Collections

The OSF Archives collects and makes available the history and heritage of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. By doing so, we seek to illuminate the richness and significance of OSF’s contribution to local, national and world theater. 

The challenge faced by a theatre archives is to develop, preserve and maintain a comprehensive documentary and physical record of an ephemeral art form. The goal of the OSF Archives is to recreate the theatrical experience to the greatest extent possible using the records left behind: documents, photographs, audio, video, artwork, artifacts, and personal testimony to name a few. 

Collecting and making these materials available is an ongoing effort. The following collections have been processed to archival standards, and their contents can be explored using their finding aids. Other collections listed at the end have not been processed but are still available for research.

A0001 Oral history collection, 1965-Present
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Oral History Collection consists of recordings and transcripts of oral history interviews created between 1965 and 2010. The oral history projects feature interviews with key players in the Festival’s history conducted by various OSF company members and associates throughout the years.

Collection finding aid 
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog


A0002 Audio collection, 1950-Present
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Audio Collection consists of recordings of performances, music, sound effects, radio programs, PSAs, interviews, and special organizational events and programming since 1950.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog 


M0001 Dorothy Pruitt papers, circa 1920-1997
Personal papers of Dorothy Pruitt, an early actress, Assistant Director, and long-time supporter of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Included in the collection are correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs, metal printing plate scripts, and a first draft of a European travel book. Correspondents include Angus and Gertrude Bowmer, Lois Bowmer, Shirley and Bill Patton, Peggy Rubin, and Al Reiss.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog


M0002 Prompt Books collection, 1938-Present
Prompt books for the Shakespearean and non-Shakespearean productions of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Also included may be cue sheets, light plots, text and costume bibles, set notes and prop lists, cast lists, choreography, research and dialog notes.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog 


M0003 Francis Schilling scrapbooks, 1937-1940
Three scrapbooks belonging to Frances Schilling Miller, a prompter (previously called a ‘book-holder’) with the Company in the 1930s.  The scrapbooks document the Company in the early days of the Festival, including the production at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. Names and addresses of Company members are noted. Included in the scrapbooks are clippings, candid photographs, and some documents.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog


M0004 Light Shop Records, 1970-1975
Light plots and instrument drawings from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Light Shop.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0005 Bowmer Family Papers, 1881-2002
Personal papers of Oregon Shakespeare Festival founder Angus Bowmer (1904-1979) and Gertrude Bowmer, nee Butler (1903-1994). Contains limited information on Lois Bowmer, nee Muzzall (1905-?). Includes photographs, film, audio, and manuscript materials.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University Hannon Library Catalog


M0006 Dorothy Lee Chase Scrapbook, 1940
Scrapbook kept by actress Dorothy Chase, nee Lee. The scrapbook documents the 1940 season of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, including the fire that destroyed costume stock. Included in the scrapbook are clippings, candid photographs, and a newsletter.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University Hannon Library Catalog


M0008 Board of Directors Records
Records of the governing Board of Directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Included are the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, meeting minutes, committee reports, membership information, and correspondence.  Attention: This collection is classified as RESTRICTED; it may only be accessed with the permission of Archives and Executive staff.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0009 Publications Collection, 1935-present
The Publications Collection is a comprehensive resource of print materials produced by the Festival to promote OSF’s main-stage productions and supplementary activities from 1935 through the present. The collection consists of materials distributed publically or internally, for both informational and promotional purposes. Materials include brochures, flyers, souvenir programs, playbills, posters, annual reports, press releases, newsletters, fundraising letters, and original scripts and adaptations of OSF productions.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0010 Press Coverage Collection, 1935-present
A collection of external press coverage about the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Consists of clippings and articles prominently featuring OSF or reviewing OSF productions. The majority of clippings/articles are from the U.S. press, with most being from newspapers in Oregon, Washington and northern California.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0012 Costume Shop Records, 1937-Present
Consists of costume bibles and several costumes from Oregon Shakespeare Festival productions.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0013 Jeannie Schultz Davidson Papers, 1966-1991
Materials created by Jean Schultz Davidson in her positions as Costume Shop Manager and Resident Costume Designer with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival over 25 years. Includes planning and scheduling notes, budgets, Costume Shop management materials, and correspondence.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0014 Scenic Designer Records, 1956-2010
Design and personal materials related to two Oregon Shakespeare Festival scenic designers: Christopher Acebo, and Jesse Hollis.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0015 Paint Shop Records, 1985-2002
Paint charts and notes for scenic designs of Oregon Shakespeare Festival productions.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0016 Music and Sound Department Records, 1953-2003
Sheet music, scores, and sound cues from Oregon Shakespeare Festival productions.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0018 OSF Portland Records, 1977-1994
Records of OSF Portland, originally known as Portland Center Stage. This offshoot of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival was in operation from 1988 to 1994. In 1994, it separated from the parent organization and reverted to the Portland Center Stage name. Documents cover all aspects of management of the Company, as well as its formation and dissolution.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0019 Audience Collection, 1935-2011
The Audience collection documents the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s marketing and public relations activities from 1935 through the present. This includes files from the office of the general manager/executive director, as well as Marketing, Public Relations, and Box Office records. Materials consist of correspondence, meeting minutes, budgets, attendance reports, audience surveys, departmental calendars, publication drafts, drafts of promotional scripts, and official policy statements.   

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


M0020 Education Department Records, 1947-2011
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival Education department records date from 1947 through 2011 and offer valuable documentation of the department’s programming and structural evolution. Materials include correspondence, study guides, teaching guides and resource kits, course readings, annual reports, statistical reports, brochures, calendars, photographs and news clippings.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University's Hannon Library Catalog


P0001 Photograph collection, 1935-Present
This collection contains the non-digital photo documentation of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) from its year of origin, 1935. The collection documents OSF productions, departments, theatres, events, programs, operations and personnel. Includes staged and candid photos from a variety of sources.

P0001 Photograph Collection
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog

Link to a portion of our Photo collection online at the SOU Hannon Library


V0001 Understudy Videos, 1981-Present

Created to assist the acting understudies with learning their roles, the OSF Understudy Video Collection consists of recordings of main-stage performances at the Festival between 1981 and 2010. The collection includes some rehearsal footage, fight calls and dance calls. Not all productions from this time period are represented in the collection

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog


V0002 Film and video collection, 1952-Present
The Film and Video Collection captures a variety of OSF activities demonstrating the Festival’s history and growth. The bulk of the materials were created for promotional purposes and include PSAs, interviews, documentaries, local and national television programming, web clips, and raw footage. The collection is supplemented with recordings of organizational and artistic programming such as education outreach programs, Green Shows, production cues, set changeovers, and special events.

Collection finding aid
Catalog record on Southern Oregon University’s Hannon Library Catalog 


UNPROCESSED COLLECTIONS: A SUMMARY
The following is a list of some of the collection materials that are available for research, but have not yet been processed and cataloged to archival standards. These collections may contain a larger amount of duplicated and unrelated material, and do not have written finding aids created to facilitate searches for specific information.

  • Libby Appel Collection
  • Phil Killian Collection
  • Tudor Guild Collection
  • David Dreyfoos Collection  
  • Administration Records: Executive office, General office, Finance, Legal, Human Resources and Company accommodations
  • Artistic Director records
  • Development Department records
  • Literary and dramaturgy records
  • Community relations records
  • Facilities and Physical Plant records
  • Architectural plans
  • Posters
  • Set designs
  • Set models
  • Artwork
  • Artifacts and memorabilia
  • Production schedules
  • Rehearsal schedules
  • Rehearsal notes
  • Theatre organization membership and collaboration records
  • Play reading scripts
  • Tour records
  • Scrapbooks
  • Photo albums