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Record Group: 6 C
Record Sub-Group: 56
Records Title: UMC; College of Arts and Science; School of Fine Arts; Department of Theatre; Faculty Papers
Dates: ca. 1948-2010
Volume: 43 and 1/6 cubic feet, 53.96 linear feet

Scope and Content Note

This Record Sub-Group contains faculty papers and records created by the Department of Theatre in the School of Fine Arts.

Series Descriptions:

Series 1. - C:6/46/6 (A09-17)
This Series contains professional papers of Weldon Bruce Durham, Professor of Dramatic Literature, Criticism, and Theatre History in the Department of Theatre in the University of Missouri's School of Fine Arts, (ca. 1963-2007). The records consist of administrative and other correspondence, research notes, publications, and course syllabi with other teaching materials. The research records include material from Durham's studies of: the theatre critic Robert Benchley; the United States Army's Liberty Theatres from 1916 to 1921; American Theatre Companies from 1749 to 1986; and the Shubert Theatres. The teaching records include material for courses on theatre history, theatre criticism, script analysis, directing, and acting. The Series also contains records pertaining to Durham's directing projects.
(17 c.f., 034809, 034810, 034811, 034985, 035408, 035496, 035844, 036195, 036196, 036211, 036212, 036314, 036370, 036601, 036631, 036744, 036804)
Note to Researcher: Series 1 contains records which are confidential and restricted. See the restrictions note at the end of this finding aid.
Weldon B. Durham began teaching at the University of Missouri in 1973 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Dramatic Art. He attained the rank of Associate Professor in 1978 and became Professor of Theatre in 1986. He served as Chairman of the Department of Theatre from 1995 until 2003. Durham was the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the Graduate School from 1988 until 1992.
Note to Archivist: The box lists for this Series are available online. They can be accessed by following this link.

Series 2. - C:6/46/9 (A10-55; A21-27)
This Series contains professional drawings of W. Patrick Atkinson, Professor of Design in the Department of Theatre in the University of Missouri's School of Fine Arts, (1979-2010). The records consist of set design drawings on various media for University Theatre productions. The productions were held in the Rhynsburger Theatre or in the Corner Playhouse and included the nationally recognized productions of Eleven Zulu and Strands. Each production usually has multiple drawings and sketches associated with it, including elevations, ground plans, and lighting plots. Series 2 also holds slides taken by Atkinson of his productions from 1979-2002.
(7 c.f.: 5 OSB, Ellis, TU; 1 c.f., UMLD1)
Note to Researcher: Patrick Atkinson began teaching at the University of Missouri in 1979 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Dramatic Art. He became Associate Professor in 1985 and Professor of Theatre in 1994. Atkinson also served as the Managing Director of the Summer Repertory Theatre.
Note to Archivist: The box lists for this Series are available online. They can be accessed by following this link. This Series includes electronic copies of the drawings provided by Professor Atkinson in A10-55, some of which are dependent on specialty software for computer-aided design; as well as digital scans made by Atkinson from the photographic slides in A21-27.

Series 3. - C:6/46/11 (A12-120; A13-04; A13-72)
This Series contains professional papers of Carla R. Waal Johns, Professor of Performance, Dramatic Literature and Modern Theatre, (ca. 1948-2007). The records relate to Waal's publications, presentations, speeches, theatre productions and performances, and research material. The records include programs, newsclippings, correspondence, article offprints, publicity material, postcards, audio and video tapes, and photographs. Among the topics of her research are the Norwegian-Swedish actress Harriet Bosse and the Norwegian actress Johanne Dybwad. The Series also contains some of Waal's teaching material, mostly related to the acting course, Theatre 347.
(3 c.f.: 1 c.f., 040348; 2 c.f., UMLD1; OSF, Ellis)
Note to Researcher: Carla Waal began teaching at the University of Missouri in 1973 as Professor in the Department of Speech and Dramatic Art (later Professor of Theatre). She served as Department Chair from 1982 until 1985 and again in 1989, and was Managing Director of the University's Summer Repertory Theatre in 1982. Waal retired and was distinguished as Professor Emerita in 1991. Waal also went by the name Carla Waal Marston.
Series 3 contains records which are confidential and restricted. See the restrictions note at the end of this finding aid.
Note to Archivist: The box lists for this Series are available online. They can be accessed by following this link.

Series 4. - C:6/46/16 (A15-71)
This Series contains professional, teaching, and other drawings of James M. Miller, Professor of Theatre (Costume Design) in the University of Missouri's School of Fine Arts, (1971-2015). The majority of the drawings are for theatre productions staged by the Theatre Department at the University of Missouri. The drawings, some still in sketchbooks, are usually on paper and use a variety of media, including ink, pencil, and watercolor. Fabric swatches are included for some production designs, and in a few instances, costume plots, rehearsal schedules, and programs are included. In addition to the production costume designs, the Series also contains drawings used for classroom teaching, for personal study, and for publicity design, including posters for audition calls and for performances.
(19 1/6 c.f.: 28 Oversized boxes, follow this link for box locations)
Note to Researcher: James M. Miller began his teaching career at the University of Missouri in 1979 when he was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech and Dramatic Art. He became an Associate Professor in 1985 and Professor of Theatre in 1993. He served as Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Theatre from 1987 until 2004 and was a Guest Professor in the Department of Textile and Apparel Management. Miller held a Guest Teacher position at Stephens College in its Fashion Department and also served as a Guest Director for its Theatre Department. Miller received a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Southern Mississippi and continued his studies of illustration, drawing, and design at both the Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Before coming to the University of Missouri, Miller worked as an art director for Benton and Bowles Advertising.
Note to Archivist: The box lists for this Series are available online. They can be accessed by following this link.

Restrictions Note: The Archives of the University of Missouri-Columbia is required by law and Board of Curator's policy to restrict access to some files and information. Student records are held as confidential under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and by University policy. Faculty promotion and tenure records and Academic Personnel files are restricted for 75 years, or the lifetime of the individual. All grievance, disciplinary, and medical records are treated as confidential files. Consultations with legal counsel, both in-house and external, are protected by the attorney/client privilege and will not be released.

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