Collection Title: Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts Records, 1881-2020, undated

Repository:

The Holloway Archives at Milligan University
P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library
200 Blowers Blvd.
Milligan, TN 37682
Email: archives@milligan.edu

Creator:

Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts (including Communications, Fine Arts – Art, Fine Arts – Film, Fine Arts – Photography, Fine Arts – Theatre Arts, Graphic Design, Music, and Musical Theatre)

Title:

Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts Records, 1881-2020, undated

Collection No.

C0028

Extent

2.14 cubic feet (5 boxes), 1.71 GB of digital photos, 6 loose posters

Language(s):

English

Abstract:

Milligan has a long history of music, theatre, and speech, with many other areas such as art, photography, and graphic design being established along the way. At present, these areas of study constitute the Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts. This collection contains records for this area, with most items being programs and advertising material, mostly for theatre and music events.

Administrative History:

The Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts (PVC) has a long history at Milligan in several stages before reaching its current state, formed in 1997. In Milligan College’s earliest years, the 1880s, one of the options for study was music, first in the Christie Musical Institute, which operated alongside Milligan, and then as a department at Milligan. Early musical groups included an orchestra and a band. A glee club existed from the early 1900s to the 1940s. The Concert Choir was formed in 1946 and continues to the present. Other musical groups that have been formed over the years include Women’s Ensemble, Chorale, Chapel Choir, Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorale, Heritage (a mixed a capella group), Heard Mentality (a men’s a capella group), Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combos, Pep Band, String Quartet, and Orchestra. From 1967-2001, Milligan held an annual Madrigal Dinner at Christmas, complete with medieval songs, performances, and feasting. A highly popular event, it was replaced with another highly popular event, the Milligan Christmas Concert. Long-serving faculty in music include Dr. David Runner, Rick Simerly, and John Wakefield.

While classes had offered speech training and literary clubs had offered speech recitals and dramatic readings, the Department of Expression is first noted in the 1932-1933 catalog and became the Department of Speech by the 1936-1937 catalog. A Communications major was offered beginning in 1985.

Milligan has a long history of productions and recitals that included speeches and dramatic readings. By the 1920s, the Music Department, the Dramatic Club, and various literary societies were offering plays, short plays, and selections from plays. The Department of Expression was offering courses in dramatic arts by the 1930s. The Theatre Arts department was founded in 1938/1939, although the Dramatic Club existed prior to that date. Various theatre clubs have existed at Milligan, including The Masque (approximately 1928-1937), Dramatic Club/Milligan College Players/Footlighters (approximately 1917-1978), Alpha Psi Omega (off and on since approximately 1938), Stagecraft Club (approximately 1954-1958), and The Major Players (2015-present). A concentration in Theatre Arts under the Fine Arts major was offered beginning in 1993, although a minor had existed since 1978. The Annual Festival of One Act Plays began in 1987. Theatre for Young Audiences is a class offered annually that gives students the chance to present theatrical productions to children, including travelling to schools for the productions. The class has been offered since the late 1980s. A Musical Theatre major was offered beginning of Fall 2018. Long-time directors for theatrical productions include Dimple Hart, Ira Read, Rosemarie Shields, and Richard Major.

A minor in Film was offered beginning in 1999. An Annual Short Film Festival with student-directed films grew out of the One Act Festival of 2000.

A minor in Art was offered beginning in 1988, and a photography minor was offered beginning in 1995. A Fine Arts major was offered beginning in 1993. A Graphic Design major was offered beginning in 2015. These areas often have exhibits of their students’ work, both on the Milligan campus and in the community.

At present, the Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts includes the following majors: Communications (concentrations in digital media studies, film, interpersonal and public communication, multimedia journalism, and public relations and advertising), Fine Arts (concentrations in art, film, music, photography, and theatre arts), Graphic Design, Music Performance, Music Education, and Musical Theatre. Minors include Art, Communications, Digital Media Studies, Film, Graphic Design, Multimedia Journalism, Music Performance, Musical Theatre, Photography, Public Relations and Advertising, and Theatre Arts.

Arrangement:

The records of the Area of Performing Visual, and Communicative Arts have been processed and added to over the years by Milligan Archivists. Because this is an open records collection, further accruals are expected.

The collection has been divided into series covering different types of productions and exhibits, as well as a series of records, a series of photos, and a series for oversized material. The series have not been divided into individual majors because of the shifting nature and close ties of these majors/areas of study over the course of Milligan’s history. Each series (listed below) has been arranged chronologically. Many items in the series are undated, but for ease of access, the year of the production or performance has been identified as the date for folders these items are in. The records are divided into seven series: I. Series: Records, 1973-1985, undated; II. Series: Productions and Performances, 1893-2020, undated; III: Series: Exhibits, 2015-2020, undated; IV. Series: One Act Festival, 2004-2019, undated; V. Series: Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), 2008-2016, undated; VI. Series: Photos, 1959-2018, undated; and VII. Series: Oversize Posters, 1981-2020, undated.

Scope and Content Note:

The records of the Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts are organized into seven series: Records, Productions and Performances, Exhibits, One Act Festival, Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), Photos, and Oversize Posters.

The Records series spans 1973 to 1985 and contains undated material. This series contains paperwork related to theatrical productions.

The Productions and Performances series spans 1893-2020 and contains undated material. The series is organized chronologically into productions and performances from multiple departments/areas within the larger PVC area, first by date span and then by individual production or performance. This series contains official Milligan productions and performances, but also contains productions and performances held at Milligan by students, alumni, and other groups. Examples include senior projects. Folders may contain programs, flyers, and recorded DVDs of the productions (in more recent years).

The Exhibits series spans 2015 to 2020 and contains undated material. This series contains items related to PVC Exhibits, such as photography shows, art shows, and graphic design shows.

The One Act Festival series spans 2004-2019 and contains undated material. This series contains items related to the annual One Act Festival from more recent years.

The Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) series spans 2008-2016 and contains undated material. This series contains items related to the Theatre for Young Audiences class.

The Photos series spans 1959-2018 and contains undated material. This series contains photos from many Milligan productions, including some digital photos. Additional photos may be found in the photo files in the photo archives.

The Oversize Posters series spans 1981-2020 and contains undated material. This series contains larger posters of productions, performances, exhibits, and projects that would not fit in standard archival boxes.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:

Accessions 01-11-2006, 2018-017, 2019-005, 2019-009, 2019-013, 2019-021, 2019-027, 2020-02

Note: Because this is a records collection, new accessions are periodically added to this collection as the records become available.

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

The archivist reserves the right to determine on a case-by-case basis if certain folders within the collection that have been requested for viewing cannot be made available due to various restriction compliance, including but not limited to student information, private personal information, and organizational information of a restricted nature.

Preferred Citation:

[Item], Area of Performing, Visual, and Communicative Arts Records, Collection C0028, The Holloway Archives at Milligan University, Milligan, TN.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Milligan Archivists

Completed in 2020.

Folder List

Box 1

I. Series: Records, 1973-1985, undated

• Music Records, 2010, undated


• Theatre Records, 1973-1985, undated

II. Series: Productions and Performances, 1881-2020, undated

• Programs,
  
  
  • 1880s
  
  
  • 1890s
  
  
  • 1900-1909
  
  
  • 1910s
  
  
  • 1920s
  
  
  • 1930s
  
  
  • 1940s
  
  
  • 1950s
  
  
  • 1960s
  
  
  • 1970s
  
  
  • Undated
  
  
• Madrigal Dinners, 1978


• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, 1979


• The Miracle Worker, 1979


• Of Mice and Men, 1980(?)


• Godspell, 1981


• The Queen and the Rebels, 1981


• Side by Side, 1981


• Tintypes, 1982


• Elixir of Love, 1982(?)


• The Merry Wives of Windsor, 1982


• All’s Well That Ends Well, 1983


• Madrigal Dinner, 1982


• The Music Man, 1983


• As You Like It, 1984


• Die Fledermaus, 1983


• Barnum, 1984


• The Beams Are Creaking, 1985


• 1940s Radio Hour, 1985


• Madrigal Dinners, 1985


• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1986


• Madrigal Dinner, 1986


• Children of a Lesser God, 1987


• The Apple Tree, 1988


• Requiem (Music), 1988


• A Toby Show, 1988


• Our Town, 1988


• On the Verge, 1989


• Oedipus Rex, 1989


• Music Department Programs – 1980s, 1980-1989, undated


• Godspell, 1990


• Madrigal Dinners, 1990


• Under Milk Wood, 1991


• The Menaechmi, 1991


• You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, 1992


• Madrigal Dinners, 1992


• The Miracle Worker, 1992


• Class Act, 1993


• More Fun Than Bowling, 1993


• Madrigal Dinners, 1993


• Tally’s Folly, 1994


• Elijah (Music), 1994


• Festival of One-Acts, 1994


• Shadowlands, 1994


• Monday Night Live Festival, 1994


• Christmas Dinners, 1994


• Romeo & Juliet, 1995


• Man of La Mancha, 1995


• Christmas Dinners, 1995


• Requiem and Gloria (Music), 1996


• Christmas Dinners, 1996


• Seeger Chapel Benefit Concert – Brahms’ Requiem, 1997


• Smoke on the Mountain, 1997


• Christmas Dinners, 1997


• Spoon River Anthology, 1998


• Ladyhouse Blues, 1998


• Christmas Dinners, 1998


• The Diary of Anne Frank, 1999


• Shakespeare Festival, 1999


• Steel Magnolias, 1999


• Christmas Dinners, 1999


• A Special Christmas Even Edition of the Philco Radio Hour, undated


• Music Department Programs – 1990s, 1991-1997, undated


• Much Ado About Nothing, 2000


• Christmas Dinners, 2000


• Hamlet, 2001


• The Actor’s Nightmare, 2001


• Christmas Dinners, 2001


• Labor Pains and Baby, 2002


• Oedipus the King, 2002


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2002


• The Odd Couple, 2003


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2003


• Footloose, 2004


• Pirates of Penzance, 2004


• Chase Scenes, 2004


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2004


• Oklahoma, 2005


• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2005


• Proof, 2006


• Measure for Measure, 2006


• Gospel According to Jazz, 2006


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2006


• Comedy of Errors, 2008


• Saving the Greeks: One Tragedy at a Time, 2008


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2008


• Under Milk Wood, 2009


• A Shakespeare Double Bill: Titus ‘n 2 Gents, 2009


• Music Department Programs – 2000s, 2001-2009, undated


• Once Upon a Time, 2010


• Little Women: The Musical, 2010


• Eurydice, 2010


• Curious Savage, 2010


• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, 2011


• The Secret Garden, 2011


• A Milligan College Community Christmas, 2011


• The Quickening, 2012


• Alice in Wonderland, 2012


• The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] (Senior Project), 2012


• The Rock and The Rabbi, 2012


• And Then There Were None, 2012


• Hansel and Gretel (Music), 2013


• The Odyssey, 2013


• Godspell, 2013


• Milligan College Christmas Concert, 2013


• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2014


• Theatre Elkins presents Mister Paradise (Alumnus Production), 2014


• Handel’s Messiah (Music), 2014


• The Diary of Anne Frank, 2014


• Devise and Conquer! (Student Production), 2014


• Milligan College Christmas Concert, 2014


• Harvey, 2015


• Our Town, 2015


• Milligan College Christmas Concert, 2015


• Stages, 2016


• Forward with Faith: The Milligan College Story, 2016


• Milligan Christmas Concert, 2016


• A Toby Show, 2017


• The Menaechmi, 2017


• Milligan Christmas Concert, 2017


• Rabbit Hole, 2018


• Around the World in 80 Days, 2018


• Hymns of the Faith (Music), 2018


• The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Musical Theatre), 2019


• Songs for a New World (Musical Theatre), 2019


• Music Department Programs – 2010s, 2010-2019, undated


• Love Cabaret (Musical Theatre), 2020


• Music Department Programs – 2020s, undated

Box 2

III. Series: Exhibits, 2015-2020, undated

• PVC Exhibits, 2015-2020, undated

IV. Series: One Act Festival, 2004-2019, undated

• Festival of One Acts,
  
  
  • 2004
  
  
  • 2006
  
  
  • 2009
  
  
• One Acts, 2010


• 24th One Acts, 2011


• 25th Annual One Act Plays, 2012


• 26th One Acts, 2013


• 27th Annual One Act Plays, 2014


• 28th Annual Festival of One Act Plays, 2015


• 29th Annual Festival of One Act Plays, 2016


• 30th Annual Festival of One Act Plays, 2017


• One Acts, 31st Annual, 2018


• 32nd Annual Festival of One Act Plays, 2019

V. Series: Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), 2008-2016, undated

• Tick Tock, School of Rock, undated


• Kidz Rock the Vote!, 2008


• Health Heroes to the Rescue, 2011


• The Tech-Tastic Time Travelers, 2012


• Pirate Pete and the Pirates of Politeness, 2013


• Meet Me at the Met!, 2014


• Jack and the Beanstalk, 2015


• How Pepper the Janitor Saved the Piccadilly Super Duper Spectacular 3 Ring Circus!, 2015


• Fairy Tales and Fables, 2016

Box 3

VI. Series: Photos, 1959-2018, undated

• Down in the Valley, 1959-1960


• The American Dame, 1972


• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1977


• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, 1977


• A Man for All Seasons, 1977


• Diary of Anne Frank, 1980


• Picnic, 1981


• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, 1981


• Godspell, 1981


• Of Mice and Men, 1981


• Tintypes, 1982


• The Queen and the Rebels, 1982


• Side by Side, 1982


• The Music Man, 1984


• As You Like It, 1984


• 1940s Radio Hour, 1985


• A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1986


• Festival of One-Acts, 1992


• Christmas Dinners, 1997


• Spoon River Anthology, 1998

Digital

• Milligan College – Around the World in 80 Days,
  
  
  • Folder 1, 2018
  
  
  • Folder 2, 2018
  
  

Box 4

VII. Series: Oversize Posters, 1981-2020, undated

• 1981-2020, undated

Loose

• 17th Annual Short Film Festival poster, 2017


• 30th Annual Festival of One Act Plays, 2017


• Film poster for House, 2017


• 19th Annual Short Film Festival poster, 2019


• The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 2019


• The Brand Journey of Pal’s Sudden Service exhibit poster (Milligan Arts Council), undated


• Love’s Labour’s Lost poster, 2020