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Collection Overview
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The DeKalb Drama Club records date from 1914 to 2014 with the majority of the records consisting of minutes and yearbooks. Within the minutes are constitutions and by-laws, treasurer reports, membership lists, newspaper clippings, and theater programs.
Included in the addenda are folders labeled club activities containing meeting minutes, programs, correspondence, newspaper clippings. The two folders entitled “Red Book” include historical information pertaining to the Drama Club. Also added to the records are lists of program participants and their record of service, list of programs and plays, play transcripts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs.
For further information concerning organizations in DeKalb such as the Stage Coach Players (RC 184) and the DeKalb Women's Club (RC 211), the researcher should consult the Regional Collections Guide.
Scrapbooks in boxes 7 and 8 have been removed from their bindings due the nature and condition of the covers. The original order of the contents were preserved.
Collection Historical Note
The DeKalb Drama Club was organized in September 1914 to study modern drama and for that reason was called the "Reading Circle.” The name was soon changed to the Drama Club. There were twelve charter members with Mrs. J. Ellwood Lewis as the first president. The club met once a week on Wednesdays later changing to once a month. Under the leadership of Mrs. Lewis, charity work was performed under the supervision of the philanthropic department of the Women's Club. In 1915, the club performed their own charity work. The club was responsible for such acts as hiring two teachers from Chicago for DeKalb's first public kindergarten, making layettes, buying milk for needy school children and children's books for the library, giving parties for patients in the tuberculosis sanitarium, aiding needy families and contributing to community organizations.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Northern Illinois University
Accruals:
Jessie Glidden donated an addition to the records on May 5, 1999. Urla Golden donated an addition to the records on March 13, 2001. Additional records were added at later dates.
Access Restrictions:
There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Use Restrictions:
Property rights in the collection belong to the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Source:
Marilyn James
Acquisition Method:
Marilyn James donated the DeKalb Drama Club records to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on August 17, 1993.
Related Materials:
For further information concerning organizations in DeKalb such as the Stage Coach Players (RC 184) and the DeKalb Women's Club (RC 211), the researcher should consult the Regional Collections Guide.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Volume 1: Scrapbook (1 volume), 1914-1981],
[Addendum 1],
[
Addendum 2],
[
Addendum 3],
[
Addendum 4],
[
Addendum 5],
[
All]
- Addendum 1
- Box 3
- Folder 1-9: Activities, 1989-1998
- Folder 10-11: Redbook, 1937-1990
- Folder 12: Record of Service, 1969-1994
- Folder 13: List of Program Participants, 1969-1983
- Folder 14: Correspondence, March 1970-March 1998
- Folder 15: Newspaper Clippings, 1970-January 14, 1990
- Folder 16: 50th Anniversary Program, October 14, 1964
- Folder 17: Programs, Club Activities, 1982-1988
- Folder 18: Senior Honors Night Awards, May 21, 1991, May 25, 1993
- Folder 19: Jane Bradt Eulogy, E. Nelson James, March 19, 1997
- Folder 20: Ideas for Minstrel Show, no date
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Programs, November 10, 1982-November 14, 1990
- Folder 2: List of Programs and Plays, 1916-1997
- Folder 3: Poem, Drama Club Presidents, no date
- Folder 4: Play Transcripts: "If Men Played Cards as Women Do", circa 1948
- Folder 5: Play Transcripts: "Hats Off to Drama Club", December 13, 1978
- Folder 6: Play Transcripts: "1956", no date
- Folder 7: Play Transcripts: "Aeschylus", no date
- Folder 8: Play Transcripts: "A Good Woman", no date
- Folder 9: Play Transcripts: "Once Upon a Time", no date
- Folder 10: Play Transcripts: "Overtones", no date
- Folder 11: Play Transcripts: "Rehearsal", no date
- Folder 12: Play Transcripts: "The Valentines Nobody Wanted", no date
- Folder 13: Picture Book: Philanthropic Work of DeKalb Drama Club, A Summary of Seventy Years, March 13, 1985
- Folder 14: Photographs: 50th Birthday Celebration (1), April 1965
- Folder 15-16: Photographs: Guest Outing (14), May 9, 1990; November 14, 1990
- Folder 17: Photographs: Meeting (10), October 1990
- Folder 18: Photographs: Meeting (2), January 1991
- Folder 19: Photographs: Meeting (7), February 1991
- Folder 20: Photographs: Meeting (5), December 11, 1991
- Folder 21-22: Photographs: Unidentified Photos (11), November 1989; June 1990, no date
- Folder 23: Audio Cassette: Play, February 1979
Browse by Box:
[
Box 1],
[
Box 2],
[
Volume 1: Scrapbook (1 volume), 1914-1981],
[Addendum 1],
[
Addendum 2],
[
Addendum 3],
[
Addendum 4],
[
Addendum 5],
[
All]