A Guide to the Helen C. Clarke Collection of Richmond Theatre Guild Records, 1935-1950
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 42762
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2006 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Renee M. Savits
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Helen C. Clarke Collection of Richmond Theatre Guild Records, 1935-1950 (bulk 1935-1940). Accession 42762. Personal papers collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va.
Acquisition Information
Purchased.
Biographical Information
Helen Caroline Mattson Clarke (1894-1967) was married to Joseph Calvitt Clarke (1887-1970) of Chesterfield, Virginia, and served as business manager and secretary for the Richmond Theatre Guild.
The Richmond Theatre Guild, the successor to the Little Theatre League, was formally organized on 25 October 1935 in Richmond, Virginia. Bertram Yarborough served as Director, John M. Taylor Jr., President; Stuart Bryan, First Vice President; Mrs. David E. Satterfield Jr., Second Vice President; Helen Clarke, Executive Secretary; and Robert I. Boswell, Treasurer. The first production was "Fly Away Home," in December 1935. The theatre headquarters were established at 209 West Broad Street at the Lyric Theatre in Richmond. In 1939 Robert E. Prettyman took over as Director and the theatre moved its productions to the Mosque. It is unknown when the Richmond Theatre Guild ceased operations.
Scope and Content
The Helen C. Clarke Collection of Richmond Theatre Guild Records contains annual reports and financial statements, cash book, clippings, correspondence, histories, membership information, minutes, newsletters, photographs, programs, publicity information, and reviews. These records were collected by Helen C. Clarke, executive secretary and business manager of the Richmond Theatre Guild.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into the following series:
Series I. Administrative Files Series II. Theatre ProductionsContents List
This series includes annual reports and fiscal statements, clippings, correspondence, membership campaign materials, minutes (1939 only), newsletters, and reports. The membership campaign material includes lists of members, advertisement campaign cards, instructions to campaign workers, receipts, and a notebook. Includes one newsletter from the Richmond Theatre Guild for 21 January 1938 and forms from the Play selection committee, with choices of play productions. Also includes information on publicity for the theatre, including letters and advertisement sent to clubs, local businesses, and newspapers promoting upcoming productions. A proclamation by Mayor J. Fulmer Bright, declaring the week of 1939 September 15 to 25th as Richmond Theatre Guild Week is also included.
Correspondence, 1936-1950, mostly includes letters from Bertram Yarborough to Helen Clarke, after he left the Richmond Theatre Guild and became director of the Nantucket Playhouse in Massachusetts and the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre in Michigan. Also includes membership cards and flyers for the Green Room Club, a social organization run by the Richmond Theatre Guild. Also of note is a "History of the Theatre in Virginia," written by Helen Clarke.
- Box 1
Folder 1
Annual Reports and Financial Statements, 1935 .
- Box 1
Folder 2
Annual Reports and Financial Statements, 1936-1937 .
- Box 1
Folder 3
Annual Reports and Financial Statements, 1938-1940 .
- Box 1
Folder 4
Cash book and receipts, 1936-1937 .
- Box 1
Folder 5
Checkbook (blank), Undated .
- Box 1
Folder 5a
Clippings, 1938-1939 .
- Box 1
Folder 6
Committees, 1938-1939 .
- Box 1
Folder 7
Correspondence, 1936-1938 .
- Box 1
Folder 8
Correspondence, 1940-1950 and undated .
- Box 1
Folder 9
Correspondence (form letter), 1938 .
- Box 1
Folder 10
Early American Romance, 1938 .
- Box 1
Folder 11
Election ballots, Undated .
- Box 1
Folder 12
Green Room Club membership and information, 1937-1939 .
- Box 1
Folder 13
History of the Theatre in Virginia, by Helen Clarke, Undated .
- Box 1
Folder 14
History of the Theatre in Virginia, Notes, by Helen Clarke, Undated .
- Box 2
Folder 1
Invitations, 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 2
Letterhead (blank), Undated .
- Box 2
Folder 3
Membership, Advertisement and information cards, 1935-1940 .
- Box 2
Folder 4
Membership, Advertisement and information cards, Undated .
- Box 2
Folder 5
Membership, Advertisement, information cards, and instructions, 1935-1940 .
- Box 2
Folder 6
Membership, Lists, 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 7
Membership, Notebook, 1935-1938 .
- Box 2
Folder 8
Membership, Receipts, 1935 .
- Box 2
Folder 9
Minutes, 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 10
Newsletter, Richmond Theatre Guild, 21 January 1938 .
- Box 2
Folder 11
Newsletters, The RichChap, February 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 12
Newsletter, Virginia Drama News, 16 October 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 13
Notebook, Undated .
- Box 2
Folder 14
Play Selection Committee Undated .
- Box 2
Folder 15
Proclamation, Richmond Theatre Guild Week, September 1939 .
- Box 2
Folder 16
Publicity, Publications, and Clubs, 1938 .
- Box 3
Folder 1
Workers Daily Report (blank), Undated .
- Box 3
Folder 2
Workshop playwriting contest,, Undated .
- Box 3
Folder 3
Miscellaneous,, Undated .
This series includes clippings, photographs, programs, reviews, and tickets documenting the plays produced by the Richmond Theatre Guild, 1935-1939. Also included are several miscellaneous programs from the Musicians Club of Richmond; National Theatre (Washington, D.C.); The Nantucket Playhouse (Nantucket, Mass.); Tenth Annual Theatrical Ball Local No. 87 of Richmond, Va.; The University of Richmond Players; and The Civic Theater (Indianapolis, In.).
The plays are arranged chronologically by date of production, with miscellaneous material at the end.
- Box 4
Folder 1
1935 December 18-19, Fly Away Home , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 2
1936-1937 Series programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 2a
1935 June 16-17, The Torch Bearers , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 3
1937-1938 Series programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 4
1937 October 26-28, Her Master's Voice , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 5
1937 October 26-28, Her Master's Voice , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 6
1937 November 17, Bury the Dead , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 7
1937 December 14-16, The Cat and the Canary , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 8
1938-1939 Series programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 9
1938 January 10, Three One-Act Folk Plays: A Rogue in Bed; Judge Lynch; and The Willow Plate , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 10
1938 January 27-29, Twelfth Night , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 11
1938 January 27-29, Twelfth Night , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 12
1938 February 21, Four on a Heath and The Gods of the Mountain , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 13
1938 March 8-10, Dangerous Corner , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 14
1938 April 11, Three Original One-Act Plays: Ice in the Anchovies; Let it be a quiet funeral; and Raising the Devil , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 15
1938 April 28-30 The Pursuit of Happiness , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 16
1938 November 8-10, The Royal Family , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 17
1938 November 8-10, The Royal Family , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 18
1938 November 8-10, The Royal Family , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 19
1938 November 18, Prologue to Glory , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 20
1938 November 18, Prologue to Glory , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 21
1938 November 18, Prologue to Glory , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 22
1938 November 13-15, Ceiling Zero , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 23
1938 November 13-15, Ceiling Zero , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 24
1938 November 13-15, Ceiling Zero , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 25
1938 November 13-15, Ceiling Zero , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 4
Folder 26
1938 November 13-15, Ceiling Zero , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 1
1939-1940 Series programs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 2
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 3
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 4
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 5
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 6
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 7
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 8
1939 January 31 - February 1, Death Takes A Holiday , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 9
1939 February 17, The Importance of Being Earnest , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 5
Folder 10
1939 February 17, The Importance of Being Earnest , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 1
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 2
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 3
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 4
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 5
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 6
1939 March 24-25, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar , Tickets.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 7
1939 March 31, The Importance of Being Earnest , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 8
1939 March 31, The Importance of Being Earnets , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 9
1939 April 7, The Importance of Being Earnest , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 10
1939 May 4-6, Private Lives , Advertisements.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 11
1939 May 4-6, Private Lives , Clippings.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 12
1939 May 4-6, Private Lives , Photographs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 13
1939 May 4-6, Private Lives , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 14
1939 May 4-6, Private Lives , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 15
1939 May 17, Three Original Plays: You're on the Air; His Face Was His Fortune; and Saved by the Bell , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 16
1939 November 14-16, Our Town , Programs.Physical Location:
- Box 6
Folder 17
1938-1939 Miscellaneous programs.Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 1
Photographs, Nora Spencer Hammer, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 2
Photographs, Unidentified actors, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 3
Photographs, Unidentified plays, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 4
Photographs, Unidentified plays, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 5
Photographs, Unidentified plays, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 6
Photographs, Unidentified plays, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 7
Photographs, Unidentified plays, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 8
Photographs, Oversize, Unidentified actress, circa 1935-1940Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 9
Programs, Oversize, The Musicians Club of Richmond Presents The Gypsy Baron and Desert Song, February and November 1939Physical Location:
- Box 7
Folder 10
Certificate, Oversize, Helen Clarke, 1929 JunePhysical Location: