Crescent Players records

Series

Identifier: RG 17-1

Staff Only

Content Description

The Crescent Players records collection (1953-2023; 3 cubic feet) documents the growth, plays, set design, history, and community outreach of the student-run organization. Types of materials include: advertisements, articles, correspondence, digital documents, negatives, newspaper clippings, photographs, play bills, posters, prompt books, and objects. The collection does not contain a playbill or poster for every production, nor are there photographs for each production. The records have been arranged into five series: Adminstrative records, Historical information, Production files, Promotinal materials, and Objects.

Dates

Creation: 1953 - 2023

Language of Materials

Materials primarily in English, with some records in Latin.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use, but some items are in fragile condition.

Conditions Governing Use

Some of these materials are copyrighted or have unknown copyright. It is under the transgression of the researcher to provide adequate copyright terms for materials they wish to select.

Historical Note

The Crescent Players are a student-run organization on the Southern Connecticut State University campus. Founded in 1954, it is the longest running club/organization on campus and is still currently active. Crescent Players produce and present theatre plays and musicals and frequently collaborates with the Theatre Department. There are also performances, workshops, and events produced solely by Crescent Players. The organization was founded by Robert E. Kendall and undergraduate students in 1954. After Kendall retired as chairman of the Theatre Department in 1978, the Drama Lab's name on campus was changed to "Robert E. Kendall Drama Lab" in honor of his contributions to the Department of Theatre.

Source: Materials within the collection.

Extent

3 Cubic Feet (5 document boxes, 1 records box,1 oversize flat box, 1 model )

0.036 Gigabytes (13 digital files)

Additional Description

Arrangement

Series 1: Administrative files, 2012-2023, (0.036 GB). This series contains digital meeting minutes from the Crescent Players board and general meetings. The materials are not arranged. The Constitutions of the organization are also included in this series.

Series 2: Historical information ,1956-2020, (0.3 c.f.). This series contains scripts, newspaper clippings, and alumni news articles that pertain to the organization. Also included is a Laurel 1956 Yearbook with a dedicated book plate to the Crescent Players from Robert E. Kendall, as well as the twentieth anniversary play program and certificates.

Series 3: Production files, 19, (0.9 c.f.). This series has been split into two sub-series: Prompt books and Photographs. There are prompt books for the plays "Twelfth Night", "The Knack", and "Jocasta and Great Catherine". This sub-series is in rough chronological order.

This sub-series contains photographs and negatives taken for the productions. The photographs are all in chronological order.

Series 4: Promotional materials, 1953-2022, (0.6 c.f.). This series contains posters and playbills for the productions. This series is in chronological order.

Series 5: Objects, 1955-1978, (2 c.f.) This series contains the Kendall Pewter Cups of 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1975, and 1978. It also contains the Kendall Pewter Tray of 1974 for the play Romeo and Juliet, as well as the model of the set for Romeo and Juliet.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Accession number 2023-038, donated by Mary Pelkey, 28 June 2023.

Accession number 2024-003, donated by Cameron Munoz, 20 September 2023.

Processing Information

Materials were placed in new acid-free boxes and folders.

The collection was arranged into series based on the original order of the records as per maintained by the organization's members. Original folder titles were not retained and any duplicate publications were removed.

Collection organization revised in November 2024.