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Ariel S. Ballif, Jr. papers, 1930s-1992

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ballif, Ariel, 1926-1994
Title
Ariel S. Ballif, Jr. papers
Dates
1930s-1992 (inclusive)
Quantity
215 linear feet
Collection Number
ACCN 2127
Summary
The Ariel S. Ballif, Jr. papers (1930s-1992) consists of original costume and set designs, production scripts, architectural designs, and personal and teaching materials. Ballif was a prominent stage designer and co-founder of Theater 138, Salt Lake City's first "alternative" theater. He was born in Rexburg, Idaho, raised in Utah, graduated from Brigham Young University, and received a M.F.A. from Yale University. He was with the theater faculty at the University of Utah and designed major productions for the Pioneer Theater Company, Ballet West, Utah Opera, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and others.
Repository
University of Utah Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library
University of Utah
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-0860

Telephone: 8015818863
special@library.utah.edu
Access Restrictions

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Ariel Smith Ballif, Jr. (1926-1994), a prominent stage designer and co-founder of Theater 138, Salt Lake City's first "alternative" theater, was born in Rexburg, Idaho, the son of Ariel S. and Artamesia Romney Ballif. He was raised in Utah, graduated from Brigham Young University, and later received a master's of fine arts degree from Yale University. During the 1950s through 1970s, Ballif directed and co-produced productions for little theaters in Richmond, Virginia; taught design at the Yale School of Drama; and worked in the Yale Resident Theater. Later in life, he served with the theater faculty at the University of Utah and designed major productions for Pioneer Theater Company, Ballet West, Utah Opera, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and others.

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Content Description

The Ariel S. Ballif, Jr. papers (1930s-1992) consist of original costume and set designs, production scripts, architectural designs, and personal and teaching materials of Ballif's. Most of the materials are arranged by size and listed by theatrical production for which they were designed. There are four different sizes of oversize materials, thus there are instances where a production is listed with several different boxes. Some work by designers other than Ballif can be found throughout the collection.

Click here to view digitized materials from the collection or visit ArchivesSpace for a container level list of digitized materials.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Preferred Citation

Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.

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Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

Box 98 and painter's sketch donated by Pioneer Memorial Theater via George Maxwell in 2012.

Separated Materials

See also the Ariel Ballif photograph collection (P1154) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Note

Processed by Lisa DeMille in 2005.

Addendum processed by Betsey Welland in 2012.

Click here to read a statement on harmful language in library records.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Personal and Family Materials

  • School and Teaching Materials

  • Subject Files

    • Description: American Community Theater Association (ACTA), Newsletters and Announcements
      Dates: 1971
      Container: Box 4, Folder 1
    • Description: Architecture History and Elements, Notes and Pictures
      Container: Box 4, Folder 2
    • Description: Babcock Gallery, Wall Sketches
      Container: Box 4, Folder 3
    • Description: Ballet West, Hanger Logs
      Dates: 1990
      Container: Box 4, Folder 4
    • Description: Biographies

      These are biographies of designers.

      Container: Box 4, Folder 5
    • Description: Tom Carlin, Personal Materials
      Dates: 1945-1962
      Container: Box 4, Folder 6
    • Description: Cast and Contact Lists
      Container: Box 4, Folder 7
    • Description: Center Stage Theater, Inc., Articles of Incorporation
      Dates: 1987
      Container: Box 4, Folder 8
    • Description: Robert Stewart Falconer, Personal Materials
      Dates: 1937-1946
      Container: Box 4, Folder 9
    • Description: Financial Materials
      Dates: 1950s-1980s
      Container: Box 4, Folder 10
    • Description: Furniture History, Sketches and Descriptions
      Container: Box 4, Folder 11
    • Description: Zola Rae Law, Artwork
      Container: Box 4, Folder 12
    • Description: News Articles
      Dates: 1920s-1980s
      Container: Box 5, Folder 1-4
    • Description: Pioneer Memorial Theater

      Memoranda, notes, expenses, and announcements.

      Dates: 1962-1967
      Container: Box 5, Folder 5
    • Description: "Plate Tectonics and Joseph Smith's Vision"
      Dates: 1974
      Container: Box 5, Folder 6
    • Description: Poetry, Quips, and Quotes
      Container: Box 5, Folder 7
    • Description: Postcards
      Container: Box 5, Folder 8
    • Description: Production Lists
      Container: Box 5, Folder 9
    • Description: Programs

      For theater and miscellaneous productions and events.

      Dates: 1930s-1980s
      Container: Box 5, Folder 10-13
    • Description: Prop and Stage Specifications
      Container: Box 6, Folder 1
    • Description: Recipes
      Container: Box 6, Folder 2
    • Description: Sheet Music
      Dates: 1966-1971
      Container: Box 6, Folder 3
    • Description: Silver King Theater

      Correspondence, notes, expenses, drawings, and other papers concerning the remodeling of this building.

      Dates: 1964-1965
      Container: Box 6, Folder 4
    • Description: Theater 138

      Notes, programs, and sketches.

      Dates: 1960s-1980s
      Container: Box 6, Folder 5-7
    • Description: Utah Theater Association, Constitution
      Container: Box 6, Folder 8
    • Description: Miscellaneous
      Container: Box 6, Folder 9
  • Scripts and Production Notes

  • Fashion and Costume History

  • Costume Designs

    • Description: Barber of Seville
      Container: Box 14, Folder 1-2
    • Description: Berkeley Square
      Container: Box 14, Folder 3-6
    • Description: Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
      Container: Box 15, Folder 1-3
    • Description: A Man for All Seasons
      Container: Box 15, Folder 4
    • Description: The Marriage of Figaro
      Container: Box 15, Folder 5
    • Description: Rigoletto
      Container: Box 15, Folder 6
    • Description: Romeo and Juliet
      Container: Box 16, Folder 1-5
    • Description: Rossum's Universal Robots (R.U.R.)
      Container: Box 16, Folder 6-7
    • Description: Volpone
      Container: Box 16, Folder 8
    • Description: Costume Designs for Unidentified Productions
      Container: Box 17, Folder 1-7
    • Description: Character and Costume Layout Notes
      Container: Box 17, Folder 8
    • Description: Character Costume Measurements
      Container: Box 17, Folder 9-10
  • Oversize Costume Designs

  • Set Designs

    • Description: Big River
      Container: Box 33, Folder 1
    • Description: Driving Miss Daisy
      Container: Box 33, Folder 2
    • Description: Girl from Utah
      Container: Box 33, Folder 3
    • Description: The Glass Menagerie
      Container: Box 33, Folder 4
    • Description: Macbeth
      Container: Box 33, Folder 5
    • Description: Salome
      Container: Box 33, Folder 6
    • Description: The Skin of Our Teeth
      Container: Box 33, Folder 7
    • Description: Streamers
      Container: Box 33, Folder 8
    • Description: Set Designs for Unidentified Productions
      Container: Box 33, Folder 9-13
  • Oversize Set Designs

    • Description: Amadeus
      Container: Box 34, Folder 1
    • Description: Amahl and the Night Visitors
      Container: Box 34, Folder 2
    • Description: Beethoven
      Container: Box 35, Folder 1
    • Description: Blind Alley
      Container: Box 35, Folder 2
    • Description: Candida
      Container: Box 36, Folder 1
    • Description: Candide
      Container: Box 36, Folder 2
    • Description: Cyrano de Bergerac
      Container: Box 36, Folder 3
    • Description: Design for Living
      Container: Box 36, Folder 4
    • Description: A Far Smiling Land
      Container: Box 37, Folder 1
    • Description: The Green Bay Tree
      Container: Box 37, Folder 2
    • Description: Hippolytus
      Container: Box 37, Folder 3
    • Description: Indian Village
      Container: Box 37, Folder 4
    • Description: Inherit the Wind
      Container: Box 37, Folder 5
    • Description: Lazardus Laughed
      Container: Box 38, Folder 1
    • Description: Lute Song
      Container: Box 38, Folder 2
    • Description: A Midsummer Night's Dream
      Container: Box 38, Folder 3
    • Description: The Nutcracker
      Container: Box 38, Folder 4
    • Description: A Pin to See a Peepshow
      Container: Box 39, Folder 1
    • Description: Pirates of Penzance
      Container: Box 39, Folder 2
    • Description: A Street in Salt Lake
      Container: Box 39, Folder 3
    • Description: Tosca
      Container: Box 39, Folder 4
    • Description: Trouble in Tahiti
      Container: Box 39, Folder 5
    • Description: Uncle Vanya
      Container: Box 39, Folder 6
    • Description: Amahl and the Night Visitors
      Container: Box 40, Folder 1
    • Description: Anna Christie
      Container: Box 40, Folder 2
    • Description: Arsenic and Old Lace
      Container: Box 40, Folder 3
    • Description: Ballet on a City Rooftop
      Container: Box 40, Folder 4
    • Description: Big River
      Container: Box 40, Folder 5
    • Description: La Boheme
      Container: Box 40, Folder 6
    • Description: Candide
      Container: Box 40, Folder 7
    • Description: Dead End
      Container: Box 40, Folder 8
    • Description: The Family Plan
      Container: Box 41, Folder 1
    • Description: A Far Smiling Land
      Container: Box 41, Folder 2
    • Description: Fenris
      Container: Box 41, Folder 3
    • Description: Glass Menagerie
      Container: Box 41, Folder 4
    • Description: The Great Catherine
      Container: Box 41, Folder 5
    • Description: Hamlet
      Container: Box 41, Folder 6
    • Description: High Tor
      Container: Box 41, Folder 7
    • Description: The King and I
      Container: Box 42, Folder 1
    • Description: Lazardus Laughed
      Container: Box 42, Folder 2
    • Description: The Liar
      Container: Box 42, Folder 3
    • Description: Like Snow Falling
      Container: Box 42, Folder 4
    • Description: Love for Three Oranges
      Container: Box 43, Folder 1
    • Description: The Magic Flute
      Container: Box 43, Folder 2
    • Description: Major Barbara
      Container: Box 43, Folder 3
    • Description: Man of La Mancha
      Container: Box 43, Folder 4
    • Description: The Merry Widow
      Container: Box 44, Folder 1
    • Description: The Mighty Magician
      Container: Box 44, Folder 2
    • Description: No Sex Please, We're British
      Container: Box 44, Folder 3
    • Description: Pelleas and Melisande
      Container: Box 44, Folder 4
    • Description: Peter Pan
      Container: Box 44, Folder 5
    • Description: Pit Stop
      Container: Box 44, Folder 6
    • Description: Salome
      Container: Box 44, Folder 7
    • Description: The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife
      Container: Box 44, Folder 8
    • Description: Snow White
      Container: Box 44, Folder 9
    • Description: Star Spangled Girl
      Container: Box 44, Folder 10
    • Description: Time of the Cuckoo
      Container: Box 44, Folder 11
    • Description: Two by Two
      Container: Box 44, Folder 12
    • Description: Affairs of State
      Container: Box 45, Folder 1
    • Description: Amadeus
      Container: Box 45, Folder 2-3
    • Description: Amahal and the Night Visitors
      Container: Box 45, Folder 4
    • Description: Auntie Mame
      Container: Box 45, Folder 5
    • Description: The Barber of Seville
      Container: Box 45, Folder 6
    • Description: Beethoven
      Container: Box 45, Folder 7
    • Description: Big River
      Container: Box 46, Folder 1
    • Description: La Boheme
      Container: Box 46, Folder 2-4
    • Description: Candida
      Container: Box 47, Folder 1
    • Description: Candide
      Container: Box 47, Folder 2
    • Description: A Choice of Wars
      Container: Box 47, Folder 3
    • Description: Death of a Salesman
      Container: Box 47, Folder 4
    • Description: Fenris
      Container: Box 48, Folder 1-2
    • Description: La Fille Naive
      Container: Box 48, Folder 3
    • Description: Die Fledermaus
      Container: Box 48, Folder 4-5
    • Description: The Imaginary Invalid
      Container: Box 49, Folder 1
    • Description: International Set
      Container: Box 49, Folder 2
    • Description: The Lady's Not for Burning
      Container: Box 49, Folder 3
    • Description: A Man for All Seasons
      Container: Box 49, Folder 4
    • Description: The Mighty Magician
      Container: Box 49, Folder 5
    • Description: The Nutcracker
      Container: Box 49, Folder 6
    • Description: O Pioneers
      Container: Box 50, Folder 1
    • Description: Pirates of Penzance
      Container: Box 50, Folder 2
    • Description: Prometheus
      Container: Box 50, Folder 3
    • Description: Promised Valley
      Container: Box 50, Folder 4
    • Description: Ring around the Moon
      Container: Box 50, Folder 5
    • Description: Strike a Match
      Container: Box 51, Folder 1
    • Description: The Tempest
      Container: Box 51, Folder 2
    • Description: Thracian Horses
      Container: Box 51, Folder 3
    • Description: A Thurber Carnival
      Container: Box 51, Folder 4
    • Description: Time for Elizabeth
      Container: Box 51, Folder 5
    • Description: Tosca
      Container: Box 52, Folder 1-2
    • Description: Toxcatl
      Container: Box 52, Folder 3-4
    • Description: Triumph of Honor
      Container: Box 52, Folder 5
    • Description: La Valise
      Container: Box 53, Folder 1
    • Description: The Visit
      Container: Box 53, Folder 2-3
    • Description: Oversize Unidentified Set Designs
      Container: Box 54
    • Description: Oversize Unidentified Set Designs
      Container: Box 55
    • Description: Oversize Unidentified Set Designs
      Container: Box 56
    • Description: Oversize Unidentified Set Designs
      Container: Box 57
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Ah! Wilderness, All God's Chillun Got Wings (1963), All the King's Men, Amadeus (1984), Amahal and the Night Visitors (1980, 1984), and Anthem (1979).

      Dates: 1963-1984
      Container: Tube 58
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for As You Like It, The Ascent of Oscar Cable (1964), and Auntie Mame (1962).

      Dates: 1962, 1964
      Container: Tube 59
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Barber of Seville (1966), A Bedroom to Scale (1965), Big River (1990), La Boheme (1978), and Born Yesterday (1958).

      Dates: 1958-1990
      Container: Tube 60
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Cabin, Candida (1965), and Candide (1984).

      Dates: 1965, 1984
      Container: Tube 61
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Catch Me If You Can (1978), Cavalleria Rusticana (1980), Charley's Aunt (1964), A Choice of Wars, and Cole (1988).

      Dates: 1964-1988
      Container: Tube 62
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Dance 65, Dangerous Corner, Deadly Game (1989), Death of a Salesman (1963), Desert Song (1976, 1980), Doors (1977), and Driving Miss Daisy (1990-1991).

      Dates: 1963-1991
      Container: Tube 63
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Fantasticks (1965), La Fille Naive, and Die Fledermaus (1980).

      Dates: 1965, 1980
      Container: Tube 64
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Girl Crazy (1975), Golden Apple (1979), Habeas Corpus, Hamlet (1987), Hansel and Gretel (1990), House of Bernarda Alba (1983), and The Hyphen.

      Dates: 1975-1990
      Container: Tube 65
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Interface (1978), Java (1980), The Lady's Not for Burning (1969, 1980), Little Mary Sunshine, Lute Song, and Macbeth.

      Dates: 1969-1980
      Container: Tube 66
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Magic Flute (1974), Major Barbara, and A Man for All Seasons (1964, 1983).

      Dates: 1964-1983
      Container: Tube 67
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Mary, Mary (1965), The Miser (1990), Modern Dance (1967), Mourning Becomes Electra (1976), Murder in the Cathedral, My Fat Friend (1979), and My One and Only (1987).

      Dates: 1965-1990
      Container: Tube 68
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Naughty Marietta (1978), New Moon (1974), Nothing Doing Cabaret, The Nutcracker (1990-1991), and O Pioneers (1993).

      Dates: 1974-1993
      Container: Tube 69
    • Description: Rolled Set Drawings

      Included are designs for Pagliacci, Peter Pan (1963), Promised Valley, and A Pin to See a Peepshow.

      Dates: 1963
      Container: Tube 70
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Reluctant Debutante (1972), Rhinocerous (1962), Rigoletto (1966, 1981), and Ring around the Moon (1966).

      Dates: 1962-1981
      Container: Tube 71
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Rise and Fall and Romeo and Juliet (1989).

      Dates: 1989
      Container: Tube 72
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Shoemaker's Prodigious Wife (1965), 6 RMS RIV VU (1974), Skin of Our Teeth, Strangers (1981), and The Subject Was Roses (1967).

      Dates: 1965-1981
      Container: Tube 73
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Tempest (1985), Threepenny Opera (1977), and The Three Muskateers (1989).

      Dates: 1977-1989
      Container: Tube 74
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Thurber Carnival, Tipple, and Tobacco Road (1977).

      Dates: 1977
      Container: Tube 75
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Tosca (1978), Toxcatl, Triumph of Honor (1966), and Two by Two (1978).

      Dates: 1966; 1978
      Container: Tube 76
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for Uncle Vanya (1991), La Valse (1964), and Veronica's Room (1986).

      Dates: 1964-1991
      Container: Tube 77
    • Description: Rolled Set Designs

      Included are designs for The Visit (1963), Wake Up Old Man, A Water Engine (1983), and You Can't Take it With You (1966).

      Dates: 1963-1983
      Container: Tube 78
    • Description: Unidentified Rolled Set Designs
      Container: Tube 79
    • Description: Rolled Costume Design Prints
      Container: Tube 80
  • Oversize Architecture Designs

    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Included are designs for the LDS administration building, garage roof and plaza slab, Utah (1962); the LDS Colton 2nd Ward, California (1966); Gull, Inc. office building, Utah (1972); Park City Center for the Arts, Utah; and Silver King Restaurant, Utah (1964).

      Dates: 1962-1972
      Container: Tube 81
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Included are designs for Valley Music Hall, Utah (1964); George Q. Morris building remodel (1955); Capitol Theater ground plan, Utah; ZCMI mall shopping layout, Utah; and Ballif's, Utah.

      Dates: 1955; 1964
      Container: Tube 82
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Included are designs for the Salt Lake Memorial Theater main floor (1959); Royce Hall, California; Western State College Little Theater; Professional Repertory Theater; and the University of Utah Babcock Theater floor, Utah (1982).

      Dates: 1959; 1982
      Container: Tube 83
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Included are designs for the Temple Square Christmas production; Yale Cabaret; telephone answering business building; Judge Memorial High School auditorium addition, Utah (1965); Brandeis Forum Theater; and the Boston Arts Festival (1963).

      Dates: 1963; 1965
      Container: Tube 84
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs, Theater 138
      Container: Tube 85
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs, Theater 138
      Container: Tube 86
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Residential plans for Ballif and others.

      Container: Tube 87
    • Description: Rolled Architecture Designs

      Included are designs for Park City, Utah, buildings and miscellaneous designs.

      Container: Tube 88
    • Description: Miscellaneous Rolled Items
      Container: Tube 89
  • General Oversize Materials