[Back to Formatted Version]

University Theatre Photographs, 1916-1968

By Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Nielsen.

Collection Overview

Title: University Theatre Photographs, 1916-1968

Predominant Dates: 1924-1961

ID: P 112

Primary Creator: Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication

Extent: 2.3 cubic feet. More info below.

Arrangement: The photographs are arranged in 3 series: I. Numbered Images, 1916-1968; II. Photographs from Play Files, 1951-1957; and III. Awards, 1966

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The University Theatre Photographs consist of images of theater productions at Oregon State University, set design and construction, make-up sessions, and costumes.

Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.

Scope and Content Notes

The University Theatre Photographs consist primarily of images of dramatic productions at Oregon State from the 1920s through 1950s. The collection also includes images of set and scene construction, make-up sessions, and costume design as well as portrait photographs of individual cast members. Photographs of theater productions at the Majestic Theater as well as the Mitchell Playhouse on campus are part of the collection. Several images of the Oregon Agricultural College debate team are also included. Many of the photographs were taken by Hise Studio and Howell's Studio of Corvallis.

The collection includes a variety of formats: photographic prints, acetate (safety) and nitrate negatives, digital prints, and color transparencies. A majority of the collection (~1300 items) consists of photographic or digital prints, many with accompanying camera negatives. The negatives number about 600 total; about 150 are nitrate negatives. Most of the negatives are 8x10 inches; some are 4x5 or 5x7 and there are a few 35 mm negative frames. There are accompanying photographic prints or digital prints for most of the negatives in the collection. Digital prints are low-resolution prints from scans of nitrate negatives for which there are no photographic prints. Photographic prints for which the original nitrate negative is part of the collection, but has a different number, have been labelled as such. The collection also includes 6 color positive transparencies (5x7 and 8x10 inches).

The images in Series I have been assigned individual item numbers. Item numbers P112:001 - P112:487 were assigned by the Archives. Item numbers 982-25-159 thru 982-25-512 and 893-4-601 thru 893-4-661 were assigned by the Horner Museum; these numbers were retained when the materials were transferred to the Archives.

Images from this collection have been digitized and are available in Oregon Digital.

Biographical / Historical Notes

Dramatic productions began at Oregon Agricultural College in the 1890s; the Mask and Dagger Club was formed in 1912 "to encourage and promote dramatic work". A theater program was formally established in 1920 as part of a new Public Speaking and Dramatics Department (now the Speech Communication Department). Dramatic productions were presented at the Majestic Theater in downtown Corvallis and a small theater in Benton Hall until 1950 when a campus structure was remodeled into the Mitchell Playhouse. The University Theatre moved to Withycombe Hall in 1991 after Mitchell Playhouse was declared unsafe.

Administrative Information

Accruals: Additions to the collection are expected.

More Extent Information: 2026 photographs; 7 boxes, including 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Note: Materials in the collection were received in several transfers from the 1960s through 2009. A substantial component of the collection was transferred from the former Horner Museum collections in 1996.

Related Materials: The University Theatre Records (RG 180) document stage productions at Oregon State University beginning in the 1920s and consist predominantly of play files and theater posters for productions depicted in this collection. Materials pertaining to drama activities prior to 1920 are available in the Feronian Literary Society and Mask and Dagger Club Records (RG 042). The C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks (MSS Mitchell) document theater productions at Oregon State College through the early 1950s and include many photographs. Other theater photographs are part of Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC).

Preferred Citation: University Theatre Photographs (P 112), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication
Hise Studio
Howell's Studio
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Theatre

People, Places, and Topics

College and school drama, American--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Drama--Study and teaching--Oregon--Corvallis.
Mask and Dagger Club (Oregon Agricultural College)
Oregon State Agricultural College. Department of Public Speaking and Dramatics
Oregon State College--Students.
Oregon State College. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech
Oregon State University. Department of Speech Communication
Oregon State University. Department of Theatre
University History

Forms of Material

Color transparencies.
Digital prints.
Film negatives.
Nitrate negatives.
Photographic prints.


Box and Folder Listing