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Addition 3, 1929 - 1991

 Series

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

Description: Boxes 1-35

The Records of the Waa-Mu Show date from 1929 to 1973, representing years when Joe Miller directed the productions. The files typically include correspondence, thank you letters and congratulatory letters, press releases, publicity, advertising, promotions as well as forms, receipts and general materials. Some years also include scripts, audition records, and librettos.

Dates

  • 1929 - 1991

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

None.

Extent

17 Boxes (Boxes 46-62)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

Show routines are arranged chronologically by year of show. Administrative records are foldered topically with folders arranged alphabetically by key word.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This addition to the Waa-Mu Show records has been assembled from several accessions of records received between 1980 and 1994 from the Office of Special Events (Accession #80-142, 81-149, 84-31, 85-33, 86-180, 87-196, 92-110 and 94-27).

Separated Materials

Approximately five linear feet of duplicates, ticket order forms, wardrobe measurement forms and financial receipts and vouchers have been discarded.

Description of the Addition

This addition is broken into two categories: annual show records and topical records.

The annual show records span the period 1939-1991 with the bulk of the records dating from 1971 through 1991. Records on early shows are thin and scattered; more complete records will be found elsewhere in the collection. Nearly all shows from 1971 and later are documented by a file of general materials typically including correspondence and other documents relating to the details of that show's production. Often supplementing the general materials are files of newspaper clippings, printed forms, sponsorship records, staffing records, and summary accounts of ticket sales. Program material including sketch outlines and dialogue, music and songs is limited.

Topical records are organized into the following subcategories: fiftieth anniversary celebration records, show routines, administrative records, and financial records.

Waa-Mu celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with the 1981 show, "To the Memories" and with a hardcover book published under the same title. In preparation for the anniversary, the Office of Special Events solicited in 1980 reminiscences from the participants in past shows. These reminiscences, arranged by decade, form the bulk of the celebration records.

Administrative records relate to general business and personnel matters, the Joe Miller Award, music and recording arrangements, and the Waa-Mu Scholarship. The show's newsletter, Caught in the Act, is found here.

Financial records of receipts and expenditures are maintained in ledger format and date from the period 1929-1982 and 1986-1988.

Processing Information

Christopher A. Rogers; February 17, 2006.

Library Details

Part of the Northwestern University Archives Repository

Contact:
Deering Library, Level 3
1970 Campus Dr.
Evanston IL 60208-2300 US
847-491-3635