George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
FINDING AID AUTHOR
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
J. Burke Knapp papers, C0199, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Arena Stage in 2000.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff.
Historical Information
Arena Stage was an early leader in the resident theater movement. One of the first not-for-profit theaters in the United States as well as a pioneer of the regional theater movement the Arena Stage was the first regional theater to transfer a production to Broadway, the first invited by the U.S. State Department to tour behind the Iron Curtain and the first to receive a Tony Award. Co-founded in 1950 by Edward Mangum a teacher from the George Washington University, and Zelda Fichandler one of his students, Arena Stage was opened in Washington D.C. to fill the void left by the closing of the National Theater in 1948. Deriving it's name from the idea of "theater in the round," Arena Stage became one of the first resident theaters in the United States, beginning with a company of only eight actors. Today, Arena performs to over 250,000 patrons during a September to June season and employs nearly 200 theater professionals and craftpersons, who are responsible for all the costumes and scenery seen on stage. Many now- famous actors took part in Arena Stage productions during the early part of their careers. Some of them include Robert Prosky, Morgan Freeman, Dianne Weist, James Earl Jones, Kevin Kline, Christopher Guest, Yeardly Smith and Samuel L. Jackson.
Mr. J Burke Knapp was an Economist for the Federal Reserve Board, 1940-44; adviser on German economic affairs, U.S. Department of State and German Military Government, 1944-45; special assistant to the chairman, Federal Reserve Board, 1945-48; director, Office of Financial and Development Policy, Department of State, 1948-49; economic adviser U.S. delegation to NATO, 1950-51; U.S. president of the Joint Brazil-U.S. Economic Development Commission, 1951-52; and assistant director, economics department, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1950-52, director, Western Hemisphere department, 1952-56, vice president, IBRD, 1956 and President of the Washington Drama Society.
Scope and Content
Collection contains materials relating to various financial matters of the Arena Stage during the 1960s.
Arrangement
Organized by subject.
Related Material
Special Collections and Archives holds the Arena Stage records.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Arena Stage (Organization : Washington, D.C.)
- Performing arts
- Theater
- Theater -- Washington (D.C.)
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Knapp, J. Burke (Joseph Burke), 1913-2009
Container List
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
Washington Drama Society, Inc. "Friends of Arena Stage"Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
Washington Drama Society, Inc. "foundation"Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Washington Drama Society, Inc. correspondenceScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Washington Drama Society, Inc. third class postageScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
Washington Drama Society, Inc. construction contractScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
Washington Drama Society, Inc. D.C. Sales tax exemptionScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Washington Drama Society, Inc. D.C. personal Property ExemptionScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8
Washington Drama Society, Inc. mortgageScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9
Washington Drama Society, Inc. correspondenceScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10
Washington Drama Society, Inc. fichandler contractScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11
accounts bookScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1
Arena Enterprises Inc.Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2
Arena Enterprises; Stock Agreement FormScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 3
incomplete dissolution of Arena Enterprises Inc.Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 4
correspondence; Arena Enterprise StockScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 5
Trustee minutes and Stockholder minutesScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 6
correspondence and Joint StockScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 7
Arena Enterprises stock saleScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 8
Washington Drama Society organizationScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 9
Arena Enterprises fiscal SummaryScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 10
Personal Arena Stage 1956-1960Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 11
personal Arena Stage 1956-1960Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 1
lease agreement with the District of Columbia, 1960Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 2
Arena Stage II materialsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 3
1956-1966 season summary sheetScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 4
1966-1967 season summary sheetsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 5
misc. recordsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 6
1967-1968 season summary sheetsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 1
Washington Drama Society Inc. trust indenture 1960Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 2
Washington Drama Society Inc. trust indenture 1962Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 3
stock ledger book, bank notes and statementsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 4
Washington Drama Society land lease with the District of ColumbiaScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1
instruction form for disposition of stockholder assets memorandum on dissolution, 1959 (1 of 3)Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2
instruction form for disposition of stockholder assets memorandum on dissolution, 1959 (2 of 3)Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3
instruction form for disposition of stockholder assets memorandum on dissolution, 1959 (3 of 3)Scope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4
Arena Stage IIScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 1
1959 appeal for nonprofit statusScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 2
nonprofit applicationScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 6 folder: 3
1968-1969 season summary sheetScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 1
misc. financial documentsScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 2
Arena Stage IIScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 3
misc. correspondenceScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 4
misc. correspondenceScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 5
personal and property tax exemption informationScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 6
Washington Drama Society Inc. exemption applicationScope and Contents note
- Mixed Materials box: 7 folder: 7
Washington Drama Society Inc. application for tax exemptionsScope and Contents note