Although Gilbert and Sullivan operettas have been produced at Oberlin at least since the 1930’s, the Oberlin Gilbert and Sullivan Players, as a group, was formed in 1949. The first production, The Pirates of Penzance, took place in 1950. The bulk of records cover the period 1949-1990. The collection occupies 8.0 linear feet. A few financial records from Gilbert and Sullivan productions of the 1930’s and 1940’s can be found in Series 4, “Financial Records.”

The history of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players is detailed in a number of documents: a history by Hayden Boyers (director of Gilbert and Sullivan productions from 1949-1966) covering the years 1949-66; a history by David Zajic (Class of 1990 and president of Gilbert and Sullivan Players, 1989-90) covering the years 1966-90; program notes from productions in 1960 and 1989 describing the history of Gilbert and Sullivan on Cape Cod, and the Players in general; photocopies of clippings describing the formation and first season of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players.

The most comprehensive group of records is Series 4, which contains a nearly complete run of programs of all campus productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players, 1950-1990.

The photographic material (Series 11) lacks complete documentation. Some of it had original identification labels, some of it was identified by David Zajic, but much of it contains no identification marks whatsoever.

Series 1. Charter, 1986, 1990

The 1986 charter is a preliminary, unofficial document submitted by the officers of the G&S Players. The 1990 charter is the official document approved by the Student Life Committee in March, 1990. A memo by Clark Drummon, Coordinator of Student Activities, dated 8 May 1990, reports on the Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ official status.

Series 2. Administrative Officers & Production Data, 1949-1991

Contains a list of student officers and faculty advisors for all season, 1949/50-1990/91. Also included is a chart which details the following information: all Gilbert and Sullivan operettas produced by any Oberlin student group, all campus productions of the G&S Players, and the existence and location of programs and/or videotapes for each Gilbert and Sullivan production. (Both the list and the chart were compiled by David Zajic).

Series 3. Correspondence, 1956-59, 1967-68, 1980-85, 1994

Letters and memos of students and faculty associated with the G&S Players. A few letters of Hayden Boyers, and on undated petition form concerning production facilities of G&S Players, are included.

Series 4. Financial Records, 1938-1986, .2 l.f.

Includes six ledgers (five bound, one unbound): 1938-46, 1938-50, 1951-52, 1955-66, 1956-57, 1965-68. The 1955-66 and the 1965-68 volumes are oversize items. The 1955-66 volume contains financial records for 1955, and attendance records for the Players’ 1966 summer season at the Highfield Theater on Cape cod. One accordion file contains miscellaneous financial information: invoices and reimbursement forms, 1985; budget allocation sheets & budget request, 1984-5; financial statements, 1984-5; two notebooks of expenditures and receipts, 1982, 1985.

Series 5. Historical File, 1980-86, .2 l.f.

One volume scrapbook, to date, entitled “Oberlin Gilbert and Sullivan Players History Book: covers the period 1980-86. At the front are included important letters of the organization from 1980-81, and the 1981-82 budget proposal. The remainder of the book is comprised of programs and photos of the productions during the period 1980-86.

Series 6. Inventories, 1980-86

Two inventories cover equipment & sets and scores.

Series 7. Programs, 1950-1994, .2 l.f.

Almost a complete run of programs of campus G&S productions. A list (compiled by David Zajic) of missing programs and what is known about them is included. This series also contains a folder of programs from G&S summer productions on Cape Cod, 1955-67 (not a complete run).

Series 8. Miscellaneous Information and Clippings, 1964-96

Includes miscellaneous forms, clippings, a program of the 1986 alumni revue, “Sufficiently Decayed,” and rules and regulations for the cast of Iolanthe.

Series 9. Prompt books and Scores, 1.25 l.f.

Most contain handwritten notes indicating staging and blocking instructions, or musical dynamics. Hayden Boyers’ name appears on many of them. One prompt book for Princess Ida is dedicated to Boyers by Robert A. Gibson (1958). This series contains prompt books or scores for the following operettas:

Cox and Box
Gondoliers
Iolanthe
The Mikado (stage guide & prompt book)
Patience
Princess Ida
Yeomen of the Guard

Series 10. Libretti and Scripts, .1 l.f.

Most of these have handwritten staging notes. Scripts or libretti for the following operettas are included:

La Belle Helene
The Gypsy Baron
The Sorcerer
Trial By Jury
The Princess

Series 11. Photographs and Slides, 1.25 l.f.

One large accordion file contains photos and slides of productions by the Gilbert and Sullivan Players from 1950-1966. Miscellaneous programs, press releases, and clippings are included. Most of the photos are identified by date, but in many, the people are not identified. An index at the beginning lists the contents of the accordion file (compiled by David Zajic). Productions represented in this file (arranged at random) include:

Ruddigore, 1959,1959, 1962, 1963
Mikado, 1950, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1963, 1964, 2000, n.d.
Gondoliers, 1955, 1959
Patience, 1963, 1965, 1966, n.d.
Iolanthe, 1951, 1957, 1961, 1963
Pirates and Penzance, 1950, 1958
HMS Pinafore, 1958
Yeomen of the Guard, n.d.
Trial by Jury, 1958, 1963, 1964
Sorcerer, 1963
Utopia, 1961

This series also contains five additional files of miscellaneous photos, slides, and negatives, many of which are undated and unidentified. Intermixed in these files are clippings, programs, a few letters, production schedules, and a plot summary of The Grand Duke. One folder contains photos, clippings, and posters from the first production of the G&S Players, The Pirates of Penzance. The last folder in this series contains photocopies of two record jackets of the Gilbert and Sullivan Players’ recordings: The Gondoliers (1955), and Princess Ida (1958).

Series 12. Posters

This series contains twelve posters of various G&S productions, with no year date.

Series 13. Videotapes

This series contains videotapes of productions by the G&S Players from 1983-1995. The recordings are filed in RG 37 Audio-Visual.

The major group of related materials may be found in the papers of the former director of the Gilbert & Sullivan Players, Hayden Boyers, 30/56. Included in that collection are twelve scrapbooks of deteriorating news clippings, 1950-1967. All but the earliest scrapbook deal with the Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ summer productions on Cape Cod. Other Gilbert & Sullivan materials in the Boyers collection include a folder of scripts and libretti and about 1.2 linear feet of audio-visual materials such as slides, photos, filmstrips and reel tapes.

Another source of records for the Gilbert & Sullivan Players is the files of the Student Union Office. Those files contain such records as officer lists for the past fifteen years, office use agreements, descriptions of the organization and charters (1949, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1990).

A final source of related materials is in “Reunion Weekends,” a series in Record Group 20, “Oberlin Alumni Association.” The file on the 1986 Gilbert & Sullivan Players’ Reunion in 1986 includes a description of the reunion weekend, a program of the revue “Sufficiently Decayed,” list of participants, correspondence, text of “Sufficiently Decayed” in handwriting of Smith Brittingham, photos, and participation forms.

• Title
• Administrative History
• Scope and Content
• Inventory