Guide to the Department of Theatre Arts records, circa 1875-2016

John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148
Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Published in 2017

Collection Overview

Title:	Department of Theatre Arts records
Date range:	circa 1875-2016
Creator:	Brown University. Dept. of Theatre, Speech and Dance.
Extent:	53.0 Linear feet
Abstract:	The collection comprises the records of the Department of Theatre Arts, the Committee on Dramatic Productions, the student performance groups Sock and Buskin, Komians, and Brownbrokers. The collection contains correspondence, scripts, audition cards, scrapbooks, programs, and publicity.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts
Collection number:	OF.1Q.T1

Scope & content

The collection comprises the records of the Department of Theatre Arts, the Committee on Dramatic Productions, the student performance groups Sock and Buskin, Komians, and Brownbrokers. The collection contains correspondence, scripts, audition cards, scrapbooks, programs, and publicity. The first two series contain a range of administrative materials related to academic programs and performance. The next three series consist of records created by three performance groups (Sock and Buskin, Komians, and Brownbrokers). Although records from these groups have been gathered into discrete series, additional materials from these and other groups can be found distributed throughout the collection. Series VI-XI contain audition cards, scrapbooks, scripts, photographs, programs, and publicity. Series XII Dramatics file and Series XIII Department of Theatre Arts Performances contain chronological files of dramatic productions at Brown University.

Access Points

Subject Organizations

• Brownbrokers (Brown University).
• Komians (Pembroke College).
• Sock and Buskin (Brown University).

Subject Topics

• Performing Arts
• College theater--Rhode Island--Providence

Document Types

• Correspondence
• Minutes
• Photographs
• Printed ephemera
• Scrapbooks
• Scripts (documents)
• Theater programs

Subject Topics

• Education

Arrangement

This collection is organized in twelve series:

• I. General files, 1922-1999
• II. Committee on Dramatic Productions, 1939-1962
• III. Sock and Buskin, 1901-2003
• IV. Komians, 1908-1941
• V. Brownbrokers, 1922-2007
• VI. Audition cards, 1983-2008
• VII. Scrapbooks, circa 1890-1998
• VIII. Scripts, 1902-2008
• IX. Photographs
• X. Programs, circa 1875-1908
• XI. Publicity, circa 1875-1908
• XII. Dramatics, 1921-2008
• XIII. Department of Theatre Arts Performances, 1985-2016

Administrative History

Theatre Arts became a separate department on July 1, 1978, after 77 years as part of the English Department. Dramatics had flourished as an extra-curricular activity under Professors Thomas Crosby, Jr. 1894, Benjamin W. Brown (Class of 1919), and Janice Van De Water Brown, and continued under Mrs. Brown and James Barnhill after the death of Ben Brown in 1955. John Emigh, John Lucas, Don Wilmeth, and Barbara Tannenbaum joined the faculty in the late 1960s, and in 1969 Theatre Arts became a separate concentration in the English Department. In 1969 Julie Strandberg began teaching dance in the women's physical education department of Pembroke College. She contacted James Barnhill about including dance as an academic pursuit in Theatre Arts and began teaching dance in the English Department that year. In 1973 Theatre Arts was recognized as a program. With the expectation of the renovation of Lyman Hall into a theatre and dance studio, a plan was formed to make Theater Arts an independent department in 1980. The fact that this occurred earlier was owing to the enthusiasm of Professor Albert D. Van Nostrand who wanted to see it happen during his final year as chairman of the English Department. At this time it was decided that the new department would include theater arts, dance and speech, and that the Department of English would retain film and semiotics. The name of the department was changed to the Department of Theatre, Speech, and Dance in 1987. Assistant Professor Lowry Marshall took over the basic course in acting and directing after the retirement of James Barnhill. Spencer Golub joined the department to teach history of the theatre, and Michelle Bach came to teach dance. James O. Barnhill was chairman of the department until 1979, followed by Don B. Wilmeth until 1987. John Emigh served until 1993, Nancy Dunbar until 1998, and Wilmeth again until 2001. Spencer Golub became chair in 2001.

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Department of Theatre Arts Records, OF-1Q-T1, Brown University Archives.
Contact information:	John Hay Library, University Archives and Manuscripts Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Telephone: Manuscripts: 401-863-3723; University Archives: 401-863-2148 Email: Manuscripts: hay@brown.edu; University Archives: archives@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Brown University Library staff.
Encoding:	This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2017-01-03
Revisions:	2016 Updated with additions received in 2016.
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)
Sponsor:	Processing funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Additional Information

Related material:

Related materials in the following collections: Africana Studies / Rites and Reason, OF-1ZAF-1, Brown University Library.

Inventory

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