in Seattle became involved in the production.” Burton also directed the Washington State Theatre, a touring company which performed classics for high school audiences beginning in 1936. Among the plays it staged were Oliver Goldsmith’s “She Stoops to Conquer,” and William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Funded by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation and supervised by the Washington State Department of Education, the Washington State Theatre was the first of its kind in the United States. The company stretched the Rockefeller Foundation’s $35,000 for three seasons, but unfortunately by 1938 no more money was forthcoming from either private or public sources in depression-barren Washington. The Playhouse was hurt by the army drawing away so many young actors from its corps at the outset of American military involvement in World War Two, but it managed to make due, often recruiting high school students. With the productions of patriotic revues such as “Thumbs Up”--“axing the Axis with song and satire”--as well as the staging of recruiting spectacles, the Playhouse actively supported the war effort.

In addition to private funding, the Seattle Repertory Playhouse also received funding from the Federal Theatre Project, a contested New Deal program designed both to promote the theater and to provide work-relief. (One contentious Congressman snarled that it was “a patronage vehicle for Reds.” Another grumbled about the plays produced, “Now if you want that kind of salacious tripe, very well, vote for it, but if anybody has any interest in decency on stage, if anyone has an interest in real cultural values, you will not find it in this kind of junk.”) By the mid-1930s, the company gave increasing prominence to socially critical productions which violated Seattle’s social and cultural conventions, and established a controversial sponsorship of the Negro Repertory Company under the auspices of the Federal Theatre Project. Many individuals withdrew their patronage in protest.

The intermittent conflict culminated in the Jameses’ 1947 investigation as alleged communists by the Canwell Committee, the state’s un-American activities panel. Both Florence and Burton refused on Constitutional grounds to answer the bombastic Albert Canwell’s interrogations on whether or not they were Communist party members. (Both James were social activists and Florence held a naive and uninformed admiration of the USSR, but the Committee offered no authentic evidence to support its contention that they were working for the violent subversion of the U.S. government or were agents of Moscow). Charged with contempt of the legislature as a result of this “willful refusal,” Burton was convicted, fined $250 and sentenced to thirty days in jail, suspended because of his increasingly failing health. Identically charged, Florence’s first trial ended in a hung jury; the subsequent retrial ended in her conviction, which carried a $125 fine and a suspended thirty-day sentence. The Canwell controversy, and the long-simmering controversies generally, cost the Playhouse much necessary financial support, especially from Seattle’s social elite. In 1951, a Yale law professor who studied the Canwell hearings concluded that “serious damage was done to the Seattle Repertory Playhouse, whose loss of patronage is traceable to the highly dubious testimony of [committee] witnesses.” (The James were allowed neither to call their own witnesses nor cross-examine accusers). The Playhouse’s lax business practices compounded the fiscal problems. The mounting controversies and the financial problems, many of them self-induced, forced the Playhouse’s closure in 1951. Burton suffered a fatal heart attack shortly afterwards. Florence moved to Canada where she continued her theater work. She died there in 1988.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Correspondence, interviews, players, reports, schedules, minutes, ephemera, financial records, scripts, newsletters, logs, news releases, programs, speeches and writings, drawings, set designs, mailing lists, legal documents, surveys, photographs, music scores, posters.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from this collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Arranged in 4 accessions:

  • Accession no. 1284-001, Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1936-1942
  • Accession no. 1556-001, Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1932-1950
  • Accession no. 1556-003, Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1926-1951
  • Accession no. 1556-004, Seattle Repertory Playhouse programs, 1928-1950

Bibliography

For additional information, see Ronald O. West, Left Out: The Seattle Repertory Playhouse, Audience Inscription and the Problem of Leftist Theatre During the Depression Era , unpublished Ph.D. thesis, UW, 1993; Chet Skreen, “Today’s Seattle Theater Owes A Lot to the ‘Old Rep’.” Seattle Times 30 January 1977 magazine pp. 8-12 and 6 February 1977 magazine pp. 4-6; and Barry B. Witham, “The Playhouse and the Committee,” in The Performance of Power: Theatrical Discourse and Politics , edited by Sue-Ellen Case and Janelle Reinelt, Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 1991.

Related Materials

See the papers of Florence James, (collection 2117) , and the records of the Washington State Theatre, contained in accession no. 4081-001 . In addition to information on the SPR, the Florence James collection contains her unpublished autobiography, Fists Upon A Star , and an unpublished biography of Florence and Burton by Robert Johnson. The WST records provide a wealth of additional information about individuals prominent at the Playhouse, including the Jameses and Ottenheimer. The Albert M. Ottenheimer Papers are housed at the University of Oregon.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 1284-001: Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1936-1942Return to Top

0.21 cubic feet (1 box)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, interviews, plays; ca. 1936-1942. Plays are student works. Interview is with Burton James. Letters are to Marijo.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Donor: Florence James, November 7, 1969.

Accession No. 1556-001: Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1932-1950Return to Top

0.91 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 package)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, reports, schedules, ticket reports, minutes, ephemera, and lists, 1932-1950. Records of a theater company, mostly kept by Bette Anderson, a staff member. Much concerns the Playhouse's children's theater, children's classes and tours.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Donor: Mrs. John Stoddart (Bette Anderson), March 8, 1971.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/1-2 1556-001
Organizational Features
1939. 1947
1/3-4 1556-001
Seattle Junior Programs correspondence and agreements
1932-1948
1/5 1556-001
Miscellaneous general correspondence
1935-1950
1/6 1556-001
Staff Meeting minutes
1949 March 21
1/7 1556-001
Children's Theatre Committee minutes
1948
1/8 1556-001
Speeches and Writings
1937, 1944
1/9 1556-001
Reports
1946-1947
1/10 1556-001
Children's Classes
1948
1/11-13 1556-001
Children's Saturday Classes (Marjory Nelson)
1939-1946
1/14-16 1556-001
Children's Theatre
1944-1950
1/17-2/1 1556-001
Royalties
1943-1945
2/2 1556-001
Royalties - Children
1946-1948
2/3 1556-001
Spring Planning
1950
2/4 1556-001
Tours - Adult
1940-1948
2/5 1556-001
Tours - Bellevue
1946-1947
2/6 1556-001
Tours - Tacoma
1946-1948
2/7 1556-001
Tours - Technical Information
1946-1947
2/8-9 1556-001
Tours - Work File
1946-1947
2/10 1556-001
Tours - Yakima
1948
2/11 1556-001
Twentieth Year Planning
1947-48
2/12-13 1556-001
Young Rep
1948
2/14 1556-001
Program - Tenth Anniversary
1937
2/15 1556-001
Play Lists
approximately 1928-1948
2/16 1556-001
Lists
2/17 1556-001
Schedules
undated
2/18 1556-001
Ephemera
1936-1949
2/19 1556-001
Financial Records
approximately 1945-1947
2/20 1556-001
Ticket Reports
1944-1947
2/21 1556-001
Clippings
2/22 1556-001
Forms
2/23 1556-001
Questionnaires
2/24 1556-001
Miscellaneous
Box
3 1556-001
Scrapbook - "Circus Day, Original Poems and Pictures by The Boys and Girls of Seward School"
undated

Accession No. 1556-003: Seattle Repertory Playhouse records, 1926-1951Return to Top

34.79 cubic feet (81 boxes)

Scope and Content: Correspondence, financial records, scripts, minutes, newsletters, logs, news releases, programs, speeches and writings, drawings, set designs, mailing lists, legal documents, surveys, photographs, musical scores and posters, 1926-1951. Records of a professional theater company. Also documents investigations of the company by the Canwell Committee, Washington State legislative committee on "un-American activities," ca 1948-49 and records of a Washington State Recreation and Cultural Resource Survey, 1946-47.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Donor: Florence B. James and others, 1960, 1969, 1989.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Accession
1-30 1556-003
Incoming Letters
Box/Folder
31/1 1556-003
Organizational Features
1939-1941, 1944, 1946-1947
31/2 1556-003
Constitution - Repertory Guild
1940
31/3 1556-003
Bylaws - Organized Workers of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse
undated
31/4 1556-003
"Story of the Playhouse" by Burton W. James
undated
31/5 1556-003
Notes, outlines, etc. for Burton W. James' "Story of the Playhouse"
undated
31/6 1556-003
R. S. Johnson - "Book of the Repertory Playhouse"
undated
31/7-10 1556-003
History (includes drafts of "Story of the Playhouse," other writings and ephemera)
1937, 1941, 1945, 1947
31/11 1556-003
Biographies - Florence and Burton James
undated
31/12 1556-003
Biography - Albert Ottenheimer
undated
31/13 1556-003
Guild Meeting minutes
1935-1948
31/14 1556-003
Board of Trustees minutes
1947-1951
31/15 1556-003
Miscellaneous minutes
1946, 1950-1951
31/16 1556-003
Staff Meetings minutes
1942-1947
32/1-7 1556-003
Playhouse logs
1932-1937
33/1 1556-003
Seattle Repertory Playhouse - Miscellaneous newsletters
undated
33/2 1556-003
Playhouse Communique newsletters
1942-1945
33/3-4 1556-003
Playhouse News newsletters
1930-1937
33/5 1556-003
Newsletters of others
1949
81/13 1556-003
Oversized prototype newsletter
undated
33/6-34/8 1556-003
News Releases
approximately 1938-1950
34/9 1556-003
High School Programs
1939
34/10 1556-003
News Releases of others
1943-1949
34/11 1556-003
Production reports
undated
34/12 1556-003
Publicity reports
1944, 1946-1947
34/13 1556-003
Sales reports
1932, 1934, 1936
34/14 1556-003
SRP Board reports
1940-1941
34/15 1556-003
Staff reports
1944
34/16 1556-003
Tour Bookings reports
1932
34/17 1556-003
Miscellaneous reports
1942
34/18-35/15 1556-003
Publicity and Programs by title, A-Z
approximately 1930s-1940s
35/16 1556-003
Publicity and Programs drafts
approximately 1934-1945
35/17 1556-003
Publicity and Programs drafts - 17th season
1945
35/18 1556-003
Miscellaneous publicity and programs
approximately 1930s-1940s
35/19 1556-003
Publicity and Programs of others
undated
81/10 1556-003
Oversized miscellaneous publicity and programs
undated
35/20 1556-003
Playhouse ephemera
undated
35/21 1556-003
Profit-Sharing Plan ephemera
undated
35/22 1556-003
Ephemera of other organizations
undated
36/1 1556-003
Memoranda
1936, 1938, 1946-1947
36/2 1556-003
"Relation of Drama to Leisure-time Activities/Relation of Theatre to Community" - Burton W. James
1937, 1945, 1949
36/3 1556-003
Notes by Burton W. James for Theatre Arts Monthly - "Director Takes Command" - Scientific Approach to Art
1947
36/4 1556-003
"Organizing the Working Groups "- Burton W. James
undated
36/5 1556-003
F. B. James - Series of Newspaper articles on the Theater
approximately 1944
36/6 1556-003
F. B. James - "The Moscow Theater Festival"
undated
36/7 1556-003
Developmental Survey of Art writing
1945
36/8 1556-003
Speeches and Writings of others
1938, 1945
36/9-11 1556-003
Americans All - Immigrants All radio script
undated
36/12-37/3 1556-003
Biographies - radio script
approximately 1939
37/4 1556-003
Grange radio script
undated
37/5 1556-003
Harbor Nights radio script
undated
37/6 1556-003
The Housing Reporter radio script
approximately 1939
37/7 1556-003
Interviews - radio script
1939
37/8 1556-003
Keep 'Em Flying radio script
1942
37/9 1556-003
National Emergency Council - Olympic Wonderland radio script
undated
37/10-38/2 1556-003
Peer Gynt radio script
1941
81/1 1556-003
Oversized Peer Gynt radio script
undated
38/3-10 1556-003
Plays - radio scripts
1934, 1936, 1940
39/1 1556-003
Publicity - radio scripts
1934, 1943
39/2 1556-003
The Rivals radio script
undated
39/3 1556-003
Statehood Day radio script
1946
39/4-40/4 1556-003
This is Your World radio script
1943-1944
40/5-41/2 1556-003
War radio script
1942-1944
41/3 1556-003
Miscellaneous radio scripts
1942
41/4 1556-003
L'Amour En Advertisia script
undated
41/5 1556-003
Arrangement in Black and White script
undated
41/6-42/3 1556-003
Calico Cargo script
undated
42/4 1556-003
Chips From Blazed Trails script
undated
42/5 1556-003
Crime, The Permanent Wave script
undated
42/6 1556-003
Fathers Suffer So script
1940
42/7 1556-003
Green Eyes script
undated
42/8 1556-003
Isabella’s Jewels script
undated
42/9 1556-003
Jack and the Beanstalk script
undated
42/10 1556-003
Joe Civilian Gets the Dope script
undated
42/11 1556-003
Let’s Make an Opera script
1949
42/12 1556-003
Moving Day in Shakespeare’s England script
undated
42/13 1556-003
My Love For Yours script
undated
42/14 1556-003
Out Trail script
undated
42/15-16 1556-003
Peer Gynt script
43/1 1556-003
Romeo and Juliet script
1935
43/2-44/1 1556-003
San Juan Story script
1944, 1946
44/2-3 1556-003
This Little Pig (San Juan Story) script
1946
44/4 1556-003
Santa Claus and the Pension Lady script
undated
44/5 1556-003
Scarfs Off Caesar’s Images script
undated
44/6 1556-003
Synopsis of The Fire God script
undated
44/7 1556-003
Spent script
undated
44/8 1556-003
The Story of a Sailor script
1942
44/9 1556-003
Thumbs Up script
undated
44/10 1556-003
To Build Ships script
undated
44/11 1556-003
Tooth or Shave script
undated
44/12 1556-003
Two Million Speak script
undated
44/13 1556-003
Miscellaneous scripts
undated
44/14 1556-003
Armistice Day script
undated
44/15 1556-003
Army Show script
undated
44/16 1556-003
Civilian Protection Division, Production and Service script
1942-1943
44/17 1556-003
Greater Seattle Defense Chest Meetings script
1941
44/18 1556-003
Hero's Rally - Civic Auditorium script
1942
44/19 1556-003
Memorial Program - Victory Square Committee script
1942, 1944
45/1 1556-003
Office of Civilian Defense - Flag Day Program script
1942
45/2 1556-003
Plays - Narratives scripts
1940, 1943
45/3 1556-003
Public Power Skit script
1937
45/4 1556-003
Special scripts
1944, 1946-1947
45/5 1556-003
Russian War Relief script
undated
45/6 1556-003
United War Chest Luncheons, etc. scripts
1942-1943
45/7-8 1556-003
Victory Square scripts
1942
45/9 1556-003
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp prompt book
45/10 1556-003
American Made prompt book
45/11 1556-003
Before the Curtain prompt book
45/12-13 1556-003
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl prompt book
45/14 1556-003
American Made prompt book
46/1 1556-003
Andrew Takes a Wife prompt book
46/2 1556-003
Anne of Green Gables prompt book
46/3 1556-003
The Barber of Seville prompt book
46/4 1556-003
A Bill of Divorcement prompt book
46/5 1556-003
Blithe Spirit prompt book
46/6 1556-003
Bobino prompt book
46/7 1556-003
But Not Goodbye prompt book
46/8 1556-003
The Chaste Mistress prompt book
46/9 1556-003
The Cherry Orchard prompt book
46/10-11 1556-003
Christmas Carol prompt book
46/12 1556-003
The Christmas Nightingale prompt book
46/13 1556-003
Chicken Every Sunday prompt book
46/14 1556-003
Cinderella prompt book
47/1 1556-003
Cindy prompt book
47/2-3 1556-003
Circus Day prompt book
47/4 1556-003
The Comedy of Errors prompt book
47/5 1556-003
Counterattack prompt book
47/6 1556-003
The Critic prompt book
47/7 1556-003
Family Portrait prompt book
47/8 1556-003
The Dark Tower prompt book
48/1 1556-003
Decision prompt book
48/2 1556-003
The Emperor’s New Clothes prompt book
48/3 1556-003
L’Envoi prompt book
48/4 1556-003
Faust prompt book
48/5 1556-003
The First Year prompt book
48/6 1556-003
Die Fledermaus prompt book
48/7 1556-003
Flight of the West prompt book
48/8 1556-003
Flood prompt book
48/9 1556-003
Fly Away Home prompt book
49/1 1556-003
The Forty-Niners prompt book
49/2 1556-003
French Without Tears prompt book
49/3 1556-003
The Gentle People prompt book
49/3 1556-003
George and Margaret prompt book
49/4 1556-003
The Ghost of Mr. Penny prompt book
49/5 1556-003
The Great Big Doorstep prompt book
49/6 1556-003
Grumpy prompt book
49/7 1556-003
The Guardsman prompt book
49/8 1556-003
The Happy Journey prompt book
49/9 1556-003
Hay Fever prompt book
49/10 1556-003
Heaven Can Wait prompt book
50/1 1556-003
Heavenly Express prompt book
50/2 1556-003
Heidi prompt book
50/3 1556-003
Home Chat prompt book
50/4 1556-003
Home of the Brave prompt book
50/5 1556-003
In His Image prompt book
50/6 1556-003
The Indian Captive prompt book
50/7 1556-003
An Inspector Calls prompt book
50/8 1556-003
Jack and the Beanstalk prompt book
50/9 1556-003
The Jest prompt book
50/10 1556-003
Judgement Day prompt book
50/10 1556-003
Julius Caesar prompt book
51/1 1556-003
Kings in Nomenia prompt book
51/2 1556-003
Kolokola prompt book
51/3 1556-003
Lady Precious Stream prompt book
51/4 1556-003
Lilliom prompt book
51/5 1556-003
Little Red Riding Hood prompt book
51/6 1556-003
Little Women prompt book
51/7 1556-003
Love and Geography prompt book
51/8 1556-003
Major Barbara prompt book
51/9 1556-003
Mary Poppins prompt book
51/10 1556-003
Mr. Dooley Jr. prompt book
51/11 1556-003
My Country Lies Wounded prompt book
52/1 1556-003
My Heart's in the Highlands prompt book
52/2 1556-003
No Mother to Guide Her prompt book
52/3 1556-003
No More Frontier prompt book
52/4 1556-003
Noah prompt book
52/5 1556-003
On Stage prompt book
52/6 1556-003
Once Upon a Clothesline prompt book
53/1 1556-003
Out American Cousin prompt book
53/2 1556-003
Our Town prompt book
53/3 1556-003
Papa is All prompt book
53/4 1556-003
Parlor Story prompt book
53/5 1556-003
Power prompt book
53/6 1556-003
Professor Mamlock prompt book
53/7 1556-003
Radio Rescue prompt book
53/8 1556-003
Richard III prompt book
53/9 1556-003
The Rivals prompt book
54/1 1556-003
Rocket to the Moon prompt book
54/2 1556-003
Rumpelstiltskin prompt book
54/3 1556-003
San Juan Story prompt book
54/4 1556-003
The Seven League Boots prompt book
54/5 1556-003
Snowdown prompt book
54/6 1556-003
A Slight Case of Murder prompt book
54/6 1556-003
A Sound of Hunting prompt book
54/6 1556-003
Storm in a Teacup prompt book
54/7 1556-003
Suds in Your Eye prompt book
54/8 1556-003
Sunday Nights prompt book
55/1 1556-003
The Sunken Bell prompt book
55/2 1556-003
Susan and God prompt book
55/3 1556-003
Syndafloden prompt book
55/4 1556-003
The Tavern prompt book
55/5 1556-003
Tenth Annual Report prompt book
55/6 1556-003
Tom Sawyer prompt book
55/7 1556-003
Tom Sawyer's Treasure Hunt prompt book
55/8 1556-003
Tony Draws a Horse prompt book
55/9-10 1556-003
Treasure Island prompt book
56/1-2 1556-003
Twelfth Night prompt book
56/3 1556-003
Uncle Rube prompt book
56/3 1556-003
Uncle Tom's Cabin prompt book
56/4 1556-003
Uncle Vanya prompt book
56/5 1556-003
Village Green prompt book
56/6 1556-003
The Walrus and the Carpenter prompt book
56/7 1556-003
The Wild Duck prompt book
56/8-57/9 1556-003
Cast files: A
57/10-45 1556-003
Cast files: B-J
58/1-48 1556-003
Cast files: K-R
59/1-49 1556-003
Cast files: S-Y and Miscellaneous
Box
60 1556-003
Cast files - card file
Box/Folder
61/1 1556-003
Advertising Estimate
1946-1947
61/2-3 1556-003
Albert University - Banff School of Fine Arts
1945-1951
61/4 1556-003
American Educational Theatre Association
1945-1949
61/5 1556-003
American National Theater & Academy - Annual Meeting Reports & Miscellaneous
1947-1948
61/6 1556-003
American Peace Mobilization
undated
61/7 1556-003
British Columbia, University of (Summer School)
1939
61/8 1556-003
Bulletin Board
1941-1945, 1948
61/9-10 1556-003
Bulletin Board - 19th Season
1946-1947
61/11 1556-003
Central Labor Council, Seattle
1937
61/12 1556-003
Children's Theatre
1946-1947
61/13 1556-003
Christmas Dinners
1937-1950
61/14 1556-003
Columbia basin Project and Life of O'Sullivan
1933-1934, 1939
61/15 1556-003
Confederacy of American Community Theaters, Inc. - Constitution
undated
61/16 1556-003
Congress of Industrial Organizations, Seattle Council - "Call to Action"
1945
61/17 1556-003
Convention Lists and Correspondence
1947
61/18 1556-003
Dramatic Play Service - News on Plays
1948-1950
61/19 1556-003
Experimental Group Meetings
1942
62/1 1556-003
Filmarte Club - general correspondence
1941-1942
62/2 1556-003
Filmarte Club - programs
1940-1944
62/3 1556-003
Filmarte Club - receipts
1941-1943
62/4 1556-003
Filmarte Club - press releases
1942
62/5 1556-003
High Schools - Contacts, Lesson Plans
1934, 1939, 1945
62/6 1556-003
Independent Committee of the Arts, Sciences and Professions
1946
62/7 1556-003
Insurance
1942-1948
62/8 1556-003
Interracial Action Committee
1945
62/9 1556-003
King County Medical Service Corporation
1947, 1949-1950
62/10 1556-003
National Council of the Arts, Sciences, and Professions
1948
62/11 1556-003
Newsletter (includes minutes and reports)
1944
62/12 1556-003
Newspaper Reports (speeches)
undated
62/13 1556-003
Oregon State Theater
1938
62/14 1556-003
Outline of Plan for 1937-1938
1937-1938
62/15 1556-003
Patrons of Husbandry, Washington State Grange - history
undated
62/16 1556-003
Playhouse Foundation
1945
62/17 1556-003
Progressive Citizens of America - Second National Convention
1948
62/18 1556-003
Promotion and Publicity
1942-1943, 1948-1949
62/19 1556-003
Relief Theatre Workers
1935-1936
62/20 1556-003
Rentals
1947-1948
62/21 1556-003
Scholarships - Junior Chamber of Commerce - Day School
1941-1942
62/22 1556-003
School articles
1945
62/23 1556-003
School attendance records
1941-1942
62/24 1556-003
School - general information and course outlines
1944-1945, 1947-1948
63/1 1556-003
School news releases
1940-1945
63/2 1556-003
School mailings lists
undated
63/3-5 1556-003
School - miscellaneous
1941-1948
63/6 1556-003
School project group (reports)
1940-1941
63/7 1556-003
School prospecti
approximately 1940-1942
63/8 1556-003
School registration
1947-1948
63/9 1556-003
School reports on students
1948
63/10 1556-003
School roll book
1947-1948
63/11 1556-003
School State Board of Education, State Board for Vocational Education
1946, 1948-1950
63/12 1556-003
School - Student Analysis and Appraisal of Classes
undated
63/13 1556-003
School - Student comments on Mrs. James' background classes
undated
63/14 1556-003
School students' essays
1948
63/15 1556-003
School teachers' meetings
1941, 1945-1946
63/16-17 1556-003
School tests
undated
63/18 1556-003
School - Veterans' administration (forms, guidelines)
approximately 1945-1950
64/1 1556-003
School - Veterans' registration
1946-1948
64/2 1556-003
Seattle, Civilian War Commission, Programs
1943-1944
64/3 1556-003
Seattle Civic Arts Committee
1945-1946
64/4 1556-003
Seattle Public Schools
undated
64/5 1556-003
Seattle Junior Programs
1943-1947
64/6 1556-003
Seattle Labor School
undated
64/7 1556-003
Sponsors' Information
undated
64/8 1556-003
Spring Planning
1941, 1950
64/9 1556-003
Subscriptions
1938-1944
64/10-12 1556-003
Summer Drama Festivals
1939-1940
64/13-15 1556-003
Summer Drama Festival (9th Annual)
1940
81/11-12 1556-003
Oversized Summer Drama Festival (9th Annual)
1940
64/16 1556-003
Summer Drama Festivals (10th Annual)
1941
64/17 1556-003
Summer Drama Festivals - Attendance Charts
1932-1937
64/18 1556-003
Tacoma Public Schools
1935, 1945-1946
64/19 1556-003
Texas University, Drama Department
1941, 1943
64/20 1556-003
Theatre Conferences
1940-1942, 1945, 1947-1951
64/21 1556-003
Tours of Seattle Repertory Playhouse Productions
1935, 1940, 1947-1948
64/22-23 1556-003
Twentieth Year Festival
1947-1948
64/24 1556-003
Twentieth Year - Sponsoring Committee
1947-1948
65/1 1556-003
Union Groups who responded to invitation opening of Here Comes Tomorrow
1944
65/2 1556-003
U.S. Federal Theatre Project
1935-1936
65/3 1556-003
U.S. War Information Office, Division of Educational Services
1943
65/4 1556-003
University of Washington Touring Theatre
1948-1950
65/5 1556-003
University Theatres Productions (List)
1939-1950
65/6 1556-003
War Activities - Blood Bank
undated
65/7 1556-003
War Activities - Theatre Defense Bureau
1942
65/8 1556-003
War Activities - Theatrical Performances, Lists
1941-1945
65/9 1556-003
War Production Program
1942
65/10 1556-003
"The Work of the Actor" - I. Rapport
1936
65/11 1556-003
Work Outline - Sales Department
1947
65/12 1556-003
Drawings - Costume Designs
undated
65/13 1556-003
Miscellaneous drawings
undated
65/14-15 1556-003
Set Designs
undated
81/15-17 1556-003
Oversized Set and Stage Designs
undated
65/16-17 1556-003
Lighting Designs
undated
65/18-19 1556-003
Electrician's Plots
undated
66/1 1556-003
Seating Plans
1949
66/2-3 1556-003
Lists
1936-1949
66/4-5 1556-003
Mailing Lists
1946-1947
66/6 1556-003
Mailing Lists - Newspapers
undated
Box
67-69 1556-003
Address Files
undated
Box/Folder
66/7 1556-003
Campaign Materials - Florence Bean James
1944, 1946
66/8 1556-003
Contracts and Agreements
1925-1942
66/9 1556-003
Contracts - Musicals
1949-1950
66/10 1556-003
Miscellaneous Legal Documents
1930, 1934, 1937-1938, 1950
66/11-12 1556-003
Schedules
1937-1949
70/1-3 1556-003
Surveys and Questionnaires
1948
70/4-5 1556-003
"About the Theatre" survey
1942-1943
70/6 1556-003
Development of the Seattle Repertory Playhouse survey
undated
70/7 1556-003
"Family Portrait" survey
1941
70/8 1556-003
"What the Playhouse Means to Me" Survey
1946-1947
70/9 1556-003
Audience Reaction Survey - San Juan story
1946
70/10 1556-003
Audience Reaction Sheets
1947-1948
70/11 1556-003
Miscellaneous surveys and questionnaires
undated
70/12 1556-003
Inventories - Props and Wardrobe
1950-1951
70/13 1556-003
Property Lists
1928, 1938-1939
70/14 1556-003
Poems and Lyrics
1945
70/15 1556-003
Notes and Drafts
1942, 1949
70/16 1556-003
Forms
1945
70/17 1556-003
Photographs
undated
71/1-6 1556-003
Clippings
71/7 1556-003
Miscellaneous
Box
72-74 1556-003
Musical Scores
Box/Folder
81/18 1556-003
Oversized Posters - Seattle Repertory Playhouse
81/19 1556-003
Oversized Posters - World War II
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Actors Laboratory incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: American Veterans Committee incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Auckland, William incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Barrett, A. R. incoming letters
1949
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Bird, Bonnie incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Brown, Gilmor incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Cameron, Donald incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Capps, A. M. and Laura incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Caughlan, John and Hatten, Attnys, Seattle incoming letters
1949
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Clark, Barrett H. incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Cloak, Mrs. F. T. incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Codd, James E. and Florence S. incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Corwin, Norman incoming letters
1948
75/1 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Countryman, Vern incoming letters
1950
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Cultural and Scientific Conference for World Peace incoming letters
1949
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Davis, Hallie F. incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: DeLacy, Hugh incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Ellison, Francine incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Erie Civic Theatre Association (Penna.) incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Falk, Sawyer incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Finch, Mrs. D. L. incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Gundlach, Ralph incoming letters
1949
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Hibben, Edith, E. incoming letters
1948-1949
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Hosmer, Robert Lowry incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Hurn, H. S. incoming letters
1948
75/2 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Hurt, Charlotte M. incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Johes, John incoming letters
1949
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Kelly, Mary Greiner incoming letters
1949
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Lawson, John Howard incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Leathem, Barclay incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: McKnight, Jolice incoming letters
1951
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Mase, Pat incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Morris, Mary incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: National Theatre Conference incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Nelson, Grace H. incoming letters
1949
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Office and Professional Workers of America, United Local 35 incoming letters
1949
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Oldenburg, Charles incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Pearson, Kathryn Pense incoming letters
1948
75/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Pearson, Talbot incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Peers, Frank incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Petty, William incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Philippi, Herbert incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Reid, George A. incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Reisdorff, R. incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Roseen, Mrs. T. E. incoming letters
undated
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Ross, W. A. incoming letters
undated
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Sadler, Alice incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Salt, Waldo incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Schwabland, J. incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Scott, Lucian incoming letters
1948
75/4 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Scott, W. H. incoming letters
1948
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Seely, Harriet incoming letters
undated
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Snyder, Neal incoming letters
1948
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Stavis, Barrie incoming letters
1948-1949
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Stevens, David H. incoming letters
1951
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Upmeyer, Nita incoming letters
1948
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Vinnedge, R. incoming letters
1948
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Walker, Ward incoming letters
undated
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Warren, George incoming letters
1948
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Watson, Warner incoming letters
1948-1949
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Wright, Martha incoming letters
undated
75/5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Yellow Springs (Ohio) Area Theatre incoming letters
1948
75/6 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Unknown incoming letters
undated
75/7-10 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Outgoing Letters
1946-1951
75/11 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Legal Documents
undated
75/12 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Statements of Defendants
undated
75/13 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Notes
undated
75/14 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Case File - Florence Bean James v. George Hewitt
undated
75/15 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Trials - Rough Draft
undated
75/16 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Part IV of "Patterns of a Playhouse"
undated
75/17-76/3 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Printed matter
undated
76/4-5 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Miscellaneous
undated
76/6-77/7 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Clippings
undated
81/14 1556-003
Canwell Hearings: Oversized Clippings
undated
77/8-78/1 1556-003
National Theatre Conference
1945-1950
78/2 1556-003
Seattle-King County War and Community Chest
1942-1943
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: American Association of University Women incoming letters
1947
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Anacortes Public Schools incoming letters
1947
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Antlers Hotel incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Arlington (WA.) Consolidated School District incoming letters
1947
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Cheney (WA.) Public Schools incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Darce, Virginia incoming letters
1946-1947
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Deering (Tam) & Associates (D.C.) incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: D.C. Recreation Department incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Everett Daily Herald incoming letters
1947
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Harverene Lodge incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Hotel Commercial incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Hotel Montecello incoming letters
1946
78/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Hotel Spokane incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: International Business Machines Corporation incoming letters
1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Kern County (CA.) Recreation and Cultural Commission incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Lewellyn, Ethel incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Los Angeles, Playground and Recreation Department incoming letters
1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Los Angeles, Welfare Council incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: McCaskill, Hazel I. incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Meyer, George A. incoming letters
1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Michigan Youth Guidance Commission incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Music Educators' National Conference incoming letters
1946-1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: National Recreation Association incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: New York University School of Education incoming letters
1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: North Carolina Recreation Commission incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Ogden, Jess S. incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Patrons of Husbandry, Washington State Grange incoming letters
1946-1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Quilcene (WA.) School District #48 incoming letters
1947
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Radir, Ruth incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Railway Express Agency incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Robinson, Duane incoming letters
1946
78/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Rodgers Cabinet Shop, Seattle incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Sawyers, Zenda incoming letters
1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Seattle Gas Company incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Simpson, J. P. incoming letters
1945-1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Spokane Public Schools incoming letters
undated
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: The Tribune (Ilwaco, WA.) incoming letters
1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Underwood Elliott Fisher Company incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: U.S. Federal Security Agency incoming letters
1946-1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: U.S. intergovernmental Relations Agency incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: U.S. National Housing Agency incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: U.S. National Park Service incoming letters
1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: U.S. Veteran's Administration incoming letters
1946-1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Vermont Community Recreation Service incoming letters
1946-1947
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Eastern Washington College of Education incoming letters
1946
78/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Washington State College incoming letters
1946-1947
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Washington State Department incoming letters
1945-1947
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Washington Art Association incoming letters
1946
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Washington Hospital Service incoming letters
1946
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Webster, Mrs. Leonard incoming letters
1947
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Whitman College incoming letters
1947
78/6 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Wilamalane Park and Recreation District (Oregon) incoming letters
1947
78/7-12 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Outgoing Letters
1949-1949
78/13-14 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Minutes
1946
78/15 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Financial Records
1945-1947
78/16 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Reports
1946
79/1 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Speeches and Writings
1946
79/2 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Legislation
1946-1947
79/3 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Problems - Facts to Collect; Methods and Procedure
undated
79/4 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Survey Instruments
undated
79/5 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Notes on Trade Union Recreation
1946
79/6-7 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Community Studies
1946
79/8 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Newsletter
1946-1947
79/9 1556-003
Washington Secretary of State, Recreational and Cultural Resource Survey: Miscellaneous
1944, 1946-1947
80/1 1556-003
Publicity and Programs duplicates
undated
80/2 1556-003
Playhouse News duplicates
undated
80/3-4 1556-003
Playhouse Communique duplicates
undated
80/5 1556-003
Duplicate ephemera
undated

Accession No. 1556-004: Seattle Repertory Playhouse programs, 1928-1950Return to Top

0.63 cubic feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content: Programs of the theater company's productions; 1928-1950. Some programs are copies.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Acquisition Info: Donor: UW Libraries, Special Collections and Preservation Division, February 20, 1998.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder Accession
1/2-5 1556-004
Seattle Repertory Playhouse programs
1928-1950
2/6 1556-004
Federal Theatre Project, Seattle programs
approximately 1936
2/7 1556-004
Seattle Junior programs
1946
2/8 1556-004
Washington State Theatre programs
1936-1938
2/9 1556-004
Other programs
1932, 1937, 1940
2/10 1556-004
Seattle Repertory Playhouse Tenth Anniversary brochures
1927-1937
2/11 1556-004
Newsletters - Playhouse News
1930-1948
2/12 1556-004
Ephemera
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Theatrical companies--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives

Personal Names

  • James, Burton W
  • James, Florence Bean, 1892-1988

Corporate Names

  • Federal Theatre Project (Seattle, Wash.)
  • Seattle Repertory Playhouse--Archives
  • Washington State Theater

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Ottenheimer, Albert M (creator)
    Corporate Names
    • Seattle Junior Programs, Inc (creator)