Guide to the University of San Diego Department of Theatre records

Finding aid prepared by Ashley Toutain

University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections

Copley Library

5998 Alcalá Park

San Diego, CA 92110

Telephone: 619-260-2730

Email: spcoll@sandiego.edu

Overview of the Collection

Title: University of San Diego Department of Theatre records

Date (inclusive): 1970-1988

Collection number: USDA_2019_022

Creator: University of San Diego Department of Theatre

Extent: 1 oversize box, (1 linear foot)

Repository: University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections

Copley Library

5998 Alcalá Park

San Diego, CA 92110

spcoll@sandiego.edu

Abstract: This collection contains scrapbooks that document the activities of performing arts at the University of San Diego.

Languages: English

Historical Note

Theatre Arts, Drama, or Performing Arts has been part of coursework and student activities at the University of San Diego since the College for Women began courses in 1952. Theatre Arts was offered as a major in the College for Women within Humanities. Between 1963 and 1969, twelve College for Women students majored in Speech and Theatre Arts. Upon the merger of the College for Men and College for Women into the University of San Diego, Speech and Theatre Arts was dropped from a major to each becoming a minor. This was largely due to under-staffing and lack of technical support for a quality major (Report of the San Diego College for Women to the Accrediting Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the California State Board of Education, February 1969.)

The Alcalá Park Players, organized from 1956 to 1986, was a dramatic arts student organization. According to both College for Women and University of San Diego course catalogs, the Alcalá Park Players "offers opportunity for those interested in dramatic art to put into practice, both in acting and in staging, the theory learned in theatre courses." Pamela Smith Connolly began a 17 year career at the University of San Diego as a guest director with the Alcalá Park Players in the fall of 1973. Throughout her time at USD she taught theatre arts courses, directed, and designed stage productions. Most often, two productions occurred each academic year.

The Quem – Quaeritis Theatrical Honor Society was an honor awarded to those who gave outstanding support to the performing arts at the University of San Diego. USD student Anne Swanke was a founding member of the Society.

In 1987, The Old Globe and University of San Diego Master of Fine Arts in Acting program began. Theatre Arts remained as a minor within the College of Arts and Sciences until 2004, when a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre major began to be offered.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains scrapbooks that document the activities of Theatre Arts at the University of San Diego. Scrapbooks contain photographs of performers, theatre programs, cast lists, stage design sketches, and newspaper articles. Also included is a member album for the Quem – Quaeritis Theatrical Honor Society.

Arrangement

These records are arranged into one series:

Series I. Scrapbooks

Scrapbook contents remain in their original order.

Alternative Form of Materials Available

.TIFF and .PDF copies of the scrapbooks have been made.

Access

This collection is open for research.

Preferred Citation

[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, University of San Diego Department of Theatre records, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives and Special Collections.

Additions to this collection are expected.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Ashley Toutain in 2019.

Due to the condition of three scrapbooks (Performing Arts vol. II, Performing Arts vol. III, and Theatre 1983-1987) rehousing was necessary. The entirety of the original scrapbooks were scanned in order to preserve the look of the original. After scanning, the materials were removed from their original pages to clear archival preservation sheets. Pages were retained as close as possible to how they appeared in the original scrapbook. These are now stored flat in archival folders. Album pages containing writing that could not be accurately duplicated were not removed.

The Drama Productions 1970-1971 scrapbook was scanned and pages were interleaved with archival paper. Rehousing was not conducted with this scrapbook.

Related Material

.MOV and DVD videos of the Thesis Pieces Master of Fine Arts theatre productions are also located in the University Archives and Special Collections.

Index Terms