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Washington State University Theatre and Dance Records, 1924-2011

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Washington State University. School of Music and Theatre Arts
Title
Washington State University Theatre and Dance Records
Dates
1924-2011 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.5 Linear feet of shelf space, (13 Boxes)
Collection Number
Archives 387 (collection)
Summary
Programs and photographs from theatrical productions produced by Washington State University from the 1920s to 2010s. Also included are departmental papers, programs from regional theatre groups, and student theses.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

The Department of Speech of Washington State University, established in 1923, has produced numerous plays since 1925 as a function of that department. Maynard Lee Daggy headed the Speech Department from its inception in 1923 until 1946 and directed many of the earlier productions. Departmental theatrical finances, publicity, and publications were the responsibility of the University Theatre office located in Bryan Hall. In the early 1970s a new site for University Theatre productions and the Department of Speech was constructed and subsequently named Daggy Hall. Circa 1988-1989, theatre was moved from Speech and joined with the Department of Music to create the School of Music and Theatre Arts. In 2008, Theatre Arts and Dance were separated from Music, and in May of 2011 the Department of Theatre and Dance closed as a result of budget cuts.

In addition to regular theatre productions, special production units including Children's Theatre, Stage II Productions, Final Stage, The Black Ensemble, Pullman's New Summer Palace, and Stage One have existed. With the exception of Summer Palace, most of these appear to have been sporadic, and were occasionally short lived.

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Content Description

The majority of the collection is programs, photographs, and other documents relating to theatrical productions produced by the State College of Washington (later Washington State University) theater programs, dating from the very first productions (1924) to the very last (2011). This collection is more or less supplemental to the previously existing collections (see Related Materials), but includes the only known photographs and programs of many of WSC’s earliest productions, and of many of the later supporting performance groups. A number of non-final theses and student papers are included, many of which detail aspects of WSU’s theater performances.

Series 1: Papers, Programs, and Photographs is divided into three subseries: Subseries 1.1 is WSU theatre programs, photographs, and documents; Subseries 1.2 consists of departmental papers and photographs, and programs from other performance programs, including the WSU Theatre-affiliated Summer Palace; Subseries 1.3 is student papers, primarily Masters Theses which lack documentation certifying them as accepted. Some may indeed be final copies, but they may also be drafts or unaccepted theses. The students in this subseries are only those for whom the Libraries did not already hold an official copy.

Series 2: Card-mounted photographs, 1949-1968 and compact discs, 2003-2011and consists of two format-based subseries: Subseries 2.1 is card-mounted photographs from WSU Office of University Publications and Printing; Subseries 2.2 is CDs of performance photographs.

Series 3: Scrapbooks, 1943-1972 consists of oversized scrapbooks.

Researchers should be aware that due to the format-based series structure of this collection, materials from a given production could potentially be found in all three series.

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Use of the Collection

Alternative Forms Available

The digital materials in this collection were copied over into the MASC’s non-public digital storage during processing for preservation purposes.

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions may apply.

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]

Washington State University Theatre and Dance Records, 1924-2011 (Archives 387)

Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in a number of series and subseries, the first level of which is based on format and item size.

Series 1 is broken into subject based subseries: Subseries 1.1 is ordered chronologically; Subseries 1.2 is organized alphabetically by subject; Subseries 1.3 is arranged alphabetically by student name.

Series 2 consists of two format-based subseries: Subseries 2.1 is maintained in their original numerical, and mostly chronological, order; Subseries 2.2 is also maintained in chronological order.

Acquisition Information

The papers of the WSU Theatre and Dance program were transferred to the Washington State University Libraries’ Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collection on June 29, 2018, by Gail Siegel of WSU Performing Arts, and retained as UA2018-09. The materials had been stored in an informal departmental library for decades prior.

Processing Note

The materials were processed by University Archivist Mark O’English in August to September, 2018. During processing, photographs and programs immediately identifiable as being from productions represented in materials already held in MASC (listed in “Related Materials” below) were placed in the appropriate folders in those collections. Materials which duplicated holdings in those other collections were discarded.

Separated Materials

The Theatre program’s working library of books was transferred to the WSU Libraries at the same time; those are now in the public stacks and are not part of MASC’s holdings.

Some materials were moved to Washington State University Publications 48: Visual and Performing and Literary Arts Committee (VPLAC) / Performing Arts

One professor’s collection of 1950-1952 Northwestern University programs was transferred to that school’s archives.

Related Materials

State College of Washington Theatre Records, 1925-1965 (Archives 42)

Washington State University Theatre Records, 1965-1978 (Archives 105)

Washington State University Theatre Records, 1966-1981 (Archives 209)

Washington State University Theatre Records, 1979-1986 (Archives 251)

Washington State University Theatre and Dance Records, 1980-2011 (Archives 308)

Washington State University Publications: Theatre Posters, 1957-2011 (WSU 112)

Washington State University Theatre Slides, 1950-2001 (PC 146)

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College and school drama, American -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- Records and correspondence
  • Theater -- Washington (State) -- Pullman -- Records and correspondence

Corporate Names

  • State College of Washington. University Theatre -- Records and correspondence
  • Washington State University. Department of Theatre and Dance -- Records and correspondence
  • Washington State University. School of Music and Theatre Arts -- Records and correspondence
  • Washington State University. University Theatre -- Records and correspondence

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • State College of Washington. University Theatre (creator)
    • Washington State University. Department of Theatre and Dance (creator)
    • Washington State University. University Theatre (creator)
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