Student Life: Musical and Dramatic Organizations Records, General

Collection

Identifier: RG 19-003-003-002

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The records of the Musical and Dramatic Organizations of Oberlin College within the Student Life record group are arranged in six series: 1. Gilbert and Sullivan Players, 1938-1995, 2000, 2002; 2. Music Education Club, ca. 1958-1991; 3. Glee Clubs, 1878-1957, undated; 4. Musical Union, 1837-1970, 2011, 2013, 2015-16, undated; 5. Oberlin Dramatic Association, 1847-1974, undated; 6. Miscellaneous Groups, 1844, 1852-54, 1859, 1864-67, 1884-1887, 1913-1998, 2002-2004, undated.

The largest series, the Gilbert and Sullivan Players, with its own arrangement and separate finding aid, comprises 17 boxes of material.

Dates

Creation: 1837-2016, undated
Creation: Majority of material found in 1938-1995
Other: Date acquired: 04/16/1974

Creator

Oberlin College Office of the Secretary (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

Unrestricted.

Extent

31.91 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Method of Acquisition

The first materials received for this record group comprised records of the Oberlin Dramatic Association from Robert Ware, Assistant Professor of Inter-Arts, in 1974. In 1978 and 1981, the College Library transferred materials that included Musical and Dramatic Organizations records, unspecified. In 1990, the Alumni Association facilitated a donation from the President of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players. Between 1990 and 1997, three private individuals donated materials in several accessions. In 2001, several files were transferred from the Special Collections department of the Library. In 2005, another private individual donated documentation of the 1943 libretto by the Oberlin College Mummers entitled “Borscht Horizon,” including a cassette tape recording, the original score, and the script. In 2010, the Library transferred a ca. 1914 scrapbook on the Oberlin Musical Union in very poor condition. This was disassembled, crumbling pages were copied, and the original and copied contents placed in file folders. Programs enclosed in the scrapbook not previously represented in the record group were removed and filed with the other Musical Union programs in Series 4.