Guide to the Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pennsylvania Theatre Programs, 1870-present CTC.1966.04

Arrangement

Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pennsylvania Theatre Programs
Creator
Curtis, Harriet R.
Creator
Curtis, Ford E.
Collection Number
CTC.1966.04
Extent
6 Linear Feet (14 mss boxes)
Date
1866-present
Abstract
The Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection consists of Pennsylvania theatre programs from the 1870's to the present. In some instances, newspaper clippings, marketing materials, photographs, and memorabilia related to the theatres and performing arts companies are stored with the programs.
Language
English .
Author
Reba Sell.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System
Archives & Special Collections
Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Business Number: 412-648-3232 (Thomas) | 412-648-8190 (Hillman)
Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist
URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections

Copyright

The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that which goes beyond what is allowed by fair use.

Access Restrictions

No restrictions.

History

The Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection includes theatre programs collected by Dr. Ford E. Curtis and his wife, Harriet. Dr. Curtis began teaching drama in the English department at the University of Pittsburgh in 1924. He and his wife were avid theatre goers, attending performances every week. After his retirement in 1961, he began to add to their personal collection of playbills and programs in the hopes of building a collection to donate to Pitt.

The materials that Dr. Curtis amassed included his own collection and materials donated to him. In addition to Dr. Curtis' donation to the University of Pittsburgh, the Curtis Collection staff still acquires additional programs to add to this collection and help to document the history of theatre and the performing arts in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania.

Scope and Content Notes

This collection is separated into three series: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and the Theatre Association of Pennsylvania.

Individual programs in the Pennsylvania series are mostly organized by the theatre or venue where the production took place. These venues are arranged alphabetically by name, then chronologically. With each venue or group, the total number of document folders is listed. The folders are not numbered consecutively as found in other archival collections because these numbers regularly change with new donations. Typically, the collection's policy is to only keep two copies of a program, although exceptions to this include commemorative programs and programs that are autographed or contain marginalia.

The Philadelphia series of this collection are arranged chronologically by the year of the performance. The bulk of the programs are from 1950-1970. The same program collecting policies described above apply to the Philadelphia programs as well.

Please note that there is a separate collection guide for Pittsburgh theatre programs, see the related material section below.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into three series:

I. Pennsylvania Programs, 1877-

II. Philadelphia Programs, 1870-

III. Theatre Association of Pennsylvania, 1974-1990

Accruals

Donations are occasionally added to the collection; many of these donations come from the general public. If you are interested in donating theatre programs to the collection, please contact the Special Collections Department.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Curtis Collection staff.

Preferred Citation

Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pennsylvania Theatre Programs, 1866-present, CTC.1966.04, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Previous Citation

Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pennsylvania Theatre Programs, 1870-present, CTC.1966.04, Curtis Theatre Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh

Related Material

Ford E. and Harriet R. Curtis Theatre Collection of Pittsburgh Theatre Programs, 1840-present, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Michael Ellis Papers, 1937-1985, CTC.1977.02, Curtis Theatre Collection, Archives & Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh Library System

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Academy of Music (Scranton, Pa.)
    • Chestnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Chestnut Street Opera House (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Bucks County Playhouse (Organization)
    • Broad Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Bloombsburg Theatre Ensemble (Bloomsburg, Pa.)
    • Berks Summer Theater (Program : Reading, Pa.)
    • Hedgerow Theatre (Organization : Rose Valley, Pa.)
    • Grand Opera House (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Erlanger Theatre (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Forrest Theatre (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Fulton Opera House
    • Garrick Theatre (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Pocono Playhouse (Organization : Mountainhome, Pa.)
    • People's Light & Theatre Company
    • Orpheum Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Metropolitan Opera House (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Lyric Theatre (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Independent Eye
    • Walnut Street Theatre (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Valley Forge Music Fair (Organization : Devon, Pa.)
    • Theatre of the Living Arts (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Shubert Theatre (Organization : Philadelphia, Pa.)
    • Swarthmore Chautauqua Association
    • Tamiment Playhouse
    • Theatre Association of Pennsylvania

    Other Subjects

    • Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- History -- 19th century
    • Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
    • Theater -- Pennsylvania -- Bucks County
    • Theater -- Pennsylvania
    • Performing arts -- Pennsylvania -- Bucks County
    • Performing arts -- Pennsylvania

Container List