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University Theatre Photographs, 1916-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech Communication.
Title
University Theatre Photographs
Dates
1916-1968 (inclusive)
1924-1961 (bulk)
Quantity
2.3 cubic feet, including 1925 photographs, (7 boxes, including 1 oversize box)
Collection Number
P 112
Summary
The University Theatre Photographs consist of images of theater productions at Oregon State University, set design and construction, make-up sessions, and costumes.
Repository
Oregon State University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives Research Center
Special Collections and Archives Research Center
121 The Valley Library
Oregon State University
Corvallis OR
97331-4501
Telephone: 5417372075
Fax: 5417378674
scarc@oregonstate.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Dramatic productions began at Oregon Agricultural College in the 1890s; the Mask and Dagger Club was formed in 1912 "to encourage and promote dramatic work". A theater program was formally established in 1920 as part of a new Public Speaking and Dramatics Department (now the Speech Communication Department). Dramatic productions were presented at the Majestic Theater in downtown Corvallis and a small theater in Benton Hall until 1950 when a campus structure was remodeled into the Mitchell Playhouse. The University Theatre moved to Withycombe Hall in 1991 after Mitchell Playhouse was declared unsafe.

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Content Description

The University Theatre Photographs consist primarily of images of dramatic productions at Oregon State from the 1920s through 1950s. The collection also includes images of set and scene construction, make-up sessions, and costume design as well as portrait photographs of individual cast members. Photographs of theater productions at the Majestic Theater as well as the Mitchell Playhouse on campus are part of the collection. Several images of the Oregon Agricultural College debate team are also included. Many of the photographs were taken by Hise Studio and Howell's Studio of Corvallis.

The collection includes a variety of formats: photographic prints, acetate (safety) and nitrate negatives, digital prints, and color transparencies. A majority of the collection (~1300 items) consists of photographic or digital prints, many with accompanying camera negatives. The negatives number about 600 total; about 150 are nitrate negatives. Most of the negatives are 8x10 inches; some are 4x5 or 5x7 and there are a few 35 mm negative frames. There are accompanying photographic prints or digital prints for most of the negatives in the collection. Digital prints are low-resolution prints from scans of nitrate negatives for which there are no photographic prints. Photographic prints for which the original nitrate negative is part of the collection, but has a different number, have been labelled as such. The collection also includes 6 color positive transparencies (5x7 and 8x10 inches).

The images in Series I have been assigned individual item numbers. Item numbers P112:001 - P112:487 were assigned by the Archives. Item numbers 982-25-159 thru 982-25-512 and 893-4-601 thru 893-4-661 were assigned by the Horner Museum; these numbers were retained when the materials were transferred to the Archives.

Several images in the collection are available online in the Best of the Archives digital collection.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

University Theatre Photographs (P 112), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

The photographs are arranged in 3 series: I. Numbered Images, 1916-1968; II. Photographs from Play Files, 1951-1957; and III. Awards, 1966

Acquisition Information

Materials in the collection were received in several transfers from the 1960s through 2009. A substantial component of the collection was transferred from the former Horner Museum collections in 1996.

Future Additions

Additions to the collection are expected.

Related Materials

The University Theatre Records (RG 180) document stage productions at Oregon State University beginning in the 1920s and consist predominantly of play files and theater posters for productions depicted in this collection. Materials pertaining to drama activities prior to 1920 are available in the Feronian Literary Society and Mask and Dagger Club Records (RG 042). The C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks document theater productions at Oregon State College through the early 1950s and include many photographs. Other theater photographs are part of Harriet's Collection.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
  • Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.

Corporate Names

  • Mask and Dagger Club (Oregon Agricultural College)
  • Oregon State College--Students.

Form or Genre Terms

  • Color transparencies.
  • Digital prints.
  • Film negatives.
  • Nitrate negatives.
  • Photographic prints.

Other Creators

  • Corporate Names

    • Hise Studio. (creator)
    • Howell's Studio. (creator)
    • Oregon State Agricultural College. Dept. of Public Speaking and Dramatics. (creator)
    • Oregon State College. Dept. of Speech. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. Dept. of Speech. (creator)
    • Oregon State University. Dept. of Theatre. (creator)

Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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