TABLE OF CONTENTS
Collection Summary
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Restrictions
Index Terms
Related Material
Separated Material
Administrative Information
Description of Series
Correspondence, 1972-1991
Legal, 1982-1983, undated
Printed Material, 1965-1990, undated
Musical Compositions, 1987-1990, undated
Scripts, 1977-1990, undated
Production Notes, 1990, undated
Assorted Materials, 1964-1983
Photographs, 1944-1990
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Doug Dyer Papers
An Inventory of the Collection
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Creator: |
Dyer, Douglas, 1942-1991 |
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Title: |
Doug Dyer Papers |
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Dates: | 1944-1991 |
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Dates (Bulk): | 1972-1991 |
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Abstract: |
Doug Dyer was an active member of the theater community in Austin, Texas, from the late 1960s to his untimely death from AIDS in 1991. This collection dates from 1944-1991 and includes correspondence, musical compositions, scripts, memorabilia, and photographs documenting his life and contributions to both theater and LGBTQ rights. |
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Identification: |
AR.1992.006 |
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Quantity: |
2.4 linear feet (6 boxes) |
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Location: |
Archives Stacks, qAR, Outer Vault |
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Language: |
English |
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Repository: |
Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, 810 Guadalupe, PO Box 2287, Austin, TX 78768 |
Douglas Dyer was born on November 19, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He later attended Louisiana State University and graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1965.
While pursuing a Master's of Fine Arts in theatre from the University of Texas at Austin, Dyer entered the Austin theatrical scene with a controversial production called Now the Revolution in 1968. This coming-of-age play, which portrayed youth rebelling against authority and featured nudity, was banned on campus. Joseph Papp, New York producer, hosted the show in New York City under the title Stomp. The show was highly successful and eventually toured Europe.
Dyer returned to New York City and directed several rock musicals for Papp's Public Theatre in the early 1970s. In 1976 when he was back in Austin, Dyer performed “Esther’s Hard Core de Ballet,” an Esther Williams based water ballet skit, at Liberty Lunch with friends Michael Shelton and Shannon Sedwick. He had met Shelton and Sedwick in the late 1960s while involved in the Curtain Club, an informal theater group at the University of Texas. The Liberty Lunch Esther Williams based skit inspired a regular Friday night show that was a precursor to Esther’s Follies, which eventually would be performed out of Esther’s Pool. Esther's Follies still performs today with a rotating cast in downtown Austin.
Dyer wrote a play based upon Edward Swift's novel Splendora and in 1984, it was performed in Austin. The Safe Sex Players were founded by Dyer in 1985. At the same time, Dyer was instrumental in the revival efforts for the State Theatre on Congress Avenue. In the 1980s, Dyer directed several plays such as T-Shirts, Madwomen, and I Pass For Straight.
Douglas Dyer died in Austin on April 10, 1991, of complications from AIDS.
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The collection is arranged into eight series. The first series documents Doug Dyer’s correspondence, primarily between friends, family, and lovers, from 1972-1991. A small number of letters are sent to or received from professional contacts, including theater collaborators and grant foundations. Of note are letters sent to Dyer during his illness and remembrances sent to Dyer’s family in April 1991 following Dyer’s death. A majority of the communication is received correspondence from his parents, brother, and friends.
The Legal series is very small, containing only two documents from the New York Police Department from 1982-1983 and undated/unsigned stage production contracts.
The Printed Material series spans 1965-1990 and documents gay rights events, AIDS information, and theater reviews, invitations, and programs. Dyer’s MFA diploma from the University of Texas at Austin and his Bronco yearbook from Hardin-Simmons University are also included in this series. Several broadsides and posters primarily document Esther’s Follies productions. A large number of musical compositions comprise their own series, making up about .5 linear feet. These are dated 1987-1990, however are mostly undated works-in-progress likely attributed largely to Dyer, though some are titled and attributed to other persons.
The largest series is comprised of finished and unfinished scripts, dating from 1977-1990. Of note are the Now the Revolution/Stomp script, Dyer’s final production I Pass For Straight, and several skits and monologues written for Esther’s Follies productions. Various scripts collected are attributed to persons other than Dyer, including Doric Wilson, Sterling Price-McKinney, and Eryk Markham. Also of mention are Aqua Festival scripts, notes, and ideas. A small series is dedicated to Production Notes, including notes from 1990 on I Pass For Straight. The majority of the notes are undated and related to Esther’s Follies, Splendora, and Stomp.
The items in the Assorted Materials series date from 1964-1983 and include poems attributed to various people, including Dyer. Of note is a copy of the 1964-1965 The Autumn Corral, a poetry journal published by Hardin-Simmons University, which features two poems by Doug Dyer. Also included in this series is an account ledger for Esther’s Follies, a student paper about Dyer, and a drawing by local artist Mickey Joe Mayfield. A subseries on Michael Cain includes manuscripts, correspondence, and printed material. Michael Cain, a friend and collaborator of Dyer’s, was a composer with multiple degrees in music, including a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He was part of the Safe Sex Players with Dyer in the late 1980s. Of note in his materials are two thank you letters from playwright Robert Patrick regarding having received materials on Safe Sex Players productions as well as Patrick’s own collaboration on their projects.
The final series documents photographs taken from 1944-1990. The first subseries is theater-related photographs from the 1970s-1990, including professional images for publicity purposes as well as informal documentation of productions. Spendora, I Pass For Straight, Madwomen, and the Safe Sex Players are documented in these photographs. The personal subseries dates from 1944-1990 and includes a few photos from Dyer’s childhood, but most are snapshots of Dyer as an adult with friends, and may include theater personalities. Dyer is recognizable in many of the personal photos, but most do not have identifications. Some of the personal photos include male nudity. The negatives do not overlap much with the prints. In all, there are 133 prints, 148 slides, and 316 negatives.
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Arrangement |
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The collection is arranged into eight series: |
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I. Correspondence |
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II. Legal |
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III. Printed Material |
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IV. Musical Compositions |
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V. Scripts |
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VI. Production Notes |
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VII. Assorted Material |
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VIII. Photographs |
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Access Restrictions
Open to all users
Use Restrictions
The Austin History Center (AHC) is the owner of the physical materials in the AHC collections and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the AHC before any publication use. The AHC does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
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Subjects (Persons) |
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Dyer, Douglas, 1942-1991. |
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Shelton, Michael. |
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Sedwick, Shannon. |
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Cain, Michael, 1958-1991. |
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Patrick, Robert, 1937-. |
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Galloway, Terry. |
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Sears, Joe, 1949-. |
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Wilson, Doric, 1939-2011. |
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Mayfield, Mickey Joe, 1939-2002. |
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Pogue, Alan. |
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Swift, Edward, 1943-. |
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Markham, Eryk. |
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Subjects (Organizations) |
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Esther's Follies (Austin, Tex.). |
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Safe Sex Players (Austin, Tex.). |
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Hardin-Simmons University. |
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University of Texas at Austin. |
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Austin Aqua Festival. |
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National Association of People with AIDS (U.S.). |
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Austin PWA Coalition (Austin, Tex.). |
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Subjects |
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Theater--Texas--Austin. |
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Playwriting. |
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LGBTQ. |
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Gay rights--Texas--Austin. |
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Gays--Texas--Austin--Social conditions. |
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AIDS (Disease). |
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Theater--Production and direction. |
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Letters. |
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Musical theater--Production and direction. |
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Places |
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Austin (Tex.)--Social life and customs. |
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Austin (Tex.)--Pictorial works. |
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Austin (Tex.)--Social conditions. |
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Document Types |
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Broadsides. |
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Certificates. |
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Clippings. |
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Correspondence. |
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Drawings. |
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Fliers. |
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Greeting cards. |
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Ledgers. |
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Legal documents. |
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Manuscripts. |
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Memorabilia. |
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Posters. |
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Programs. |
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Black-and-white photographs. |
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Black-and-white negatives. |
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Color slides. |
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Color photographs. |
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Color negatives. |
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Archives & Manuscripts
- Performing Arts Collection (AR.1991.001) -- Safe Sex Players programs, circa 1984-1985
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Austin Files:
- AF Subject - University of Texas - Colleges and Departments - Fine Arts - Curtain Club U3540(7)
- AF Subject - LGBT People H2030
- AF Subject - Theater - Esther's Follies T6500(21)
- AF Biography - Dyer, Douglas
- AF Biography - Shelton, Michael
- AF Biography - Galloway, Terry
- AF Biography - Sears, Joe
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Local newsletters Rumors, All About Austin, and PWA Austin were separated to the Periodicals Collection.
Various clippings were separated to Austin Files (Subject and Biography).
A 792.0976431 FO The Follies Fifth: A Collection of Photographs from Esther's Follies, 1977-1982 and A 813.54 PI AA Aardvar the Magician: Life in the Big City by Turk Pipkin were separated to the General Collection.
Duplicates and out-of-scope materials were deaccessioned.
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Doug Dyer Papers (AR.1991.006). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.
Donor #: DO/1991/100
Donation Date: 9 May 1992
Collection was arranged by Tim Wilder in 1994. Finding aid created and encoded by Kelly Hanus in 2017.
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Correspondence, 1972-1991 |
Box |
Folder |
1 |
1 |
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In memoriam--letters and remembrances to Dyer and his family, 1991 April |
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2-5 |
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Personal & professional correspondence--sent and rec'd, 1972-1990 |
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Legal, 1982-1983, undated |
Box |
Folder |
1 |
6 |
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New York City Police Department forms, 1982-1983 |
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7 |
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Stage production contracts, undated |
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Printed Material, 1965-1990, undated |
Box |
Folder |
1 |
8 |
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General--news clippings, flyers, pamphlets, 1973-1990 |
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9 |
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MFA diploma from the University of Texas, 1967 June |
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10 |
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AIDS information--Austin PWA Coalition, undated |
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11 |
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Queer Nation flyer, undated |
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12-13 |
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Theater invitations, programs, etc., 1969-1990, undated |
Box |
Folder |
2 |
1-2 |
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Theater reviews--clippings 1969-1990, undated |
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3 |
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I Pass for Straight promotional materials 1990 |
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4 |
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Hardin-Simmons University Bronco yearbook, 1965 |
Location |
BoxItem |
qAR |
14/55 |
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Poster for Lesbian-Gay Equal Rights March on Austin, 1991 |
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14/56 |
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Esther's Follies poster, 1979 |
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14/57 |
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Madwomen at Mexic-Arte poster, undated |
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14/58-64 |
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Esther's Follies posters, 1979, undated |
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14/65 |
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Greater Tuna at the Ritz poster, undated |
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15/16 |
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Splendora poster, 1984 |
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Musical Compositions, 1987-1990, undated |
Box |
Folder |
2 |
5-7 |
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General works in progress, undated |
Box |
Folder |
3 |
1-4 |
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General works in progress, undated |
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5 |
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Whither Thou Goest (excerpt from a work in progress) based on The Book of Ruth by Janet Carlson, general works in progress (unattributed), 1987-1990 |
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Scripts, 1977-1990, undated |
Box |
Folder |
3 |
6 |
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Rule of Thumb by Gwen Ross, Like Forces, short scripts by Eryk Markham, short monologues and skits by Doug Dyer, 1965, 1987, 1991, undated |
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Stage notes, skits, ideas, undated |
Box |
Folder |
4 |
1 |
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Skits, The Birth of Esther by Doug Dyer, stage notes, Aqua Festival notes, film parodies by George Wilkerson, undated |
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Skits, monologues, etc., 1987-1990, undated |
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AIDS (Artists Involved with Death and Survival) Show, 1984 |
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Aqua Fest, 1982, undated |
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Cry Centipede, undated |
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Edge of Cliff, undated |
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Faustus, 1978 |
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Gee! He's Us of Nazareth, 1983 |
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Going Down, undated |
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10 |
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I Pass For Straight, 1989-1990 |
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Is Alexander Godunov?, 1982 |
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12 |
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Killer Hair, undated |
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13 |
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Les Scandals d'Austin (Benefit Paramount), 1980 |
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14 |
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Madonna Can Do It, undated |
Box |
Folder |
5 |
1 |
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Now the Revolution/Stomp, 1970, undated |
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A Perfect Relationship by Doric Wilson, 1978 |
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A Pile Up, undated |
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A Place With Promise by Edward Swift, undated |
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Raiders of the Private Parts, undated |
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Reagan Re-Election Campaign (or Halloween), 1984 |
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Splendora, 1984 |
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Drafts and notes for Stomp, 1970 |
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Stomp (Paris show), 1970 |
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10 |
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The Unforgettable Woman by Sterling Price-McKinney, undated |
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11 |
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The Yuck Stops Here, undated |
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The West Street Gang by Doric Wilson, 1977 |
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13 |
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Untitled, undated |
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Production Notes, 1990, undated |
Box |
Folder |
5 |
14 |
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Esther's Follies, undated |
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15 |
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I Pass For Straight, 1990 |
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16 |
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Splendora cast biographies, undated |
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17 |
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Stomp, undated |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
1 |
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Untitled, undated |
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Assorted Materials, 1964-1983 |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
2 |
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Poems, 1964-1974, undated |
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Student paper, "A Comparative Study of The Living Theatre and The Combine" by S. B. Simpson, 1983 |
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4 |
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Drawings--Mickey Joe Mayfield, 1978 |
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5 |
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Esther's program account book, 1980 |
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Michael Cain, 1984, undated
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Box |
Folder |
6 |
6 |
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Manuscripts, undated |
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7 |
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Correspondence, undated |
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8 |
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Printed material, 1984 |
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Photographs, 1944-1990 |
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Theater-related photographs, circa 1970s-1990
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Box |
Folder |
6 |
9 |
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Splendora black-and-white photographs (#017-028, 115-121), 1984 |
Location |
ArchivesCollection |
Outer Vault |
Color Neg. Drawer |
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Splendora color slides (#178-189), 1984 |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Safe Sex Players et al. - color slides - portraits, bridges, group photos (#134-153), 1985 May |
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Ken Hodnett Production of Madwomen - color slides (#154-177), 1989 |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
10 |
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I Pass For Straight black-and-white photographs (#001-016), undated |
Location |
ArchivesCollection |
Outer Vault |
B&W Neg. Drawer |
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I Pass For Straight black-and-white negatives (92 unnumbered), undated |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified production - color slides (#173-177), 1978 January/February |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified production - color slides (#190-214), 1989 October |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified production - color slides (#215-219), 1990 September |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified production - color slides (#220-232), undated |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
11 |
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Unidentified, assorted - black-and-white photographs (#029-044, 122-133), undated |
Location |
ArchivesCollection |
Outer Vault |
Color Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified, assorted - color slides (#233-258), undated |
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B&W Neg. Drawer |
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Unidentified, assorted - black-and-white negatives (43 unnumbered), undated |
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Personal Photographs, 1944-1990
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Box |
Folder |
6 |
12 |
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Assorted portraits, family friends and other scenes - black-and-white and color photographs (#082-114), 1944-1970s |
Location |
ArchivesCollection |
Outer Vault |
Color Neg. Drawer |
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Assorted family, friends, and other scenes - color slides (#259-263), undated |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Assorted family friends, and other scenes - color negatives (181 unnumbered), undated |
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Color Neg. Drawer |
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Flowers - color slides (#264-281), 1990 May |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
13 |
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Swimming scenes (nudes) - black-and-white photographs (#051-072), circa 1970s |
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14 |
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Town Lake scenes - black-and-white photographs (#073-081), circa 1970s |
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15 |
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Unidentified man (nudes) - black-and-white photographs (#045-050), circa 1979 |
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