Series 1: Production Ephemera, 1826-2012

Series 1: Production Ephemera makes up the bulk of the collection and includes programs, newspaper clippings, photographs, and other materials documenting particular productions. Materials in this series represent some of the earliest undergraduate dramatic performances, dating back to 1826, through the 19th and 20th centuries to the present day. The ephemera in this series offers insight into the dedication and work that went into undergraduate student productions, from elaborate costumes and scripts to the hours spent at rehearsal.

This series emphasizes the Amherst College student experience and contains information about clubs and societies on campus, graduating classes, the development and history of drama at Amherst, and student journalism through the years, to list a few examples. The series also extends beyond the borders of the Amherst campus, offering a perspective on the history of popular theater in America and popular cultural entertainment of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The series includes photographs from 1879 to current productions, with the majority of original photographs dating to the late Victorian period to the 21st century. Examples include albumen prints, silver gelatin prints, and color prints. The collection also showcases changing styles of artistic design, typography, and printing throughout two centuries of dramatic productions. The material provides evidence of changing trends in drama, literature, and costume design.