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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-290

Scope and Contents

This collection includes newspaper clippings and publications pertaining to Theater in Muncie, Indiana from 1800-1963. It clippings on the Wysor Grand Opera House, The High Street Theatre, Circuses, Walling Hall, Indiana theater, and information about Muncie’s early history. PSC 339 includes photos and negatives of actors, theaters, and Muncie, Indiana. The photographs and negatives of actors were primarily made from photographing books, including A Pictorial History of American Theatre, 1860-1970.

Dates

  • 1800 - 1963

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections.

Biographical Note

Dr. Edward S. Strother was a member of the Ball State University faculty for forty-one years, from 1946 to 1987. He served as professor and head of the Department of Theatre. He also served as administrative assistant to the chairman, and then as chairman of the Speech and Theatre Department before it was divided in July 1982.

Dr. Strother was a founder and/or director of the Ball State, the Muncie Civic, Little Shoestring, and Studio theatres. He wrote a number of plays, including several one-act productions, children's plays, and a full-length show, "The Man and the Water Works". An accomplished actor, Dr. Strother also performed in such plays as "On Golden Pond", and "Death of a Salesman".

Dr. Strother was one of the first recipients of the study-abroad grants for Ball State faculty and staff. He provided narration for six color filmstrips entitled "The History of Physical Education and Sports," which was produced by tow other university professors. He also co-authored three books: The Effective Speaker, Speech Education for Elementary Teachers, and The Practical Guide to Parliamentary Procedure.

A native of New Albany, Indiana, Dr. Strother received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University, and his master's degree and PhD from Northwestern University.

(from Ball State University biographical information)

Extent

1.5 Cubic Feet (2 boxes and 1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Arranged in the following series and subseries:



Series 1:Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901



Series 2: Subject files, 1800-1924

Subseries 2.1: Theater subject files, 1846-1908

Subseries 2.2: Indiana history subject files, 1800-1924



Series 3: Publications, 1862-1963



Series 4: Dr. Edward Strother notes, undated



Series 5: Legal sized documents, 1861-1924



Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs, 1854-1939



Custodial History

The Dr. Edward Strother Theater History collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from Dr. Edward Strother on 2009/11/25.

Accruals

No further additions are expected.

Processing Information

Collection processing completed 2009/09/01 by Jennifer Morrill. Finding aid created 2009/09/01 by Jennifer Morrill. EAD finding aid completed 2009/09/04 by Maren L. Read. EAD finding revised 2013/11/20 by Leslie Nellis.

Title
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection
Status
Completed
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Stoeckel Archives of Local History Repository

Contact:
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie Indiana 47306 USA