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Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 0255

Scope and Contents

The Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection dates from circa 100 to 2020 (bulk 1800s-2000s) and contains programs, heralds, guidebooks and periodicals, playbooks, sheet music and songbooks, correspondence and autographs, original costume designs and scenery designs, posters, photographs, postcards, tradecards, scrapbooks, subject files, and other visual materials and memorabilia which document the history of the performing arts, mainly theatre, in many countries, mainly the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Further geographic foci within the United States include New York City, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

While the majority of the collection focuses on theatre, other performing arts genres represented include circus, concert, dance, film, minstrelsy, opera, and vaudeville.

Some noted 19th century American stage actors/actresses represented in the collection include Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes), Charlotte Cushman, Fanny Davenport, Edwin Forrest, Joseph Jefferson, Julia Marlowe and E.H. Sothern. Famous 19th century European stage actors/actresses represented in the collection include Sarah Bernhardt, Dion Boucicault, Henry Irving, Helena Modjeska, Adelaide Ristori, Tommaso Salvini and Ellen Terry. Other notable personages include theatrical manager and playwright Augustin Daly, costume and set designer Leslie Hurry, and caricaturist Al Freuh.

Theatres, troupes and festivals highlighted in the collection include Minnesota's Guthrie Theatre, the United Kingdom's Royal Shakespeare Company, the Classics in Context and Humana festivals from the Actor's Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky, North Carolina's Shakespeare Festival, and Canada's Shaw Festival and Stratford Festival.

Dates

  • circa 100-2018
  • Majority of material found within 1800s - 2000s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.

Biographical or Historical Information

Robert C. Hansen (1951- ) is a professor of theatre and an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).

Hansen received his Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre and English from the University of Minnesota, Morris, his master's degree from Florida State University, and his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Before coming to UNCG, he taught at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, where he chaired the theatre department and served as managing director of the Huron Playhouse. Hansen joined the faculty of UNCG in 1986. For twelve years, he served as head of the theatre department. He now teaches in the areas of theatre history, dramatic literature, non-western theatre, musical theatre, and design, and as Associate Dean his responsibilities include curriculum and teaching, freshman seminars, and the Bachelor of Liberal Studies program.

Over the past 28 years, Hansen has also worked in all aspects of theatre, including direction and design. He authored the book Scenic and Costume Design for the Ballets Russes (Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, 1985) as well as numerous articles and reviews for journals such as Southern Theatre, Theatre Crafts, and Theatre Design and Technology. Hansen has also served as an officer in the North Carolina Theatre Association, United States Institute for Theatre Technology-Ohio Chapter, the American Theatre Association, the Southeastern Theatre Conference, and the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Extent

85.00 Linear Feet (43 boxes, 10 scrapbooks)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Robert C. Hansen (1951- ) is a professor of theatre and an Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG).

The Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection dates from Roman times (circa 100-300) to 2020 (bulk 1800s-2000s) and contains programs, heralds, guidebooks and periodicals, playbooks, sheet music and song books, correspondence and autographs, original costume and scenery designs, posters, photographs, postcards, tradecards, other visual materials, scrapbooks, subject files, and other memorabilia which document the history of the performing arts, mainly theatre, in many countries, mainly the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Further geographic foci within the United States include New York City, Minnesota, and North Carolina.

Arrangement Note

The Hansen Performing Arts Collection is organized into the following series and subseries: 1. PROGRAMS 1.1. Theatre Programs 1.1.1. United States Theatre Programs 1.1.1.1. New York City, 1.1.1.2. Minnesota, 1.1.1.3. North Carolina, 1.1.1.4. National Tours 1.1.1.5. Other Locations 1.1.2 International Theatre Programs 1.1.2.1. Canada, 1.1.2.2. United Kingdom, 1.1.2.3. Other International 1.2. Other Performing Arts Programs 1.2.1. Circus, 1.2.2. Concert, 1.2.3. Dance, 1.2.4. Film, 1.2.5. Minstrelsy, 1.2.6. Opera, 1.2.7. Vaudeville 2. HERALDS 2.1. United States Heralds 2.1.1. New York City, 2.1.2. Minnesota, 2.1.3. North Carolina, 2.1.4. National Tours, 2.1.5. Other Locations 2.2. International Heralds 2.2.1. Canada, 2.2.2. United Kingdom 3. GUIDEBOOKS AND PERIODICALS 3.1. United States, 3.2. International 4. PLAYBOOKS 5. SHEET MUSIC AND SONGBOOKS 5.1. Sheet Music, 5.2. Songbooks 6. CORRESPONDENCE AND AUTOGRAPHS 6.1. Correspondence, 6.2. Autographs 7. SUBJECT FILES 7.1. People, 7.2. Organizations, 7.3. Genres 8. ORIGINAL COSTUME AND SCENERY DESIGNS 9. POSTERS 9.1. Plays/Performances, 9.2. Portraits, 9.3. Theatrical Designs 10. PHOTOGRAPHS, CARDS, CARICATURES/SATIRE and OTHER PICTORIAL MATERIALS 10.1. Photographs 10.1.1. People, 10.1.2. Plays, 10.1.3. Theatres 10.2. Postcards 10.2.1. People, 10.2.2. Plays, 10.2.3. Theatres, 10.2.4. Theatrical Designs, 10.2.5. Humor 10.3. Tradecards (includes cigarette cards) 10.4. Caricatures/Satire 10.5. Other Pictorial Materials 10.5.1. People, 10.5.2. Plays 11. SCRAPBOOKS 12. OTHER THEATRE MEMORABILIA

Method of Acquisition

Gift of Dr. Robert C. Hansen, 2007, 2011.

Related Materials

The Special Collections and University Archives division also houses the following related collections: UNCG Department of Theatre Records, Robert D. Harris Scrapbooks, George P. Hawtrey Papers, North Carolina Theatre Conference Records, and the Southeastern Theatre Conference Records.

Offensive Language Statement

The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.

Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.

Processing Information

Processed by Michelle Belden, assisted by Jennifer Motszko, Dean Rhoades and Stephanie Turner, January to August 2008.

Encoded by Michelle Belden, September 2008.

Title
Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection
Author
Processed by Michelle Belden and Jennifer Motszko, assisted by Dean Rhoades and Stephanie Turner; machine-readable finding aid created by Michelle Belden.
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
eng

Revision Statements

  • 2011-2012: Additions to the collection and finding aid were made in 2011 and 2012.

Repository Details

Part of the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives Repository

Contact:
P.O. Box 26170
320 College Ave.
Greensboro NC 27402-6170 US
336-334-5246