Black Swamp Players records

The records of the Black Swamp Players are fairly comprehensive in their documentation of the establishment, administration, membership, financial affairs and the theatrical production of this local community theater group. The Board minutes are detailed and informative and generally complete. Similarly, the general meeting minutes (becoming annual meetings in 1976) are fairly complete. Membership and office lists are available from 1968.

The correspondence is divided into various categories according to correspondent. These categories are advertisers and patrons, the board, companies, members, the president, letters of appreciation and miscellaneous. Subject files are also divided into various categories. For example, the subject file labeled, "advertisers", deals with those businesses which bought advertisements in the play programs. Other subject headings include Awards Banquet, Ohio Community Theater Association, Youth Theater, and history of The Black Swamp Players.

The reports found in this collection include financial reports, both yearly and monthly, financial reports on the plays, yearly financial statements and general reports. Legal documents include agreements, applications, contracts, by-laws and other governing rules of The Black Swamp Players. Newspaper clippings document various activities of The Black Swamp Players as well as plays produced and are available from 1969. Printed material includes The Black Swamp Players' newsletter, pamphlets for each season and play programs. A complete set of season pamphlets, for the years is included in this collection, however, some of the newsletters and play programs are missing.

Files on each play, photographs, and oversize posters advertising the plays complete this collection.

BOARD MINUTES; 1969-1998, 2006; arranged chronologically. A fairly complete series of Board meetings with the exception of 1972. Most of the minutes are detailed and include information on business conducted, reports on plays and planning of future events.

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES; 1968-1982, 1985, 1987-1988, 2006; arranged chronologically. Scattered coverage of general membership meetings. Starting in 1976 the meetings were held annually each May. Most of the minutes are detailed and include information on group events and the progress of the season's plays.

BOARD AGENDAS; 1971, 1973-1982, 1984-1985, 1988-1992, 1995-1998; arranged chronologically. The series of agendas are largely complete for the years indicated. The agendas list the business which will be conducted at the next scheduled Board meeting.

GENERAL MEETING AGENDAS; 1971-1973, 1980-1982, 1993-1995; arranged chronologically. A very incomplete series. The agendas list what business will be conducted at the next scheduled general meeting.

MEMBERSHIP LISTS; 1969-1982, 1987-1989; arranged chronologically. Listing of the members of The Black Swamp Players, including such information as names, addresses and telephone numbers.

OFFICER LISTS; 1968-1982, 1986, 1988-1993; arranged chronologically. A complete listing of officers elected for each year.

BOARD MINUTES; 1969-1998, 2006; arranged chronologically. A fairly complete series of Board meetings with the exception of 1972. Most of the minutes are detailed and include information on business conducted, reports on plays and planning of future events.

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES; 1968-1982, 1985, 1987-1988, 2006; arranged chronologically. Scattered coverage of general membership meetings. Starting in 1976 the meetings were held annually each May. Most of the minutes are detailed and include information on group events and the progress of the season's plays.

BOARD AGENDAS; 1971, 1973-1982, 1984-1985, 1988-1992, 1995-1998; arranged chronologically. The series of agendas are largely complete for the years indicated. The agendas list the business which will be conducted at the next scheduled Board meeting.

GENERAL MEETING AGENDAS; 1971-1973, 1980-1982, 1993-1995; arranged chronologically. A very incomplete series. The agendas list what business will be conducted at the next scheduled general meeting.

MEMBERSHIP LISTS; 1969-1982, 1987-1989; arranged chronologically. Listing of the members of The Black Swamp Players, including such information as names, addresses and telephone numbers.

OFFICER LISTS; 1968-1982, 1986, 1988-1993; arranged chronologically. A complete listing of officers elected for each year.

ADVERTISERS; 1972-1976; arranged chronologically. This series contains lists of the businesses which were contacted during the years 1972-1976 as to whether or not they would purchase an ad for the play programs.

AWARDS BANQUET; 1971-; arranged chronologically. This series contains numerous items, including letters, certificates and lists of award winners--all connected with The Black Swamp Players Annual Swampy Award Banquet.

HISTORY-BLACK SWAMP PLAYERS; 1968-1993; arranged chronologically; The papers in this series deal with the history of the organization beginning with its founding in 1968. Also included are the articles of incorporation for The Black Swamp Players and papers stating its objectives and plans when it was founded.

HISTORY-LISTS OF PLAYS PERFORMED AND CAST MEMBERS; 1968-1992; arranged chronologically. Contains lists of major performances and cast members.

OHIO COMMUNITY THEATER ASSOCIATION; 1974-1984, 1991-1992, 2006-2009; arranged chronologically. Contains letters, newsletters and other material related to the Ohio Community Theater Association.

OTHER COMMUNITY THEATER ASSOCIATIONS/THEATER GROUPS; 1970s; arranged alphabetically by name. This series contains letters and pamphlets from other community theater associations and theater groups.

PLAY MATERIALS-MISCELLANEOUS; 1969-1981, 1985-1996; arranged chronologically. This series contains miscellaneous materials from plays, including publicity flyers, set designs and production manuals.

YOUTH THEATER; 1975-1984; arranged chronologically. Contained in this series are materials relating to The Black Swamp Youth Theater, including letters, flyers, and lists of members.

FINANCIAL REPORTS; 1970-1985, 1988-1992; arranged chronologically. The reports include lists of expenditures to date and amounts budgeted. The reports are complete for the years indicated except for 1974-75.

FINANCIAL REPORTS ON PLAYS; 1972-1982, 1990-1991; arranged chronologically. This series contains the financial records on some of the plays performed from 1972-1982. Most of the reports include the attendance and box office receipts.

YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORTS; 1970-1978, 1983-1985, 1990-1992; arranged chronologically. These statements give fairly complete, detailed records for the above years with the exception of 1976-77. The statements list all financial business of the organization in a year, including total receipts, expenditures and bank statements.

GENERAL REPORTS; 1968-1980, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2004-2005; arranged chronologically. This series contains a variety of documents, including agreements, applications, contracts, an insurance policy, several reports on potential permanent homes for the Players, and a petition.

LEGAL DOCUMENTS; 1969-1983, 1987-1988; arranged chronologically. This series contains a variety of documents, including agreements, applications, contracts, an insurance policy and a petition.

BYLAWS/OPERATING PROCEDURES; 1970s-1983; Including bylaws for The Black Swamp Players, in addition to other papers which deal with the running of the organization.

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS; 1969-; arranged chronologically. This series contains an assortment of clippings from the Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune dealing with The Black Swamp Players and a magazine article from Bend Of The River on the group.

PHOTOGRAPHS; 1976-1992; Black and white photographs from plays and sets and of members.

PLAY PROGRAMS/FILES; (start box 5) 1967-; arranged chronologically. This series contains a number of the programs for the plays which were produced as well as individual play files. Organization of the materials varies between folders for each season, and for each production, but are consistently chronological.

SEASON PAMPHLETS; 1973-1984, 1991, 1992, 1994; arranged chronologically. This scattered series of pamphlets for the years 1973-1984 lists the plays which are to be performed during the season.

NEWSLETTERS; 1973-; (scattered holdings) arranged chronologically. The Black Swamp Players newsletter contains information on the group and the plays performed.

Arranged chronologically.

Recordings of various theatrical performances by the Black Swamp Players.

PLAY POSTERS; 1968-; (Scattered coverage) arranged chronologically. Includes oversize posters advertising the plays.

MISCELLANEOUS OVERSIZED MATERIALS;

1986-1987, 1996, undated;

Concept drawings for various stage designs, likely by Willard Misfeld. Design for a new Black Swamp Players Theater. Various backstage signs. A publicity book for the 1986-1987 season.