Description
The collection primarily consists of ephemera from Stanford events including, Founder's
Day, the Cornerstone Dedication, and the Cantor Museum of the Arts Opening Gala. It also
includes some photos, VHS tapes, and notes from various performances and speeches. Includes
copies of letters written by Leland and Jane Stanford that were used in performances.
Background
Patricia Ryan Madson is the author of IMPROV WISDOM: DON’T PREPARE, JUST SHOW UP (Random
House, 2005) and a professor Emerita from Stanford University where she taught from
1977-2005. In the Drama Department she served as the head of the undergraduate acting
program and developed the improvisation program. In 1998 she was the winner of the Lloyd W.
Dinkelspiel Award for Outstanding Innovation in Undergraduate Education at Stanford. She
founded and coached the Stanford Improvisors and taught beginning and advanced level courses
in Improvisation for undergraduate as well as adults in Stanford's Continuing Studies
Program. In 1996 she founded the Creativity Initiative at Stanford, an interdisciplinary
alliance of faculty who share the belief that creativity can be taught. Patricia has taught
Design Improv for the School of Engineering, and was a guest lecturer for the Stanford
Technology Ventures Program and for the Mayfield Fellows program. (Excerpt from
https://profiles.stanford.edu/patricia-madson)
Extent
2.5 Linear Feet
(2 half boxes & 1 flat box)
Restrictions
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford
University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special
Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner, heir(s) or assigns. Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the
original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational
purposes.
Availability
Materials are open for research use. Audio-visual materials are not available in original
format, and must be reformatted to a digital use copy.