Robert Putnam Willamette University Theatre collection, 1947-2005

Robert "Bob" M. Putnam was born June 22, 1918. He earned his undergraduate degree in Dramatic Arts from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa. He married Jeanette Ruth Hershey on January 7, 1944. Putnam served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. When Putnam returned to the United States, he earned his master's degree in radio speech from the University of Wisconsin.

Robert Putnam started working at Willamette University in the 1953-1954 school year as an Assistant Professor in the Speech and Drama Department. He directed many of the Drama Department's productions between 1953 and 1974. It was common for him to produce four to five shows a year. He not only directed and produced, he also designed and built sets and costumes, occasionally acted, sold tickets, oversaw the technical aspects of productions, and handled publicity.

Between 1974 and 1980, Putnam managed the Smith Auditorium. He retired in 1980 as an Associate Professor of Theatre with 27 years of service. In 1954, during his tenure at Willamette, he helped found the Pentacle Theatre, the successful Salem community theatre. Robert Putnam died on July 5, 2007.