Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection
MSS.290
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
January 12, 2015
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie, Indiana, 47306
765-285-5078
libarchives@bsu.edu
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Table of Contents
Summary Information ................................................................................................................................. 3
Biographical Note.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 4
Arrangement...................................................................................................................................................4
Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................5
Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................6
Collection Inventory...................................................................................................................................... 8
Series 1: Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901................................................. 8
Series 2: Subject files, 1800-1924.........................................................................................................10
Series 3: Publications, 1862-1963......................................................................................................... 11
Series 4: Dr. Edward Strother notes, undated.......................................................................................12
Series 5: Legal sized documents, 1861-1924........................................................................................12
Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs, 1854-1939............................................... 13
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Summary Information
Repository
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Title
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection
Date [inclusive]
1800-1963
Extent
1.5 Cubic feet 2 boxes and 1 folder
Language
English
Preferred Citation
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection, Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University
Libraries
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Biographical Note
Dr. Edward S. Strother was a member of the Ball State University faculty for forty-one years, from 1946
to 1987. He served as professor and head of the Department of Theatre. He also served as administrative
assistant to the chairman, and then as chairman of the Speech and Theatre Department before it was
divided in July 1982.
Dr. Strother was a founder and/or director of the Ball State, the Muncie Civic, Little Shoestring, and
Studio theatres. He wrote a number of plays, including several one-act productions, children's plays, and
a full-length show, "The Man and the Water Works". An accomplished actor, Dr. Strother also performed
in such plays as "On Golden Pond", and "Death of a Salesman".
Dr. Strother was one of the first recipients of the study-abroad grants for Ball State faculty and staff. He
provided narration for six color filmstrips entitled "The History of Physical Education and Sports," which
was produced by tow other university professors. He also co-authored three books: The Effective Speaker,
Speech Education for Elementary Teachers, and The Practical Guide to Parliamentary Procedure.
A native of New Albany, Indiana, Dr. Strother received his bachelor's degree from Indiana University,
and his master's degree and PhD from Northwestern University.
(from Ball State University biographical information)
Scope and Contents
This collection includes newspaper clippings and publications pertaining to Theater in Muncie, Indiana
from 1800-1963. It clippings on the Wysor Grand Opera House, The High Street Theatre, Circuses,
Walling Hall, Indiana theater, and information about Muncie’s early history. PSC 339 includes photos
and negatives of actors, theaters, and Muncie, Indiana. The photographs and negatives of actors
were primarily made from photographing books, including A Pictorial History of American Theatre,
1860-1970.
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series and subseries:
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 1:Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901
Series 2: Subject files, 1800-1924
Subseries 2.1: Theater subject files, 1846-1908
Subseries 2.2: Indiana history subject files, 1800-1924
Series 3: Publications, 1862-1963
Series 4: Dr. Edward Strother notes, undated
Series 5: Legal sized documents, 1861-1924
Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs, 1854-1939
Administrative Information
Publication Information
Ball State University Archives and Special Collections
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State
University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to
Archives and Special Collections.
Custodial History
The Dr. Edward Strother Theater History collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as
a donation from Dr. Edward Strother on 2009/11/25.
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2009/09/01 by Jennifer Morrill. Finding aid created 2009/09/01 by
Jennifer Morrill. EAD finding aid completed 2009/09/04 by Maren L. Read. EAD finding revised
2013/11/20 by Leslie Nellis.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
•
•
•
•
•
Hight Street Theater. (Muncie, Ind.)
Petty Park. (Muncie, Ind.)
Walling Hall. (Muncie, Ind.)
Westside Park. (Muncie, Ind.)
Wysor Grand Opera House.
Genre(s)
•
•
•
•
Clippings
Documents
Photographs
Publications
Geographic Name(s)
• Muncie (Ind.)
Personal Name(s)
• Gharky, David, 1775-1850
• Putnam, Frederick, 1818-1901
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
• Strother, Edward
Subject(s)
•
•
•
•
•
•
Acting
Circus
Minstrels
Photography
Stoeckel Archives of Local History
Theater
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 1: Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901
Newspaper Clippings, 1873-1874
Newspaper Clippings, 1875
Newspaper Clippings, 1875-1876
Newspaper Clippings, 1876-1877
Newspaper Clippings, 1877-1878
Newspaper Clippings, 1879
Newspaper Clippings, 1879-1880
Newspaper Clippings, 1880-1881
Newspaper Clippings, 1881-1882
Newspaper Clippings, 1882-1883
Newspaper Clippings, 1883-1884
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Box
Folder
1
1
1
2
1
3
1
4
1
5
1
6
1
7
1
8
1
9
1
10
1
11
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 1: Wysor Grand Opera House newspaper clippings, 1873-1901
Newspaper Clippings, 1884-1885
Newspaper Clippings, 1885
Newspaper Clippings, 1887
Newspaper Clippings, 1887-1888
Newspaper Clippings, 1888-1889
Newspaper Clippings, 1889-1890
Newspaper Clippings, 1890-1891
Newspaper Clippings, 1891-1892
Newspaper Clippings, 1892-1893
Newspaper Clippings, 1893-1894
Newspaper Clippings, 1894-1895
Newspaper Clippings, 1895-1896
Newspaper Clippings, 1896-1897
Newspaper Clippings, 1897-1898
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1
12
1
13
1
14
1
15
1
16
1
17
1
18
1
19
1
20
1
21
1
22
1
23
1
24
1
25
Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 2: Subject files, 1800-1924
Newspaper Clippings, 1898-1899
Newspaper Clippings, 1899-1900
Newspaper Clippings, 1900-1901
Walnut Street Opera House, 1892-1896
Wysor Family, 1905-1937
1
26
1
27
1
28
1
29
1
30
Box
Folder
1
32
1
33
1
34
1
35
1
36
1
37
Series 2: Subject files, 1800-1924
Subseries 2.1: Theater subject files, 1846-1908
Circus, 1846-1900
High Street Theater, 1893-1902
Minstrels, 1866-1897
Indiana Theater, 1839-1915
Petty Park, 1879-1892
Walling Hall, 1879-1892
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Subseries 2.2: Indiana history subject files, 1800-1924
Westside Park, 1895-1900
General Theater, 1896-1908
1
38
1
39
Box
Folder
1
40
1
41
1
42
1
43
1
44
1
45
Box
Folder
1
46
1
47
Subseries 2.2: Indiana history subject files, 1800-1924
Early Visits to Muncie, 1836-1865
Indiana Normal University, 1896-1899
Muncie Natural Gas, 1879-1897
Newspaper Clippings, 1841-1902
Putnam Family, 1864-1901
Delaware County, 1800-1924
Series 3: Publications, 1862-1963
Gharky, David, The life of David Gharky…, Portsmouth, Ohio: Printed by
J. Gharky, 1852
Directories, 1874-1896
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 4: Dr. Edward Strother notes, undated
Grandmothers of Muncie, 1892
Greencastle Opera House, 1963
Missions on White River, 1938
Plays, undated
Programs, 1866-1900
Rural Entertainment in Missouri, 1963
1
48
1
49
1
50
1
51
1
52
1
53
Box
Folder
2
1
Box
Folder
2
2
2
3
2
4
Series 4: Dr. Edward Strother notes, undated
Strother Notes, undated
Series 5: Legal sized documents, 1861-1924
Wysor Grand Opera House Productions, 1873-1892
Subject Files, General Theater, 1861-1908
Subject Files, Indiana History, Delaware County, 1800-1924
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs, 1854-1939
PSC.339 Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs,
1854-1939
Box
14
Folder
PSC 339
Parade in Matton, Illinois, 1939
Unidentified musical group, undated
Refineo Vaudeville Theater, undated
Hoosier Theater, Muncie, Ind., undated
Performance of the Merchant of Venice, Meeting of the Women’s Club of Muncie, 1898/10/31
Portrait of Kate Claxton in The Two Orphans, American Actress, undated
Portrait of Frank Mayo, undated
Portrait of Dailey Paskman, undated
Portrait of Rose Eytinge, undated
Portrait of Madame Fanny Januschek, undated
Portrait of Walker Whiteside, undated
Portrait of Frank Chanfrau, undated
Portrait of Minnie Maddern, undated
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Dr. Edward Strother theater history collection MSS.290
Series 6: Dr. Edward Strother theater history photographs, 1854-1939
Portrait of Gus Williams, undated
Portrait of Gus Williams, undated
Unidentified Group portrait, undated
Unidentified Portrait, undated
Downtown Muncie, Indiana, 1900
Downtown Muncie, Indiana, circa 1920
Muncietown, 1854
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