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DeKalb Drama Club Records, 1914-2014

Collection Overview

Title: DeKalb Drama Club Records, 1914-2014

ID: RHC/RC/214

Extent: 4.0 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 08/17/1993

Languages: English [eng]

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.

Administrative Information

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

Box 1
Folder 1: Informal Histories, 1937, no date
Folder 2: Constitutions, 1962-1997
Folder 3: Charter Members, 1914-1961
Folder 4: Notes from Minutes, Loretta Nolin, 1914-1972
Folder 5-11: Minutes, 1914-1976
Box 2
Folder 1-2a: Minutes, 1976-1985, 1989-1994
Folder 3: Bank Books, 1915-1952
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1984, no date
Folder 5: Composite Philanthropies, 1984, 1988-1989
Folder 6: Programs, 1984-1989
Folder 7-11: Yearbooks, 1926-1998
Volume 1: Scrapbook (1 volume), 1914-1981
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
Addendum 2
Box 4
Folder 24: Minutes, October 12, 1994-May 19, 1999
Folder 25: Afterglow: What Are They Doing Now?, 2000
Folder 26: Play Transcript: "12 Pound Book", no date
Addendum 3
Box 4
Folder 27: Financial Records: Treasurer's Notebooks (2), 1977-1985
Folder 28: Financial Records: Treasurer's Reports, 1990-2000
Folder 29: Financial Records: Proposed Budgets, 1988-1992
Folder 30: Financial Records: Treasurer's To Do List, June 17, 1992
Folder 31: Financial Records: Bank Account Information, 1985
Folder 32: Financial Records: Bank Merger Correspondence, 1997, 2000
Folder 33: Financial Records: CD and Tax Statements, 1990-2000
Folder 34: Financial Records: Check Registers (3), 1983-1994
Folder 35: Financial Records: Memorial for Jessie A. Wright Fund, 1983-1996
Folder 36: Financial Records: Philanthropies, 1991-2000
Folder 37: Financial Records: Receipts, Dues and Expenses, 1989-1990, 1994
Addendum 4
Box 5
Folder 1: DeKalb Drama Club Constitution and Bylaws, 1997-2006
Folder 2: DeKalb Drama Club Agendas, Meeting Minutes and Treasurer's Reports, 2001-2006
Folder 3: President's Calendars, Correspondence, and Other Files, 2000-2006
Folder 4: Committee Selection Forms and Files, 1994-2001
Folder 5: Guest Day Presentation Files, 2001-2005
Folder 6: New Member Selection Files, 1997-2001
Folder 7: Resignations, 2002-2003
Folder 8: Correspondence, 1999-2006
Folder 9: Newspaper Articles, 1971-2006
Folder 10: Awards, 1984-2006
Folder 11: Informal History: Autobiography of Alva Cleveland Oderkirk, June 1985
Folder 12: Brown Paper Bag with Artwork: "DeKalb Drama Club: March 14, 1990: SPRING 1915"
Folder 13: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club 70th Anniversary (26), October 1984
Folder 14: Photographs: Publishing Free-Lance Writing - Mary Ann Ziemen, at the Home of Marie Williams, Betty Brayfield, & Helene Kirken (3), April 8, 1987
Folder 15: Photographs: "A Window on the Past" Program, by Annette Johns, at the Home of Diane Thomas with Dottie Ball & Melba Dill Assisting (4), January 13, 1988
Folder 16: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club Meeting, at the Home of Mitzie Katz on Arrowhead Lane (7), March 9, 1988
Folder 17: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club Luncheon (6), May 1988
Folder 18: Photographs: Drama Club (Mary Lou) (6), October 1988
Folder 19: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club Guest Day (4), November 9, 1988
Folder 20: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club Guest Day (Oak Crest Play) (13), November 1988
Folder 21: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club Meeting, at the Home of Mrs. O.Wm. Nelson on Somonauk Road (Program: Phyllis Kelley)  (18), October 11, 1995
Folder 22: Photographs: At the Home of Dottie Ball (5), January 1996
Folder 23: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club 90th Anniversary Celebration (9), November 2004
Folder 24: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club, Unknown Event (Likely from or before December 1980) (3), no date
Folder 25: Photographs: DeKalb Drama Club, Unknown Event (9), no date
Folder 26: Play Transcripts: "Coming Through the Rye," by William Saroyan, 1942
Folder 27: Play Transcripts: "The Curious Savage," Acts II & III, by John Patrick, 1950
Folder 28: Play Transcripts: "Ex-President's Wives Sharing," with Author's Notes, 1993
Folder 29: Play Transcripts: "For Starters Or One Stop Serves All Your Needs", no date
Folder 30: Play Transcripts: "Havana Moon," a Comedy in One Act, by Glenn Hughes, circa 1950
Folder 31: Play Transcripts: "Leave it to Me, Sweetheart," a Melodrama in One Act, Director. Mavis Williams, Brookside Theater, February 11, 1987
Folder 32: Play Transcripts: "The Morning After", no date
Folder 33: Play Transcripts: "The Morning After Or Three Pages from the Gold Box," a Comedy in One Act, by E. Nelson James, 1989
Folder 34: Play Transcripts: "Murder at Mrs. Loring's," a Melodrama in One Act, by S. Sylvan Simon, 1937, with Cast from Guest Day at Oak Crest, November 9, 1988
Folder 35: Play Transcripts: "The Romancers," by Edmond Rostand, no date
Folder 36: Play Transcripts: "The Twelve Pound Look," by J.M. Barrie, no date
Folder 37: Play Transcripts: "The Unseen," by Alice Gerstenberg, no date
Folder 38: Play Transcripts: "Together We Share, For This We Live," a Program Compiled by DiAnne Thomas, et al, for the Meeting of March 13, 1985
Folder 39: Play Transcripts: "Philanthropic Work of the DeKalb Drama Club: A Summary of Seventy Years," by Lucille Aikins, Chr., et al, for the Program "Together We Share, For This We Live", March 13, 1985
Box 6
Folder 1: Programs of the DeKalb Drama Club and Other Special Events, 1984-2005
Folder 2-3: DeKalb Drama Club Yearbooks, 1988-2006
Folder 4: "Chicago Tribune Magazine", March 20, 2005
Addendum 5
Box 6
Folder 5: DeKalb Area Drama Club, 2006-2007
Folder 6: Minutes, May 2007- May 2011
Folder 7: By-Laws, September 2010
Folder 8: Newspaper clippings on members, n.d.
Folder 9: Directories, 2008-2014
Folder 10: Newspaper clippings, 2014, n.d.
Folder 11: Member correspondence, 2014
Folder 12: Community support, n.d.
Box 7
Folder 1-2: Drama Club Memories, 2007-2010, 2009-2012
Box 8
Volume 1-2: Scrapbooks, 1980-2006