Secondary research materials, organized into six series; this is the same organization that was used when the collection was housed in the University of Wisconsin
Extension Library.
Series 1, EVALUATING THE SCRIPT contains materials about those elements of theater that result in production: the script, the theater building, costumes, sets. The series is organized alphabetically by topic.
Series 2, HISTORY AND CRITICISM is represented in two sections. The first division of the series, General Topics, contains materials on professional theater in the United States. The second division, National Theatres, contains materials on professional theaters in other countries. The series is organized alphabetically, according to topic and country.
Series 3, BIOGRAPHY contains biographical data on professional theatrical personalities. The series is organized alphabetically.
Series 4, REVIEWS OF PLAYS features reviews organized alphabetically, by author's name.
Series 5, HISTORY AND CRITICISM - NON-PROFESSIONAL documents various theatrical genres--such as children's theater and community theater--and regional theaters. The series is divided into general materials (Boxes 1 and 2) and into those materials that deal exclusively with theater in Wisconsin (Boxes 3-12). The topics in the series are organized alphabetically.
Series 6, THEORY OF THEATRE articles, such as “The Art of Acting” and “Scene Design”, are also organized alphabetically. The eighteen volumes in this series are bound issues of Drama Magazine and The Stage (1920-1938), with the exception of Volume 1--Jameson's Shakespeare's Heroines.
The organization of the collection means related material may be found in several places. An example is the material on the Guthrie Theatre. It can be found listed as: Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis, in Series 2; Tyrone Guthrie Theatre, also in Series 2; and Guthrie, Tyrone, in Series 3. Similarly, Shakespeare is dealt with in various aspects throughout the collection.
