Records of the Department of Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance

Reference code

38

Level of description

Collection

Title

Records of the Department of Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance

Date(s)

  • 1956-2012 (Creation)

Extent

24.96 linear feet [32 boxes]

Name of creator

Administrative history

St. Cloud State University began producing plays as early as 1956; however, a drama department does not appear in the directories until the 1966/67 school year, where it is listed as Speech and Dramatic Art.

The department was part of Speech Communication, splitting off as the Department of Theatre in 1969.

Below are listed the years, name of department, and chairs, all taken from the campus directory.

1969-71: Theatre, Keith Michael

1971-72: Theatre, Dale Swanson

1972-73: Theatre, Walter Eysselinck

1973-76: Theatre, Dale Swanson

1976-82: Theatre, Ronald Perrier

1982-88: Theatre, Dale Swanson

1988-91: Theatre, Dick Cermele

1991-94: Theatre, Lin Holder

1994-97: Theatre, Brad Chisholm

1997-98: Theatre and Film Studies, Brenda Wentworth

1998-99: Theatre and Film Studies, Andrew Vorder Brugge

1999-02: Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance, Andrew Vorder Brugge

2002-06: Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance, R. Bruce Hyde

2006-08: Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance, Eva Honegger

2008-11: Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance, Jeffrey Bleam

Name of creator

(1869-2023+)

Administrative history

St. Cloud State University was established by the state of Minnesota in 1869 as the Third State Normal School.

Scope and content

This collection contains records from the Department of Theatre, Film Studies, and Dance at St. Cloud State University.  There are 32 boxes and five oversized folders in the collection; the items date from 1956-2007 with the vast majority of the items pertaining to the theatre division. Additions to this series may be ongoing.

The collection is arranged into three series, which are as follows:

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1961-2007

This series includes minutes from staff meetings, building plans, correspondence, and the theatre department’s newsletter, amongst other items.

Series 2: Play Files, 1956-2011

Here is where the bulk of the collection can be found.  The play files, which are alphabetical order by play title, include photographs, posters, and programs for productions that were performed at St. Cloud State University.  There are also records in this series that pertain to SCSU theatre students and producers who took their performances overseas.  The first performances abroad were at military outposts located in Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, and Baffin Island in 1961.  They would go on to perform in Germany for the military in 1964.  And in 1987, actors traveled to China to perform in Universities throughout the country.  The larger production posters are located in the oversize cabinets, drawer 17, and are in chronological order. In addition, there is a folder of material from the County Stearns Theaterical Company.

Series 3: Publications, 1978-2001

This series includes newsletters and student handbooks.

Series 4: Costume Sketches, 1970s-early 1990s

Theatre faculty member Harvey Jurik created 502 costume sketches for theatre productions sponsored by St. Cloud State University, 500 which are digitized. The sketches illustrate the character costume designs as well as several scenes for various plays performed from the 1970s through the early 1990s.

System of arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series, which are as follows:

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1961-2007

Records are organized alphabetically.

Records are located at 30B.3a-6e, ovesize drawer 17, and 1B.1a-2a.

Series 2: Play Files, 1956-2011

Records are organized by play in alphabetical order.  Posters are organized by date.

Series 3: Publications, 1978-2001

Records are organized in alphabetical order by type of publication.

Series 4: Costume Sketches, 1970s-early 1990s

Sketches are organized by play and then by character.

Records are located at 30B.3a-6e, oversize drawer 17, and 1B.1a-2a.

Conditions governing access

There are no access restrictions.

Physical access

Technical access

Conditions governing reproduction

Permission to publish, quote, and reproduce must be secured from the copyright holder.

Languages of the material

  • English

Scripts of the material

    Language and script notes

    Finding aids

    Custodial history

    Immediate source of acquisition

    Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information

    Accruals

    A08-003, A12-015, and A18-014

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related archival materials

    Related descriptions

    Specialized notes

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Rules or conventions

    Sources used

    Archivist's note

    Processed by Alissa LaChapelle, July 2010-April 2011. Additions by Marissa Kritzeck (June 2012) and Josh DeRoode (February 2020).

    Place access points

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    Accession area