CHIMERA THEATRE COMPANY (SAINT PAUL, MINN.):

An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Chimera Theatre Company (Saint Paul, Minn.), creator.
	Title:	Chimera Theatre Company records.
	Dates:	1949-1987 (bulk 1970-1985).
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Correspondence and financial files, box office and marketing files, production files, reviews and programs, staff and production photographs and videotapes, press releases, clippings, and scrapbooks documenting a community theater formed in 1969 and disbanded in 1987.
	Quantity:	33.50 cubic feet (31 boxes) and 1 user audio file: MP3 (50 MB).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The video and audio recordings in copyright in this collection are not available online, but can be accessed upon request for use in the Gale Family Library reading room. Please consult reference staff for more information.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Chimera Theatre Company Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 13,921

Location of Master Files:

Digital masters of audio recordings are maintained on the Society’s secure digital collections storage servers and are managed and preserved in accordance with archival best practices.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Dennis Meissner, June 1997

Digital audio transferred from the master audio reel by the Minnesota Historical Society for preservation purposes (May 2024).

Catalog ID number: 990017340870104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location	Box
147.D.12.2F	1	Articles of incorporation, 1969.


		Board of Directors minutes, 1969-1987. 4 volumes.


		Board of Directors and Executive Committee minutes, 1978-1983.


		Reports and correspondence, 1986-1987. 1 volumes.


Location	Box
147.D.12.3B	2	John Diehl Board files:
			Correspondence, 1972-1976.
			Board minutes, 1969-1977.
			Articles of incorporation and bylaws, 1969-1976.
			Executive Committee, 1971-1977.
			Staff and Board, 1970-1977.
			Spotlighters, 1972-1975.
			Play selection, 1973-1976.
			Arts Council, 1973-1976.
			Finances:
				Educational programs, 1974-1977.
				Dinner theatre, 1976.
				Attendance records, 1970-1974.
				Budgets and statements, 1970-1976. 7 folders.
				Cash flow statements, 1970-1976.
				Special reports, 1974-1976.
Location	Box
147.D.12.4F	3		Arts promotions, 1972-1977.
			Sales: General promotions, 1970-1975.
			Season tickets, 1970-1976.
			Group sales, 1971-1975.
			Fund raising, 1969-1976.
			Fiscal Committee, 1973-1976.


		Committee files:
			Artistic Committee, 1987.
			Facilities Committee, 1984-1985.
			Fund Raising Committee, 1981-1983.
			Long Range Planning Committee, 1978-1985. 4 folders.
			Marketing Committee, 1981-1985.
			Nominating Committee, 1975-1978.
			Planning Committee, 1982-1987.
			Search Committee (managing director), 1979.
			Miscellaneous Board memoranda, lists, and letters of resignation, 1975-1980, 1987. 4 folders.


Location	Box
147.D.12.5B	4	Financial statements, 1971-1986.


		Annual reports, 1981-1984.


		Comparative operating statements, 1969-1983.


		Reports to Ron Schiferl, Treasurer, 1985-1986.


		Budgets, 1974-1987.


		Business plan, 1985-1986.


		Payroll sheets, 1976-1986. 1 notebook.


		Lease, 1970-1971.


		Building, 134 E. 9th Street, St. Paul, 1976-1987.


		Edyth Bush Theatre: Sale of building, 1979-1981.


Location	Box
147.D.12.6F	5	Chimera history. 3 folders.


		Actor's Theatre merger (proposed), 1987. 2 folders.


		Shutdown, 1987.


		Correspondence files, 1970-1987.
			Includes correspondence of managing and artistic directors and letters of complaints and thanks.
			General, 1975-1987. 7 folders.
			Memoranda, 1975-1982.
			Complaints, 1972-1982.
			Thanks, 1975-1979. 2 folders.
			"Kudos-Complaints," 1987.
			Friends of the Theatre, 1979-1983.
			Transitions (St. Paul job training program) personnel, 1987.
			Dick Berger, 1987.
			Jim Borland, 1970-1976. 3 folders.
			Marlow Burt, 1975-1978.
			Warren Frost, 1978-1979.
			Dale Huffington, 1983-1985.
			Gloria Taylor-James, 1985-1987. 2 folders.
			Larry Whiteley, 1987.
			Curt Wollan, 1986-1987.


Location	Box
147.D.12.7B	6	Funding: Foundation:
			General, 1984-1986. 5 folders.
			Elmer L. Andersen Foundation, 1971-1982.
			Sven and C. Emil Bergland Foundation, 1977, 1985.
			Bigelow Foundation, 1982-1987.
			Boss Foundation, 1987.
			Bush Foundation, 1975-1986. 4 folders.
			Carlson Companies, 1975.
			Ford Motor Company (St. Paul), 1976.
			Gamble-Skogmo Foundation, 1987.
			Griggs Foundation, 1977-1986.
			Grotto Foundation, 1985.
			Honeywell Foundation, 1984-1987.
			Hubbard Foundation, 1987.
			International Multifoods Charitable Foundation, 1987.
			Jerome Foundation, 1975-1986. 8 folders.
			R. C. Lilly Foundation, 1987.
			McKnight Foundation, 1976-1983. 3 folders.
			Geo. A. Macpherson Fund, 1976.
			3M Foundation, 1987.
			Minnesota Mutual Life, 1983.
			Minneapolis Foundation, 1975-1982.
			Mobil Oil Corporation (Minneapolis), 1975.
			Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, 1977.
			Northwest Area Foundation, 1975-1987. 7 folders.
			O'Brien Foundation, 1976-1977.
			Ober Charitable Foundation, 1976.
Location	Box
147.D.12.8F	7		St. Anthony Bank, 1986.
			St. Paul Foundation, 1976-1982. 6 folders.
			Archie D. and Bertha H. Walker Foundation, 1977-1978.


Funding: Grants received:
	General files, 1975-1987. 5 folders.
	Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 1979-1987. 3 folders.
		Includes some minutes.
	Minnesota Humanities Commission, 1980-1981. 2 folders.
	National Endowment for the Arts, 1975-1987. 5 folders.
	United Arts Fund, 1975-1987. 14 folders.
		Includes some minutes.


Location	Box
147.D.12.9B	8	Funding: Minnesota State Arts Board:
			General file (proposals, etc.), 1970-1987. 14 folders.
			Correspondence, 1975-1982.
			Arts in Education, 1981-1982.
			Proposal for Youth Theatre Company, 1977-1978.
			Operating and program grants received, 1970-1980.
			Rebuttals, 1976-1979. 2 folders.
			Legal opinions, 1976- 1977.
			MSAB operations, 1979-1984.
			Affiliated State Arts Agencies of the Upper Midwest, 1978-1983.
			Arts Advisory Committee (Region 11), 1977-1979.


Location	Box
147.D.12.10F	9	Funding: St. Paul-Ramsey Arts and Science Council, 1977-1984. 2 folders.
			Correspondence, requests, and some minutes.


		Funding: Corporate and individual files. 3 folders.
			Includes Sally Irvine, 1975-1986.


		Rice Park Theatre Project, 1980. 5 folders.
			Correspondence, proposals, funding, etc.


		Productions: A.
			Production files contain correspondence, cast and technical information, promotional material, etc.


Location	Box
147.D.13.1B	10	Productions: B-F.


Location	Box
147.D.13.5B	11	Productions: G-O.


Location	Box
147.D.13.6F	12	Productions: O-S.


Location	Box
147.D.13.7B	13	Productions: S-Y.


		Photographs:
			Edyth Bush Theatre, 1949-1960s. 5 folders.
			Hamline University Theatre (Edyth Bush), 1960s.


		Staff files, 1980-1987:
			Personnel policies, job description, staff memos, etc. 3 folders.
Location	Box
151.K.1.1B	14		Staff meeting minutes, 1985-1987. 3 folders.
			Staff lists.
			Chimera daily news memos, 1975-1977.
			Newsletters, 1983-1985.
			Cast lists, pre-1975-1984. 4 folders.
			Chimera alumni file.
			Directors, A-Z. 4 folders.
				Correspondence, resumes.
			Choreographers.
			Tour shows.
			Tour show promotion.
			Programs, undated. 4 folders.
			Programs, 1969-1987.


Location	Box
151.K.1.2F	15	Programs: Youth theatre, undated, 1971-1975, 1982-1986.


		Tour shows, undated, 1980, 1982, 1985.


		Studio series, 1971-1974, 1978-1987.


		Reviews, undated, 1976-1984. 18 folders.


		Education program, 1975-1987. 3 folders.
			Edyth Bush Theatre served as the center for the Youth Theatre Company from 1975-1982. Classes in acting and technical aspects of the art were offered there, as well as at the Crawford-Livingston Theatre in the Arts and Science Building. Includes correspondence, reports, classes offered (1975-1978), and miscellaneous files.


Location	Box
151.K.1.3B	16	Box office sales, marketing, and promotion materials, 1970-1987. 52 folders.
			Miscellaneous materials relating to these functions.


Location	Box
151.K.1.4F	17	Subject files:
			The Acting Company (John Houseman), 1985-1987. 12 folders.
			Actor's Scholarship Fund, 1979-1985. 3 folders.
			Actor's Workshop, 1980.
			Blair, Christopher, 1983-1984.
			Borland, James, 1981-1982. 2 folders.
				Retirement pay and his disappearance.
			Chimera/Marland Benefit Concert, 1980-1981.
			Chimera West, 1975-1982. 5 folders.
				Correspondence, programs, and financial information relating to a dinner theatre that operated in Minneapolis from August to December, 1975.
			Correction work in the community, 1987.
			Eastside Theatre purchase papers, 1969-1970.
			Film series, 1977.
			Five Party Agreement, 1979-1986. 3 folders.
				Science Museum of Minnesota, Chimera Theatre Company, Minnesota Museum of Art, Minnesota Landmarks, and Arts and Science Council.
Location	Box
151.K.1.5B	18		Gala (benefit), 1981-1982. 2 folders.
			Intern program, 1982-1986. 3 folders.
			Liquor policy, 1979-1985.
			Minnesota landmarks, 1975-1977.
			New York Theatre Tour, 1975-1984. 9 folders.
			Raffle, 1985.
			Opera St. Paul, 1983-1984.
			Recognition Night, 1978, 1982-1986. 4 folders.
			Remodeling, 1978, 1981.
			Ridder, Robert, 1972-1982.
			Space needs, 1978.
			Science Museum, 1979-1987. 7 folders.
			Winter Carnival (St. Paul), 1974-1984. 3 folders.


Printed material:
	Flyers.
	Callboards (newsletters). 2 folders.
	Spotlighters, 1973-1974.
		Volunteer Organization.
	Chimera Reporter, 1986.


		Miscellaneous, 1973-1985.
			Includes mortgage notes (1976), slide script, and long distance telephone log book, 1971-1980.


Location	Box
151.K.1.6F	19	Newspaper clippings, 1970-1976. 4 expansion folders.
			Clippings relating to staff, board members, shows, and general references to the theatre. Not always in strict chronological order.


Location	Box
151.K.1.7B	20	Newspaper clippings, 1977-1980. 4 expansion folders.


Location	Box
151.K.1.8F	21	Newspaper clippings, 1979-1980. 4 expansion folders.


Location	Box
151.K.1.9B	22	Newspaper clippings, 1980-1985. 5 expansion folders.


Location	Box
151.K.1.10F	23	Photographs of productions, A-L.
			Many include contact sheets and negatives. Mainly 8x10 glossies used for publicity purposes. Organized by title of production.


Location	Box
151.K.1.11B	24	Photographs of productions, M-Y.


Location	Box
151.K.1.12F	25	Photographs, A-V.
			Photographs of staff, directors, choreographers, technical personnel, special events (Gala, annual dinner), and theater. Includes 1 notebook of early productions, mainly unidentified.


Location	Box
151.K.1.13B	26	Press releases, 1970-1985.


		Video tapes:
			In copyright.
			"Wizard of Oz"
			"Sleuth"
			"Chimera" clips. 2 videocassettes (VHS).


		Audio tapes:
			In copyright.
			"Once Upon a Mattress," June 17, 1976.
			"H.M.S. Pinafore," December 19, 1970.
			"Wizard of Oz," December 21, 1979.
			"Sunshine Boys."
			"Garfield Nude," February 4, 1979.
			"Dames at Sea."
			"West Side Story," undated. 1 master audio reel (2 hours, 14 minutes) and 1 user audio file: MP3 (50 MB).
			"South Pacific."
			"Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum."
			"Peter Pan," December 4, 1976.


Location	Box
142.E.17.2F	27	Scrapbooks, 1970-1972. 5 volumes.
			Newspaper clippings, programs, and other ephemera relating to the theatre and its productions.


Location	Box
142.E.17.3B	28	Scrapbooks, 1972-1973. 6 volumes.


Location	Box
142.E.17.4F	29	Notebooks, 1970-1981. 4 volumes.
			Play material by season: programs, callboard notices, posters, reviews.


Location	Box
142.E.17.5B	30	Notebooks, 1981-1985. 3 volumes.


		Posters. 1 volume.


Location	Box
142.D.11.6	31	Mounted oversize photographs of productions.


		Posters.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Community theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Dinner theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Drama in education -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul -- Reviews.; Theater -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul -- Finance.; Theater -- Production and direction -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater -- Public relations -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater and youth -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater audiences -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater management -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theater programs -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.; Theaters -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul -- Employees.

Persons:: Borland, James, author.

Organizations:: Crawford-Livingston Theatre (Saint Paul, Minn.); Minnesota State Arts Board.; St. Paul-Ramsey Arts and Science Council.; United Arts Fund (Saint Paul, Minn.)

Places:: Saint Paul (Minn.) -- Intellectual life.

Document Types:: Photographs.; Playbills.; Posters.; Reviews.; Sound recordings.; Videocassettes.

Occupations:: Actors -- Minnesota -- Saint Paul.

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CHIMERA THEATRE COMPANY (SAINT PAUL, MINN.):

OVERVIEW

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

CATALOG HEADINGS