Theatre UNI Files
Scope and Contents
The Theatre UNI collection contains a variety of information related to Theatre UNI and the University of Northern Iowa Department of Theatre. The materials cover UNI productions, the history of theatre at the university, touring productions, departmental administrative work, and more. The collection dates from the late 1890s to 2015. Types of materials include administration records, such as budgetary reports, expense files, correspondence, and transactions; negatives; photographs; and slides; audio and video recordings; posters; and press clippings.
The bulk of the collection consists of materials related to productions performed under Theatre UNI. Materials included range from negatives, photographs, slides, programs, and video recordings of productions. A number of productions also include CDs, which contain photographs, logos, marketing materials, and audio and video recordings. Please note that not every production listed includes each type of item.
The collection also contains three scrapbooks, which date from 1934 to 1952. The "Le Theatre" scrapbook (1949-1952) includes production programs, photographs (some with handwritten captions), and clippings. The second scrapbook is labeled "Hazel Strayer" and dates from c. 1934-1942. Inside are programs from plays, drama conferences, and productions. The final scrapbook contains programs and clippings.
Some of the production photographic negatives were nitrate-based. Due to their instability and preservation concerns, these negatives were scanned and are available online via UNI ScholarWorks. Not all production photographs are available online.
Dates
- Creation: 1897 - 2023
Creator
- University of Northern Iowa. Department of Theatre (Organization)
Language of Materials
Materials entirely in English.
Conditions Governing Access
Most materials are open for research. Materials related to the confidentiality of personnel, student, medical, and other legally protected records are CLOSED to researchers for 70 years from the date of creation. If the date of creation is unknown, they are closed for 70 years from the date of processing. Consult the University Archivist with any questions or concerns.”
Technical Access
Some content is recorded on media that requires special playback equipment for access and use. Use of the DVDs, CDs, and videotapes may require the production of a listening or viewing copy. SC&UA staff will determine access on a case by case basis.
General Use, Reproduction, and Copyright Policies
Many items housed in the Rod Library Special Collections & University Archives, including unpublished images and manuscripts, may be protected by copyright, publication rights, trademarks, or model release rights which the library does not own and for which the library cannot grant permission or licensing. Materials currently under copyright are usually still available for research and limited reproduction under Fair Use laws. However, it is the sole responsibility of the patron to determine whether or not their use of a given material falls within Fair Use guidelines and to obtain permission for said use from the rightful copyright owner.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy or similar laws, and the Iowa Open Records Law (see Iowa Code § 22.7). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of Northern Iowa assumes no responsibility.
Extent
40.26 Linear Feet (35 boxes)
21.48 Linear Feet (6 oversize folders)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were acquired in May and June 1992, April 2000, August 2003. The videocassettes arrived in the University Archives from the Theatre UNI office in 2004. That shipment also included programs and material relating to specific productions. The program-specific material has been integrated into the program boxes listed above. Additional materials were transferred to the archives by Eric Lange in 2023.
Processing Information
Production posters list marked up by Susan Basye, Special Collections and University Archives, December 1998. Revised in April 2000 and January 2006 by Gail Briddle; April 2015 by Joy Lynn. The list of production videotapes was processed and arranged by Student Assistant Nicholas Jordan, February 2014. Updated by University Archivist Gerald Peterson, March 3, 2014 and Archival Processor Tessa Wakefield, April 2021. Overall finding aid updated by Keegan Little, May 2018.
Collection reprocessed and finding aid rewritten by Tessa Wakefield, February 2024.
- Two negatives from the "Programs & Photographs from UNI dramatic productions" series due to poor condition.
- VHS cassettes of taped television shows and movies were deaccessioned due to being out of scope, along with mass-produced vinyl audio recordings, also out of scope. Additionally, a Pollock's Toy Theatre for "Aladdin" as this was also out of scope.
- Title
- Theatre UNI Files
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script