CIRCLE OF THE WITCH: Finding Aids : MNHS.ORG


	Creator:	Circle of the Witch, creator.
	Title:	Circle of the Witch records.
	Dates:	1974-1980.
	Abstract:	Correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, subject files, historical information, photographs, and files pertaining to plays and workshops produced throughout the Midwest by this socialist feminist theater, which existed in Minneapolis/St. Paul from 1973 to 1978.
	Quantity:	2.75 cubic feet (7 boxes).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

Circle of the Witch (COTW) was a nonprofit theater organization formed on October 31, 1973 by four women who wished to explore the relationship between theater and feminism. A work group of the Twin Cities Women's Union, the theater functioned as both a political and a collective body. Politically it sought a socialist/feminist revolution. Collectively the members worked within a consensual decision-making framework, with all duties and responsibilities of the theater being rotated among the members, and all plays being developed through discussions and workshops. During COTW's existence, it created and produced five full length plays and several short skits. Its plays were intended to be reflections of the working people and were constantly being changed and revised.

COTW also conducted numerous feminist theater workshops. Between the workshops and spring and fall play tours, COTW performed throughout the entire Midwest area. Practicing its belief in bringing theater to the audience, it played in such diverse places as community centers, colleges, food cooperatives, a women's prison, a hockey rink, parks, women's centers, high schools, coffeehouses, and senior citizen centers. COTW also produced a multi-media packet of its play, Time is Passing. It contained a slide presentation, cassette tape, and script, and was marketed to libraries and schools.

During COTW's five-year existence it had twenty members, with an average membership of seven at any given time. In 1978 COTW's members felt the theater was on the brink of a major change, one that would be too big for the theater to sustain in its current form. COTW was therefore disbanded in the fall of 1978.

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The records of Circle of the Witch (COTW) are divided into a number of files that include historical data, notes from business meetings and new play workshops, correspondence, financial records, grant proposals, subject files, photographs and files relating to COTW plays and workshops, and its membership in various theater organizations. They document the history and development of the theater; its operational and financial structure; its interaction with other theaters, including feminist theaters, and with other women's and theater organizations at the local and national levels; and the lives of individual COTW members.

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These documents are organized into the following sections:


		Administrative Records
		Subject Files
		Plays
		Performances and Workshops
		Affiliated Theater Groups
		Photographs

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Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Circle of the Witch Records. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples

Accession Information:

Accession number: 13,064; 16,014; AV1988.159; AV1988.161

Processing Information:

Processed by: Cheryl N. Thies, February 1983; Karen Obermeyer-Kolb, February 2019

Catalog ID number: 990017153550104294

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Location

Box

P1406

1

Historical information, undated and 1974-1978. 2 folders.

Includes COTW flyers and brochures, biographical sketches of the members and an historical sketch of COTW, a 1974 newspaper article describing COTW, a contract with the Minnesota Women's Center, University of Minnesota (Aug. 1978) for deposit of COTW's records, and a chapter entitled "Circle of the Witch" from an undated dissertation (author unknown).

Business meeting and new play workshop notes, 1975-1978. 3 folders.

Consists of combined notes from general business meetings (1975-1978) and new play workshops (Sept. 1976-1978). The general business meeting notes are divided into individual members' statements, general theater business, staff and committee reports, major decision making, introduction of interested women, and criticism/self-criticism. The notes detail such items as new plays, the workshop program, scheduling, booking, funding, COTW's general direction as a theater, and vehicle maintenance. The new play workshop notes document the development of COTW's plays through members' discussions and critiques.

Correspondence, 1974-1979. 4 folders.

Includes COTW stationery; correspondence with songwriters, poets, and playwrights; publicity letters; information requests from other theaters, graduate students, and feminist groups; correspondence concerning COTW's workshops; thank-you letters; and letters from audience members.

Financial records, 1974-1980. 3 folders.

Contains correspondence and forms dealing with COTW's incorporation (1975) and tax exempt status (1976), bookkeeping procedure notes (1977-1978), ledger sheets (1974-1975), cashbook pages (1976-1978), and individual purchase receipts (1979-1980). Categories of expenses and receipts include props, lights, gas and transportation, costumes, publicity, office stuff, and music.

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P1406

2

Financial records, 1974-1980. 2 folders.

Grant proposals, 1974-1979. 7 folders.

Includes sample funding request letters, lists of possible grants, and information on grant proposal writing, as well as proposals to The Enablers, Minneapolis (1975); the Bush (1977), Northwest Area (1977), Dayton-Hudson (1978), and Jerome (19771978) foundations; the Minnesota Historical Society (1978-1979); the Minnesota State Arts Board [MSAB] (1975-1978); the National Education Association (1976-1977); and the Revolutionary Culture Conference (1974). The file also includes approval of the 1977 MSAB proposal and COTW's final report for the MSAB grant (1977).

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Arranged alphabetically, the subject files consist of both COTW's office files and background and resource files.

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P1406

2

Applicants and Interested Women, 1977-1978.

Includes lists of potential members, advertising copy asking women to help create and perform in a multi-racial play (June 1977), and a number of applications.

CETA, 1977.

Concerns COTW's application for and receipt of a CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) arts position, including CETA Arts Job Advisory Committee meeting notices, application forms, and correspondence.

COTW Basis of Unity discussions, 1976-1977.

Meeting notes (Oct. 1976-Nov. 1977) discussing the theater's sense of purpose and its direction.

COTW Community Advisory Board, 1976-1978.

Comprising representatives of various Twin Cities women's and community groups, the board met several times each year to critique and advise COTW. Includes lists of members and announcements of general COTW progress, meetings, and agendas.

COTW newsletters, 1977-1978.

Contains an undated newsletter report, four newsletters, and related original graphics.

COTW members' reunion, June 30, 1979.

Invitation and mailing list.

COTW 1975 self evaluation, 1975-1976.

Contains an open letter (Nov. 10, 1975) from COTW member Sandy Pappas calling for the evaluation; members' notes and comments; and a report (Jan. 31, 1976) combining the members' written responses and formal and informal discussions.

Contributing playwrights: Possible, 1974-1977.

Solicited and unsolicited correspondence.

Feminist drama: Thesis, 1977-1978. 2 folders.

Inquiry letter (March 1977), thesis prospectus (Nov. 1977), and thesis: Feminist Drama: Definition and Critical Analysis, by Janet P. Brown, University of Missouri, Columbia (Aug. 1978).

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P1406

3

Feminist theaters, 1974-1978.

Publicity and letters from numerous theaters nationwide, arranged alphabetically by theater name.

Gold Flower articles, 1974-1978.

Articles on COTW appearing in a Twin Cities publication for women.

Insurance: Automobile, 1974-1976.

Correspondence and policies with various companies.

Literature ordered by COTW, 1977-1978.

Magazine and book publishers' flyers and brochures, each annotated with COTW's date of subscription or purchase.

Minnesota theaters, 1974-1980.

Reviews, news releases, flyers, and correspondence, arranged alphabetically by theater name.

National Socialist Feminist Conference, Yellow Springs, Ohio, July 1975.

Minneapolis feminist groups, including COTW, were in charge of coordinating culture at the conference. Mainly correspondence and notes on the above and on COTW's two conference performances.

Poster distribution chart, undated.

Public relations, undated and 1975-1978. 2 folders.

Correspondence with potential advertisers, publicity releases, and photocopies of COTW's public relations contacts card file.

Recommendations and thank-you letters, 1974-1977.

Mainly from patrons and other Twin Cities artists.

Rental: Office space, 1975-1977.

Contracts, correspondence concerning office rentals, and rental payments.

Resources: Addresses, undated.

Photocopies of COTW's card file.

Script publishing, 1974-1976.

Includes correspondence dealing with copyright (1974), anthologies of women playwrights' works (1976), and women's theater courses (1976).

Staff position: Description, 1978.

Office employee.

The New Theatre Project: Baltimore, Maryland, 1977.

Press releases, flyers, and an invitation to COTW to perform at the project's summer festival.

Twin Cities women's (feminist) groups, 1974-1980.

Brochures, newsletters, flyers, posters, and correspondence, arranged alphabetically by group name.

Twin Cities Women's Union Women's School: Socialist feminism, 1975.

Eight-week course convened by Sandy Pappas. Includes course descriptions and outline, class roster, readings list, and notes on each session.

Women in the theater arts, 1975-1977.

Mainly correspondence and newsletters concerning various women's art cooperatives and organizations. Includes Women in the Performing Arts newsletter (1975-1976).

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Arranged chronologically, the series contains scripts, publicity materials, critiques, evaluations, correspondence, and development and discussion notes for each of the five full length plays COTW created and produced.

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P1406

3

Sexpot Follies, 1974.

Opened March 8, 1974. Includes original and revised scripts.

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P1406

4

Lady in the Corner, 1974-1976. 6 folders.

Opened January 24, 1975. Includes members' (1975-1976) and audience (June 1975) critiques, notes for each performance (1974-1976), prompter's book (1975), and several revised scripts (1975-1976).

Time is Passing, 1976-1980. 9 folders.

Opened April 23, 1976. Includes discussion notes for each performance (June 1976-May 1978), radio performance brochure and script (Oct. 13, 1978), shortened touring scripts (1977), and multi-media packet materials (1978-1980).

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P1406

5

Time is Passing, 1976-1980. 3 folders.

The Changebringers: A Fantasy of Women and Work, 1977-1978. 4 folders.

Opened October 21, 1977. Includes discussion notes for each performance (Oct.-Nov. 1977) and a review (Dec. 1977).

Visions/Revisions: A Play About Land and Birth, 1978. 3 folders.

Opened May 5, 1978. Includes discussion notes (April-May 1978).

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Arranged alphabetically by performance and/or workshop location or host, the series includes correspondence, contracts, COTW's "gig" form for listing details of each performance, and letters dealing with dates, fees, and COTW space and equipment requirements. Also included in this series is material from several commissioned skits and short plays done by COTW. All performance locations are in Minnesota.

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P1406

5

General, 1973-1976.

Contains workshop press releases and booking letters, correspondence with other theaters concerning workshop programs, Sandra Pappas' workshop journal (1973-1974), and workshop warm-up exercises.

Anoka-Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, 1977.

Austin Community College, Austin, 1975-1976.

Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 1974-1976.

Hamline University, St. Paul, 1974-1975.

International Women's Day, Minneapolis, 1975.

Includes reviews and clippings of their performance.

Law Bookings, 1974, 1976.

Covers performances before the National Lawyer's Guild and Minnesota Law School Women's Caucus and Law Forum (1974), and the Lawyer's Guild Midwest Conference (1976).

Macalester College, St. Paul, 1974-1976.

Mankato State University, Mankato, 1974.

Mayday skit, 1977.

Mesabi Range Cooperative Park Association, 1976-1977.

Details COTW's July 1976 two-week workshop entitled "Women Artists' Cooperative Workshop."

Metropolitan Community College, Minneapolis, 1976.

Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, 1974-1976.

Covers a ten-week feminist theater workshop (Oct.-Dec. 1976) taught by COTW members Sandy Pappas and Nancy Sugarman.

Minneapolis Public Schools: Department of Urban Arts and Humanities, 1975.

Details a summer workshop for high school students.

Minnesota Recipients Alliance, Minneapolis, 1975.

A benefit performance.

Minnesota Social Service Association, 1975-1977.

Covers two commissioned skits: "Women in Welfare - Socialization of Women in the Welfare System" (1975), and "Are You Professionally Committed or Are You Burned Out?" (1977), performed at MSSA conferences. Includes script outlines, background notes, contracts, and correspondence.

Minnesota Women's Meeting, St. Cloud, June 2-5, 1977.

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P1406

6

Moorhead State University, Moorhead, 1974-1977.

NOW: Minnesota State Convention, 1974.

National Organization for Women.

St. Benedict (College of), St. Joseph, 1975.

St. Catherine (College of), St. Paul, 1974-1975.

St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, 1974-1975.

St. Louis County Welfare, Duluth, 1976.

Documents a commissioned foster care skit. Includes the script.

St. Mary's College, Winona, 1974.

St. Olaf College, Northfield, 1974-1977.

University of Minnesota, West Bank Union, 1975.

University of Minnesota, Women's Studies, 1976.

Wayzata (Minn.) NOW Chapter, 1974.

YWCA, Minneapolis, 1976-1977.

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Arranged alphabetically by organization name, the series includes correspondence, newsletters, flyers, and mailings.

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P1406

6

City Art Productions, 1978.

Minneapolis Arts Commission, 1974-1977.

Details the development of the commission through the service of COTW member Sandy Pappas on the Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Minneapolis Arts Commission and its subcommittee on structure. Includes agendas, minutes, and notes, as well as COTW recommendations for commission appointments (1975).

Minnesota Association of Community Theaters, 1977-1978.

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, 1976-1977.

Minnesota Theatre Federation, 1977.

Southside Neighborhood Arts Council, Minneapolis, 1974-1977.

Includes a membership directory, bylaws, minutes, and November 18, 1975 "Request for Support" report.

Street Artists Guild, Minneapolis, 1974-1975.

Contains correspondence with the San Francisco Guild (1974), planning session minutes (1975), and a 1975 report to the Minneapolis Arts Commission.

Twin Cities Metro Arts Alliance, 1975-1977.

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Location

Box

Shelf S.1.F

7

Sexpot Follies, 1974. 7 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches and smaller and 78 photographs: negative, color; film width 35 mm.

Lady in the Corner, 1976. 10 photographs: color and black and white; 8 x 10 inches and smaller and 75 slides: color; 2 x 2 inches.

Identification sheet included for slides.

Time is Passing, 1977. 45 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches and smaller, 36 images on 1 sheets: black and white; sheet 8 x 10 inches, 64 photographs: negative, black and white; film width 35 mm, and 1 photograph: negative, black and white; 4 x 5 inches.

The Changebringers, 1977. 2 photographs: black and white; 8 x 10 inches and 82 images on 3 sheets; black and white; sheet 8 x 10 inches.

Visions/Revisions: A Play About Land and Birth, 1978. 15 photographs: black and white; 5 x 7 inches and smaller and 20 photographs: negative, black and white; film width 35 mm.

Unidentified, approximately 1974-1980. 190 photographs: negative, black and white; film width 35 mm.

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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:: Feminist theater -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Performing arts -- Finance.; Women and socialism.; Feminism.; Theater -- Minnesota -- Minneapolis.; Theater -- Political aspects.; Women in the theater.

Persons:: Pappas, Sandra.

Organizations:: Minneapolis Arts Commission (Minn.).; Southside Neighborhood Arts Council (Minneapolis, Minn.).; Twin Cities Women's Union.

Document Types:: Brochures.; Correspondence.; Newsletters.; Photographs.; Scripts.

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CIRCLE OF THE WITCH:

OVERVIEW

HISTORICAL NOTE

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

ARRANGEMENT

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS

SUBJECT FILES

PLAYS

PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS

AFFILIATED THEATER GROUPS

PHOTOGRAPHS

CATALOG HEADINGS