Guide to the Vassar College Drama Department Records, ca. 1910 - 2003

archives and special collections / finding aids / Vassar College Drama Department Records

Guide to the Vassar College Drama Department Records,
ca. 1910 - 2003

Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Repository: Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries
Creator: Vassar College. Dept. of Drama.
Title: Vassar College Drama Department Records
Dates: ca. 1910 - 2003
Quantity: 30.2 cubic feet (48 boxes)
Abstract: Material documenting the history of the Vassar College Drama Department and its many components and programs (including the Experimental Theatre) from ca. 1910-2003.
Forms of Materials: Programs, news clippings, production material, photographs and negatives.

Administrative History

The Vassar College Experimental Theatre was founded in 1925 by Hallie Flanagan Davis as a program of the English Department, and later became part of the Drama Department when it was founded in 1938. The predecessors of the Experimental Theatre included the Vassar Dramatic Workshop and the Vassar Players.

Return to the Table of Contents

Scope and Content Note

Programs, news clippings, production material, photographs and negatives documenting the history of the Vassar College Drama Department and its many components and programs (including the Experimental Theatre) from ca. 1910-2003.

Return to the Table of Contents

Access and Use

Access

Box 48 contains restricted material. Please contact the Archives and Special Collections staff for more information. The rest of the collection is open for research according to the regulations of the Vassar College Archives and Special Collections Library without any additional restrictions.

Return to the Table of Contents

Subject Headings

Names:

  • Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969.

Organizations:

  • Vassar College. Drama.
  • Vassar College. Experimental Theatre.

Subjects:

  • College theater.
  • Performing arts--New York (State)--Poughkeepsie.
  • Theater--Study and teaching.

Document Types:

  • Drawings.
  • Photoprints.
  • Scripts.

Return to the Table of Contents

Encoding Information

Encoded by Elizabeth Clarke, April 2007.

Return to the Table of Contents

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Vassar College Drama Department Records, Archives and Special Collections Library, Vassar College Libraries.

Processing Information

Collection processed April 2005 by Laura Finkel. Updated October 2008.

Acquisition Information

Transferred in several accessions over a number of years. The last accession (A2008-019) includes boxes 47-49 and was transfered in the summer of 2008.

Return to the Table of Contents

Series List

Series I. Subject Files (Boxes 1-2 and 46-48)

Programs, newsclippings, promotional material, and other records relating to the the Experimental Theatre and its productions as well as miscellaneous Drama Department files.

Series II. Miscellaneous Student Papers and Theses (Box 2)

An incomplete set of student papers completed for various Drama Department classes.

Series III. Experimental Theatre Lantern Slides (Box 3)

Two sets of slides used in the Experimental Theatre productions, Can You Hear Their Voices (1931) and One-Third of a Nation (1937).

Series IV. Experimental Theatre Negatives (Boxes 6-9)

Mostly 4"x5" negatives on cellulose acetate "Safety" film. Some are deteriorating and/or brittle and may not be available for duplication.

Series V. Experimental Theatre Photographs (Boxes 4-5, 10-24, mapcases)

Photographs housed according to size, then in chronological order.
Boxes 10 - 21 contain 8" x 10" and smaller photographs
Boxes 4 - 5 contain 14" x 18" and smaller photographs
Boxes 22 - 24 contain 16" x 20" photographs
Items housed in map cases are approximately 12" x 48"

Series VI. Drama Department Audio and Film Reels (Box 25)

A small set of film and audio reals from miscellaneous productions.

Series VII. Drama Department Production Material (Boxes 24, 26-44)

Scripts, prompt books, costume and set design, etc. including Experimental Theatre productions, Hall productions, senior theses, and class projects. Organized in chronological order, but not listed by individual production. There is also a small collection of musical scores.

Container List

Series I. Subject Files

Folder 1.1 Experimental Theatre News Clippings, 1929-1972
Folder 1.2 Experimental Theatre Press Releases, 1960-1992
Folder 1.3 Experimental Theatre Programs, 1929-1949
Folder 1.4 Experimental Theatre Programs, 1950-1979
Folder 1.5 Experimental Theatre Programs, 1980-2003
Folder 1.6 Experimental Theatre Calendars and other Advertising Material, 1934-2002, n.d.
Folder 1.7 "Experimental Theatre Report" by Hallie Flanagan and Lester Lang, 18 May 1933
Folder 1.8 Experimental Theatre Building Plans, 1930
Folder 1.9 Experimental Theatre Production Files — Orpheus, 1939
Folder 1.10 Experimental Theatre Production Files — Pillars of Society, 1939
Folder 1.11 Predecessors to the Experimental Theatre at Vassar, ca. 1917-1926
Folder 1.12 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1950-1955
Folder 1.13 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1956-1957
Folder 1.14 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1958-1959
Folder 1.15 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1959-1960
Folder 1.16 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1960-1961
Folder 1.17 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1960-1961
Folder 1.18 Mary Heinlein's Files, ca. 1937-1960
Folder 1.19 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 1.20 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 1.21 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 1.22 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 1.23 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 2.1 Summer Session, 1935
Folder 2.2 Summer Session, 1935-1937
Folder 2.3 Correspondence with Lester Lang, 1937-1938
Folder 2.4 Correspondence with the Mercury Theatre, 1937-1938
Folder 2.5 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1931-1937
Folder 2.6 Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1960-1961
Folder 2.7 Miscellaneous, ca. 1928-1943
Folder 46.1 "B - General Correspondence," 1946-1955
Folder 46.2 "C - General Correspondence," 1947-1955
Folder 46.3 "H - General Correspondence," 1948-1955
Folder 46.4 "L - General Correspondence," 1949-1955
Folder 46.5 "M - General Correspondence," 1946-1954
Folder 46.6 "P - General Correspondence," 1946-1955
Folder 46.7 "S - General Correspondence," 1940-1955
Folder 46.8 "S - General Correspondence," 1953-1955
Folder 46.9 "W - General Correspondence," 1940-1955
Folder 46.10 "Courses Bibliographies," 1940-1953, n.d.
Folder 46.11 "Courses Bibliographies," 1941-1955, n.d.
Folder 46.12 "Courses Bibliographies," 1938-1944
Folder 46.13 "Summer Theatre, 1954"
Folder 46.14 "Students Summer Drama Schools"
Folder 46.15 "1956 - Summer Theatres"
Folder 46.16 "Summer Theatres, 1955"
Folder 46.17 "College Library, 1951-1955"
Folder 46.18 "College Theatre — Avery 1952"
Folder 46.19 "The Theatre — Avery, " 1939-1953
Folder 46.20 "Recorder — Old,"
Folder 46.21 "Mailing list 1951-1954" 1933-1951
Folder 46.22 "Curriculum Committee — Old"
Folder 46.23 "Publicity — Old," 1938-1953 n.d.
Folder 46.24 - 46.26 "National Theatre Conference," 1933-1949, n.d.
Folder 46.27 "National Theatre Conference," 1948-1949
Folder 46.28 "National Theatre Conference," 1949-1953 n.d.
Folder 46.29 "National Theatre Conference Placement Service Catalogue, Section 1, " 1948
Folder 46.30 New Dramatists Committee
Folder 47.1 N.Y. State Regional Drama: NY State Community Theatre Association 1947-1953 n.d.
Folder 47.2 Scrapbook of Theatre Clippings 1936-1937
Folder 47.3 Scrapbook of Theatre Clippings ca 1937
Folder 47.4 Scrapbook of Theatre Clippings 1937-1938
Folder 47.5 Equipment — General
Folder 47.6 Costuming and Make-up
Folder 47.7 Sound Equipment and Effects
Folder 47.8 Lighting Equipment
Folder 47.9 Shuttuck, Charles H., 1948-1954, n.d.
Folder 48.1 [RESTRICTED] "Faculty — Stewart, David" 1952
Folder 48.2 [RESTRICTED] "Faculty — (Coffee) Richards, Sally 1949, 1951
Folder 48.3 [RESTRICTED] "Applicants" 1946-1955
Folder 48.4 [RESTRICTED] "Applicants for Miss Smith's Position" 1943-1948 n.d.
Folder 48.5 [RESTRICTED] Student letters 1940-1954 n.d.
Folder 48.6 [RESTRICTED] "Students' letters," 1950-1952
Folder 48.7 [RESTRICTED] Letters of Recommendation 1941-1954

Series II. Miscellaneous Student Papers and Theses

Box 2 Miscellaneous Student Papers and Theses, 1930-1973

Series III. Experimental Theatre Lantern Slides

Box 3 Can You Hear Their Voices? May 1931
Box 3 One-Third of a Nation, July 1937

Series IV. Experimental Theatre Negatives

Folder 6.1 Guibor, 1925-1926
Folder 6.2 Marriage Proposal, Nov. 1927
Folder 6.3 Sleeping Beauty, Apr. 1928
Folder 6.4 Blocks, Apr. 1928
Folder 6.5 Troll Hill, Oct. 1928
Folder 6.6 Down in Egypt's Land, Dec. 1928
Folder 6.7 Water and Wine, Dec. 1928
Folder 6.8 Noah's Ark, ca. 1928
Folder 6.9 The Wreck, Mar. 1929
Folder 6.10 The Sky Will be Lit Up, Apr. 1929
Folder 6.11 X=O, Oct 1929
Folder 6.12 Each in His Own Way, Dec. 1929
Folder 6.13 Simples by Moonlight? or Cartoon? or Mdme. Europe? Mar. 1930
Folder 6.14 Man and the Masses, May 1930
Folder 6.15 Backgrounds of Modern Theatre? [Oct 1930]
Folder 6.16 The Adoption, Dec. 1930
Folder 6.17 The Other Room, Dec. 1930
Folder 6.18 Groceries and Notions, Feb. 1931
Folder 6.19 Can You Hear Their Voices? May 1931
Folder 6.20 See America First, Oct. 1931
Folder 6.21 The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Oct. 1931
Folder 6.22 Hippolytus, Dec. 1931
Folder 6.23 See America Now, Oct 1932
Folder 7.1 Varieta Futurista, Mar. 1932
Folder 7.2 Miners on Strike, May 1932
Folder 7.3 We Demand, May 1932
Folder 7.4 Heritage, May 1932
Folder 7.5 Svapnavasavadatta of Bhasa (Dream of the Vasavadatta), Jan 1933
Folder 7.6 Now I Know Love, 1933
Folder 7.7 Now I Know Love, 1933
Folder 7.8 American Plan, Oct 1933
Folder 7.9 Fear, Jan 1934
Folder 7.10 The Phantom Bride! May 1934
Folder 7.11 Singing Girl of Copan, Mar. 1934
Folder 7.12 Antony and Cleopatra, Dec. 1934
Folder 7.13 Antony and Cleopatra, Dec. 1934
Folder 8.1 My Country Right or Left, May 1935
Folder 8.2 Ladies are Made, July 1935
Folder 8.3 The Phantom Bride! July 1935
Folder 8.4 Come Out Into the Sun, Aug. 1935
Folder 8.5 Lady from the Sea, Dec. 1935
Folder 8.6 "Lab Shows," Feb. 1936
Folder 8.7 Fuente Ovejuna, May 1936
Folder 8.8 Tonight We Improvise, Dec. 1936
Folder 8.9 "Lab Shows," Jan. 1937
Folder 8.10 No More Peace (blue-ing), Feb 1937
Folder 8.11 No More Peace, Feb 1937
Folder 8.12 Relax! Apr. 1937
Folder 8.13 Fallen Mangoes, Apr. 1937
Folder 8.14 One-Third of a Nation, July 1937
Folder 8.15 The Infernal Machine, Dec. 1937
Folder 8.16 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Feb. 1938
Folder 9.1 3 Plays on American Homelife, Apr. 1938
Folder 9.2 Vassar's Folly, Dec. 1938
Folder 9.3 Peter Goes to the Fair, Feb. 1939
Folder 9.4 Three Sisters, Apr. 1939
Folder 9.5 Orpheus, Dec. 1939
Folder 9.6 Mr. Sycamore, Feb. 1940
Folder 9.7 Vassar's Folly, 1940
Folder 9.8 Our Town, Dec. 1940
Folder 9.9 Pillars of Society, Feb. 1941
Folder 9.13 Sight Unseen, Apr. 1941
Folder 9.14 Murder in the Cathedral, Dec. 1941
Folder 9.10 Santos Vega, Feb. 1942
Folder 9.11 Phoenix, Apr. 1942
Folder 9.12 War Chest Rally, Nov. 1942
Folder 9.15 Unidentified Production, ca. 1940s
Folder 9.16 War Bonds Posters - for set design? ca. 1930s
Folder 9.17 Costume Designs? ca. 1930s
Folder 9.18 "Rosenfeld" Costume Designs? ca. 1930s

Series V. Experimental Theatre Photographs

Folder 10.1 Guibor, 1925-1926
Mapcase 1 Guibor, 1925-1926
Folder 10.2 Marriage Proposal, Nov. 1927
Folder 10.3 Ur Faust, 1927
Folder 10.4 Blocks, Apr. 1928
Mapcase 1 Blocks, Apr. 1928
Folder 10.5 Sleeping Beauty, Apr. 1928
Folder 10.6 Troll Hill, Oct. 1928
Mapcase 1 Troll Hill, Oct. 1928
Folder 10.7 Water and Wine, Dec. 1928
Folder 10.8 Down in Egypt's Land, Dec. 1928
Folder 10.9 The Sky Will be Lit Up, Apr. 1929
Mapcase 1 The Prophecy, 1928-1929
Folder 10.10 X=O, Oct 1929
Folder 10.11 Each in His Own Way, Dec. 1929
Mapcase 1 Cartoon, 1929-1930
Folder 10.12 Man and the Masses, May 1930
Folder 10.13 Background of Modern Theatre, Oct. 1930
Folder 10.14 Background of Modern Theatre, Oct. 1930
Mapcase 2 Background of Modern Theatre, Oct. 1930
Folder 11.1 The Adoption, Dec. 1930
Mapcase 2 The Adoption, Dec. 1930
Folder 11.2 The Other Room, Dec. 1930
Folder 11.3 Groceries and Notions, Feb. 1931
Folder 11.4 Groceries and Notions, Feb. 1931
Mapcase 2 Groceries and Notions, Feb. 1931
Folder 11.5 Can You Hear Their Voices? May 1931
Folder 11.6 Can You Hear Their Voices? May 1931
Folder 11.7 See America First, Oct. 1931
Mapcase 2 See America First, Oct. 1931
Folder 11.8 The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Oct. 1931
Mapcase 2 The Man with the Flower in his Mouth, Oct. 1931
Folder 11.9 Hippolytus, Dec. 1931
Folder 11.10 Hippolytus, Dec. 1931
Folder 22.1 Hippolytus, Dec. 1931
Folder 11.11 Varieta Futurista, Mar. 1932
Folder 12.1 Heritage, May 1932
Mapcase 2 Heritage, May 1932
Mapcase 2 We Demand, May 1932
Folder 12.2 See America Now, Oct 1932
Mapcase 3 See America Now, Oct 1932
Mapcase 3 See America Now, Oct 1932
Folder 12.4 Svapnavasavadatta of Bhasa (Dream of the Vasavadatta), Jan. 1933
Folder 12.5 Svapnavasavadatta of Bhasa (Dream of the Vasavadatta), Jan. 1933
Folder 22.2 Svapnavasavadatta of Bhasa (Dream of the Vasavadatta), Jan. 1933
Folder 12.6 Now I Know Love, 1933
Folder 12.7 Fear, Jan 1934
Mapcase 3 Fear, Jan 1934
Folder 12.8 Backgrounds of the Modern Theatre, March 1934
Mapcase 3 Backgrounds of the Modern Theatre, March 1934
Folder 12.9 The Phantom Bride! May 1934
Folder 13.1 The Phantom Bride! May 1934
Mapcase 3 The Phantom Bride! May 1934
Folder 13.2 Antony and Cleopatra, Dec. 1934
Folder 13.3 Antony and Cleopatra, Dec. 1934
Mapcase 4 Antony and Cleopatra, Dec. 1934
Folder 22.3 The First Legion, 1934
Mapcase 4 My Country Right or Left, May 1935
Folder 13.4 Ladies are Made, July 1935
Folder 13.5 Ladies are Made, July 1935
Folder 13.6 Come Out into the Sun, Aug.1935
Folder 13.7 Lady from the Sea, Dec. 1935
Folder 14.1 Lady from the Sea, Dec. 1935
Mapcase 4 Lady from the Sea, Dec. 1935
Folder 14.2 How Are Ye Blind! Feb. 1936
Folder 14.3 Fuente Ovejuna, May 1936
Mapcase 4 Fuente Ovejuna, May 1936
Folder 14.4 Tonight We Improvise, Dec. 1936
Folder 14.5 Tonight We Improvise, Dec. 1936
Mapcase 5 Tonight We Improvise, Dec. 1936
Folder 14.6 Backgrounds of the Modern Theatre, Jan. 1937
Mapcase 5 Backgrounds of the Modern Theatre, Jan. 1937
Folder 14.7 No More Peace, Feb. 1937
Folder 14.8 No More Peace, Feb. 1937
Folder 15.1 No More Peace, Feb. 1937
Mapcase 5 No More Peace, Feb. 1937
Folder 15.2 Relax! Apr. 1937
Mapcase 5 Relax! Apr. 1937
Folder 15.3 Fallen Mangoes, Apr. 1937
Folder 15.4 Fallen Mangoes, Apr. 1937
Mapcase 5 Fallen Mangoes, Apr. 1937
Folder 15.5 One-Third of a Nation, July 1937
Folder 15.6 The Infernal Machine, Dec. 1937
Mapcase 6 The Infernal Machine, Dec. 1937
Folder 15.7 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Feb. 1938
Folder 15.8 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Feb. 1938
Folder 4.1 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Feb. 1938
Mapcase 6 Knight of the Burning Pestle, Feb. 1938
Folder 4.2 I Have Seen Myself Before, Apr. 1938
Folder 16.1 3 Plays on American Homelife, Apr. 1938
Mapcase 6 3 Plays on American Homelife, Apr. 1938
Folder 16.2 Vassar's Folly, Dec 1938 or June 1940
Folder 16.3 Vassar's Folly, Dec 1938 or June 1940
Folder 16.4 Vassar's Folly, Dec 1938 or June 1940
Folder 16.5 Vassar's Folly Dec 1938 or June 1940
Folder 4.3 Vassar's Folly Dec. 1938
Mapcase 7 Vassar's Folly 1938-1939
Folder 16.6 Peter Goes to the Fair, Feb. 1939
Folder 16.7 Peter Goes to the Fair, Feb. 1939
Folder 4.4 Peter Goes to the Fair Feb. 1939
Mapcase 7 Peter Goes to the Fair Feb. 1939
Folder 16.8 The Three Sisters, Apr. 1939
Folder 4.5 The Three Sisters, Apr. 1939
Mapcase 7 The Three Sisters, Apr. 1939
Folder 16.9 Orpheus, Dec. 1939
Folder 4.6 Orpheus, Dec. 1939
Mapcase 7 Orpheus, Dec. 1939
Folder 17.1 Escape or No Escape (Includes "Escape for Jane," "Check for Eight Dollars," "Prelude," and "Mr. Sycamore"), Feb. 1940
Folder 5.1 Escape or No Escape, Feb. 1940
Mapcase7 Escape or No Escape, Feb. 1940
Folder 17.2 Our Town, Dec. 1940
Folder 17.3 Our Town, Dec. 1940
Folder 17.4 Pillars of Society, Feb. 1941
Mapcase8 Pillars of Society, Feb. 1941
Folder 17.5 Sight Unseen, Apr. 1941
Folder 17.6 Sight Unseen, Apr. 1941
Folder 17.7 Sight Unseen, Apr. 1941
Mapcase 10 Sight Unseen, Apr. 1941
Folder 17.8 Murder in the Cathedral, Dec. 1941
Folder 18.1 Murder in the Cathedral, Dec. 1941
Mapcase 10 Murder in the Cathedral, Dec. 1941
Folder 18.2 Phoenix, Apr. 1942
Mapcase 8 Phoenix, Apr. 1942
Folder 18.3 War Chest Rally, Nov. 1942
Mapcase 8 War Chest Rally, Nov. 1942
Folder 18.4 Santos Vega, 1942
Folder 22.4 St. Joan, 1942-1943
Mapcase 10 St. Joan, 1942-1943
Folder 18.5 Elmer and Lily, 1942-1943
Mapcase 10 Elmer and Lily, 1942-1943
Folder 18.6 St. Joan, 1942-1943
Folder 18.7 St. Joan, 1942-1943
Folder 5.2 Peer Gynt, Mar. 1946
Folder 18.8 She Would be a Soldier, Dec. 1943
Folder 18.9 The Tempest, March 1944
Folder 19.1 Back to Methuselah, 1946
Folder 9.2 Les Mouches, Apr. 1947
Folders 22.5-22.7 Les Mouches, Apr. 1947
Mapcase 9 Tobias and the Angel, 1947-1948
Folder 19.3 Electre, 1949-1950
Folders 23.1-23.3 Electre, 1949-1950
Mapcase 9 The Trojan Women, 1950-1951
Folder 19.4 Hedda Gabler, 1950-1951
Folder 19.5 Finnegan's Wake, May 1951
Folder 24.1 Finnegan's Wake, May 1951
Folder 24.2 Orphee, 1951
Folder 19.6 Skin of Our Teeth, 1952
Folder 24.3 Skin of Our Teeth, 1952
Folder 24.4 Madwoman of Chaillot, 1952
Folder 19.7 The Crucible, 1954
Folder 24.5 The Crucible, 1954
Folder 19.8 Much Ado About Nothing, 1955
Folder 19.9 Heartbreak House, 1955
Folder 19.10 Ondine, 1955
Folder 24.6 Ondine, 1955
Folder 19.11 Six Characters in Search of an Author, May 1956
Folder 19.12 Three Sisters, Dec. 1956
Folder 19.13 A Winter's Tale, 1957
Folder 19.14 Noah, 1957
Folder 19.15 Franz Kafka's Amerika, May 1958
Folder 19.16 To Damascus, 1958
Folder 19.17 Masque of Comus, Mar. 1959
Folders 21.1-21.3 Unidentified production with Spanish setting, ca. 1950s
Folder 19.18 Madwoman of Chaillot, May 1960
Folder 19.19 The Cherry Orchard, 1960
Folder 19.20 A Doll's House, 1961
Folder 19.21 The Matchmaker, 1961
Folder 19.22 The Trojan War Will Not Take Place, Mar. 1962
Folder 19.23 Crimes and Crimes, 1962
Folder 19.24 The Trojan Women, Dec. 1963
Folder 19.25 Don Juan in Hell, Oct. 1964
Folder 19.26 Second Shepard's Play, 1964
Folder 19.27 What a Wonder is Woman, 1965
Folder 19.28 Camino Real, 1965
Folder 19.29 Maid of the Mill, Feb. 1966
Folder 19.30 The People, Yes, 1972
Folder 20.1 Miscellaneous, ca. 1920s
Folder 20.2 Miscellaneous, ca. 1930s