Whitman College Theatre records
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of records relating to the Whitman College Dramatic Club and Theatre Department. The collection is divided into eight series: records concerning the pre-1950 Dramatic Club, including the club constitution, minutes, financial records, photographs, programs, and newspaper clippings; theatre department records post-1950, including the Summer Circle Incorporated season, the Pilot Repertory Semester “Experiences in Dramatic Art,” and material collected from Rodney Alexander and John Freimann; production photographs from 1920 to the present; playbills and programs from 1903 to the present; scrapbooks; posters and oversized materials; scripts; and production recordings.
Dates
- Creation: 1902-2009
Creator
- Whitman College (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
The Whitman College sophomore class produced the first student-run play, “She Stoops to Conquer,” on June 13, 1904, under the direction of Edith Merrell Davis. Ten years later, in October 1914, the Whitman Dramatic Club formed. The sophomore class performed the annual plays until 1948, when the Whitman Dramatic Club opened participation to the entire student body.
The Dramatic Club presented its first play, “Milestones,” on March 5, 1915. Edith Merrell Davis worked as director for the club from 1922 until her retirement in 1946. She also taught Whitman’s first drama class, titled “Dramatic Interpretation and Play Production,” beginning in 1925 and oversaw various one-act plays for special events.
Frederick J. Hunter took over Davis’ position in 1946 for two years. He was succeeded by Rodney Alexander in 1948. The college established the “Dramatic Arts” major in 1950. Alexander ran the theatre program in barracks buildings moved from the former army McCaw Hospital until a fire destroyed the buildings in 1958. Alexander designed the new Harper Joy Theatre and continued the program from this building. Until his retirement in 1967, Alexander’s efforts brought renown to the Whitman theatre program. The program was carried on by John Freimann from 1962 through 1992 and Nancy Simon, who joined the program in 1967. They maintained a diverse program of one-act plays, plays for children, traditional theatre, and spring musicals
Extent
47.16 Linear Feet (11 record center boxes, 42 manuscript boxes, 11 half-manuscript boxes, 2 custom boxes, and 10 flat boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs, programs, newspaper clippings, recordings, and other records created by the Whitman College Dramatic Club and Theatre Department.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred to the Whitman College and Northwest Archives prior to 2004
Topical
- Title
- Guide to the Whitman College Theatre records
- Author
- Ryan Campeau
- Date
- 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Whitman College and Northwest Archives Repository