Skip to main content

Paul Barrosse Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 31/6/114

  • Staff Only
  • No requestable containers

Scope and Contents

The collection is divided into six sections, and spans the years 1973-1997. All sections, subsections, and folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

The more personal documents of Barrosse’s life are held in the biographical section and are contained in one box which covers the period 1983-1995. The primary contents of this section include biographical statements, resumes, and letters of recommendation written on his behalf.

Barrosse worked for many years as a writer, and his efforts are documented in the two-box film scripts section, containing three scripts which he authored or co-authored, two in 1986 and one undated.

The general files section spans the years 1979-1996. Records of Barrosse’s employment in acting workshops, advertising agencies, and as an independent writer are kept here, as well as several other miscellaneous documents. The section comprises a single box.

Included in the schoolwork section are essays, exams, tests, and general notes from Barrosse’s years at both Cleveland Central Catholic High School and at Northwestern University, spanning the period 1973-1980. When applicable, folders are labeled according to the identifiable class subject of the notes, though material contained inside notebooks may include several subjects. Also present are documents relating to several Northwestern theatrical productions in which Barrosse was involved, including records pertaining to three years of the Mee-Ow Show. The section fills six boxes.

Barrosse’s work in numerous television shows spans the years from 1982 to 1995 and fills ten boxes. Several of the shows are viewable in the University Archives DVD (#406-412) and videocassette (#3260-3266) collections. The category is divided into the following seven subsections:

The Comedy Strip Live subsection documents Barrosse’s involvement with the Fox TV comedy series hosted by Barrosse’s Northwestern classmate Gary Kroeger. The materials are comprised almost entirely of sketch drafts and completed scripts for the show and contain content only from the year 1990.

Recorded in the Family Values section is Barrosse’s involvement in pitching a hidden-camera reality show in 1992. Numerous scripts and administrative documents are found throughout the section and material is borrowed from another of Barrosse’s television projects, Totally Hidden Video. A DVD (#409) and videocassette (#3263) of Family Values footage can be accessed in the media collection.

Barrosse served as a writer in the short-lived Johnny B on the Loose television program, and this section documents his participation with the show from late 1989 through 1990. The vast majority of the material is comprised of scripts, sketches, and show ideas.

Barrosse’s involvement with Saturday Night Live covered the years 1982-1983. Aside from two folders of memos, the section is entirely composed of his written and co-written work for the program. Besides basic sketchwork, the scripts for twenty of his shows comprise the bulk of the section.

Strange Universe was a television program of the mid-1990s for which Barrosse served as executive producer. Materials span the dates 1995-1997 and include both administrative work, including budgets, correspondence with the DSL Entertainment Group, etc., and creative work, such as scripts, stories, etc.

Barrosse served as the supervising producer for the Totally Hidden Video television series from the years 1991-1992. Memoranda and interoffice correspondence constitute the majority of the collection, but multiple episode stories comprise a folder as well.

The general television shows subsection records Barrosse’s involvement with numerous other programs and projects between the years 1982 and 1995. Common contents include pitch packets, scripts, and correspondence with studios. Viewers should also make note of the DVD (#406-412) and Videocassette (#3260-3266) collections, which contain clips from Barrosse’s work for the National Live Stock & Meat Board, Big City Broadcast, an unnamed demonstration, Family Values, No Dumping, and brief excerpts of Totally Hidden Video, Payback, Saturday Night Live, Overnight Guest, and Voice Over America.

The theatrical works section details Barrosse’s involvement in numerous stage productions, spanning the years 1982-1997, fills four boxes, and includes the following three subsections:

Barrosse’s work as vice consul for entertainment for the Clubland series of nightclubs is documented in its corresponding section, which dates from 1986-1991. Newspaper clippings, advertising materials, and the like comprise parts of the collection, though its bulk is taken up by five folders of sketch materials written or approved by Barrosse.

Barrosse’s role as a founding member and artistic director of the Practical Theatre Company is recorded in its section, which spans the dates 1982-1997. It is primarily composed of documentation of classes and workshops taught by the PTC and shows and programs in which they participated.  (For related material, see Northwestern University Archives Series 55/47, Records of the Practical Theatre Company.)

Barrose’s work on the stage is described in the section on general theatrical works, spanning the years 1983-1990. Included are scripts, programs, press clippings, and other files.

Dates

  • 1973-1997
  • Other: Date acquired: 01/01/2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Folders 2, 3, and 11 of box 1, as well as folder 5 of box 7 and folder 7 of box 11 may contain sensitive materials; consultation with University Archivist is required prior to use.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is stored at a remote campus location and requires two business days advance notice for retrieval. Please contact the McCormick Library at specialcollections@northwestern.edu or 847-491-3635 for more information or to schedule an appointment to view the collection.

Extent

18.00 Boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Scripts and other materials produced by Paul Barosse (1958- ), an actor, and writer for television and motion pictures.

Arrangement

All sections, subsections, and folders are arranged in alphabetical order. Whenever possible, the titles of folders and their contents were kept as they were in Barrosse’s personal files, though some modifications were made during processing.

Source of Acquisition

This series was donated to the University Archives by Paul Barrosse in 2011 (Accession #11-152).

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Separated Materials

Seven DVDs and seven videocassettes were separated from the collection and added to the University Archives media collections.  See DVDs #406-412 and videocassettes #3260-3266.

Processing Information

Rachel Poletick, Tim Garrett, and Ari Sillman, March-August 2012

Title
Guide to the Paul Barrosse Papers
Author
Rachel Poletick, Tim Garrett and Ari Sillman
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

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