The Concord Dramatic Club Records, 1851-1961 [bulk 1875-1918]
Vault A75, Con.Dr, Unit 1
Extent: 1.2 linear ft. (2 containers).
Organization: Two series: Series I: Organizational records, 1875-1918; Series II: Related materials, 1851-1961.
History: The Concord Dramatic Club of Concord, Massachusetts, was an amateur theater group which operated between 1875 and 1918. The group can trace its origins back to the Concord Drama Union which was established in 1856 with the assistance of Louisa May Alcott.
The Club existed in two phases, the first between 1875 and 1900 and the second between 1901 and 1918. The first phase had no formal organization or membership. Their first production took place on Friday, March 12, 1875. The second phase of the Concord Dramatic Club was much more structured. It featured officers, by-laws and dues-paying members. Their first production debuted on February 16, 1901, and their last on December 18, 1917. Over the course of their seventeen-year run they put on 41 productions and a total of 62 performances.
Scope and content: Records include: three record books detailing both annual club meetings and meetings of the executive committee between 1900 and 1918 (at the back of the third the updated club rules as amended in June 1916); a draft of the rules for government of the club, [undated]; amendments and suggested changes to the rules, [undated]; a book containing the rules of the club, [undated]; a form for trusteeship, [undated]; and annual reports of the presidents, secretaries, and treasurers, 1901-1914 and [undated]. The collection includes correspondence from club members accepting or declining appointments to various club committees, post cards, thank you notes, invitations and requests to borrow props and scenery, 1900-1918 [bulk 1901-1903] and [undated]; documents pertaining to pre-production preparation include building inspections, manuscript loans and scenery/set design, 1901-1909; materials pertaining to performance admission including guest tickets, door checks and admission guidelines, 1892-1915; a list of productions between 1900-1917, programs and playbills, 1875-1917; scripts, 1903 and [undated]; and cast photographs, 1916 and [undated].
Other related materials include correspondence and notes of Mr. and Mrs. Hans W. Miller, 1884-1961 and [undated]; newspaper clippings about club productions, 1881-1917 [bulk 1900-1902]; newspaper clippings about community theater, 1881-[1904] [bulk 1881-1889]; programs and playbills for non-Concord Dramatic Club productions, 1851-1920; and 3”x5” note cards containing information about the club’s productions, 1856-1897 [bulk 1875-1896], and other various productions, 1862-1920. Among the 3”x5” note cards for the Concord Dramatic Club is one for the Concord Dramatic Union, 1851.
Source of acquisition: Gift of Marian B. Miller
Provenance: Hans and Marian B. Miller were members of the Concord Players. Hans Miller was the archivist of the players and his wife was given the records of the Concord Dramatic Club in 1954.
Related materials: The Concord Players Collection; The Concord Players scrapbook, 1919-1954; Collection of materials issued by or related to the Concord Players, Concord, Mass., [1920-] and Collection of materials issued by or relating to the Concord Players, Concord, Mass., pertaining to the Players’ production of Little Women, [1932-1992].
Processed by: Brianne Comeau, July 2017.
Container List
Series I: Organizational records, 1875-1918
Box 1
Club meeting minutes, 1900-1918
Three books detailing both annual club meetings and meetings of the executive committee.
Book 1: 1900-1903
Book 2: 1903-1912
Book 3: 1913-1918
At the back of book 3 the rules of the club were written as they were amended in June 1916.
Box 2, Folder 1
Bound rules book, [undated].
Box 2, Folder 2
Rules and by-laws, [undated].
Box 2, Folder 3
Annual president’s reports, 1903-1914.
Box 2, Folder 4
Annual secretary’s reports, 1901-1903.
Box 2, Folder 5
Annual treasurer’s reports, 1902-1903 and [undated].
Box 2, Folder 6
Correspondence, 1901-1918 [bulk 1901-1903] and [undated].
Box 2, Folder 7
Pre-production documents, 1901-1909.
Box 2, Folder 8
Performance admissions, 1892-1915.
Box 2, Folder 9
Lists of productions, [undated].
Box 2, Folder 10
Concord Dramatic Club programs and playbills, 1875-1895.
Box 2, Folder 11
Concord Dramatic Club programs and playbills, 1900-1917.
Box 2, Folder 12
Scripts, 1903 and [undated].
Box 2, Folder 13
Photographs, 1916 and [undated].
Series II. Related materials, 1851-1961
Box 2, Folder 14
Mr. and Mrs. Hans W. Miller, 1884-1961 and [undated].
Box 2, Folder 15
Newspaper clippings regarding the Concord Dramatic Club, 1881-1917 [bulk 1900-1902].
Box 2, Folder 16
General community theater newspaper clippings, 1881-[1904] [bulk 1881-1889].
Box 2, Folder 17
Non-Concord Dramatic Club programs and playbills, 1851-1920.
Box 2, Folder 18
Note cards relating to the Concord Dramatic Club, 1857-1896 [bulk 1875-1896]
Box 2, Folder 19
Non-Concord Dramatic Club note cards, 1862-192
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