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Lowell and Nancy Swortzell Theatre Arts Collection 1805, 1903, 1912-2011

MSS-220

Biographical Note

Lowell Swortzell Biographical Note

Lowell Swortzell, award-winning theatre for youth university professor and administrator, actor, mentor, author, stage manager, director, producer, historian and playwright, was born in Washington, DC in 1930. During his youth he saw touring productions of Clare Tree Major's Children's Theatre and saved the money he earned on his paper route to pay for trips to New York City and to the National Theatre in Washington, DC to see productions. He learned about toy theatres and took creative drama lessons from visiting teachers, such as Anne Thurman, at the Washington Children's Museum. He wrote and directed his senior class play, called Outlaw Days, a satire of Hollywood westerns. He also acted in plays during his teen years at the Mount Vernon Players in Washington, DC. During the summer he worked at the Crossroad's Theatre in Virginia as an actor, director, producer and business manager.

He earned his BA in 1952 and his MA in 1954 in English Literature from George Washington University. Upon graduation he decided to see the world and joined the United States Army and was stationed in Germany as a company clerk for two years.

When he was discharged, he entered the PhD program in Theatre at Yale University. From 1956 to 1959, he served as assistant to John Gassner and A. M. Nagler and taught beginning playwriting. Because of his interest in playwriting for young audiences, and his desire to get additional training in educational theatre, Lowell decided to leave Yale in 1959 before finishing his degree.

Nancy Swortzell Biographical Note

Nancy Swortzell, award-winning university professor and administrator, producer, actress, director, author, mentor, philanthropist, dramaturg, set and lighting designer, stage manager, workshop leader, D.I.E. (Drama-in-Education) and T.I.E. (Theatre-in-Education) specialist, gourmet chef and dachshund-lover, was born Nancy Ellen Foell in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 6, 1929. She attended the Albany Academy for Girls, where she acted in plays and was the Director of the Drama Club. She also participated in plays at the community theatre.

She received a BS in Theatre Arts from Skidmore College in 1951; a MA in Comparative Literature from Columbia University in 1954; and a MFA in Directing and Theatre History from Yale University in 1959. Nancy credited Yale's academic yet conservatory learning environment as the inspiration and basis for many of her visionary programs.

Lowell and Nancy Swortzell Biographical Note

Nancy and Lowell were fellow graduate students at Yale. They had their first date following a production of The Cherry Orchard, where Nancy created a wig for the actor Lowell. They were married in the Yale Chapel on Old Campus in New Haven on September 14, 1959. The day after, they moved to Boston to teach at Tufts University. Nancy was a set designer, technical theatre teacher, lighting designer and director. Lowell taught theatre courses, directed and wrote plays. It was here that Nancy directed her first play by Lowell, Our American Cousin.

After a year, they moved back to New York City so Lowell could finish his doctorate at New York University. Nancy accepted a theatre professorship at Douglass College, the woman's division of Rutgers University in New Jersey. It was here that she began her full-time theatrical work with children. She instituted and became the Director of the Children's Summer Theatre program from 1961 to 1965 and served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre. Each summer they would perform several of Lowell's plays and he would serve as assistant stage director. This unique summer youth theatre conservatory was documented in a New York Times full-page article.

During the year, Lowell taught and directed at Hofstra College and New York University. He received his PhD in Creative Arts from New York University in 1963. He convinced Nancy that it was her turn to get her doctorate. While teaching at Rutgers, she began commuting to Yale and received her DFA in Directing and Theatre History in 1964, the first woman to graduate with this degree from the Yale Drama School.

In 1965 the Swortzells accepted positions at the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Nancy was the Director of the Children's Theatre Institute; Lowell was the Head of the Children's Theatre Program. During their first year, they were invited to consult for a week at New York University to explore the feasibility for a children's theatre program in the School of Education. At week's end they were asked to write a proposal for a NYU Program in Creative Dramatics and Children's Theatre. Several weeks after submitting this document, they received a phone call asking them to implement their plan. Thus began the Educational Theatre program at New York University in fall 1966.

The Program was designed to train educator-artists, playwrights, directors, producers and actors—many of whom were experiencing their first exposure to educational theatre. Classes taught solely by Nancy were titled Acting I, Directing I, Junior Repertory, Styles of Acting and Directing, Theatre-in-Education Practices, and Theory of Creative Dramatics. She also directed staged readings and fully mounted plays. Lowell taught American Drama and Theatre I and II, American Musical Theatre: Background and Analysis, American Musical Theatre: Stephen Sondheim, Dissertation Proposal Seminar, Drama Appreciation, Drama with and for Adolescents, Independent Studies, Methods and Materials of Research in Educational Theatre, Playwriting (Beginning Playwriting, Advanced Playwriting, Playwriting for Children and Youth) and Theatre of Eugene O'Neill. Lowell and Nancy shared heading the department and alternated teaching other courses.

Nancy introduced her students to community involvement by supervising NYU student-taught K-12 drama workshops in New York City public schools and DIE workshops following major productions at the NYU Theatres. She edited the student-written comprehensive teacher packets to extend drama activities into the classrooms. Both programs included a special emphasis on role playing, decision making, examination of themes and language development.

Nancy designed the NYU Summer Study Abroad Program, which she supervised from 1974 until 2003– for 30 years. She selected master teachers and theatre artists in England and Ireland, who provided "hands on" residencies at TIE companies, such as the Graffiti Theatre in Cork, Ireland and the Greenwich Young People's Theatre (GYPT) in England, demonstrations in process drama and lectures on drama in schools curricula. For two of the students, Lynda Zimmerman and Jim Mirrione, it was the impetus for creating the Creative Arts Team, a professional educational theatre company in 1974. Nancy was this company's mentor while it was in residence at NYU and continued to serve on its Advisory Council when it moved to the City University of New York in 2004.

Nancy was instrumental in introducing and promoting to Americans the concepts and techniques of many of the teachers she observed abroad. These practitioners, who often were in residence at NYU in New York City, include Gavin Bolton, Dorothy Heathcote, John Hodgson, Cecily O'Neill, Brian Way, Tony Jackson and Emelie FitzGibbon. She also wrote reviews of pedagogy books; book forwards; and articles for American and international periodicals and was asked to referee Australian, Irish and British journals.

In addition to teaching and overseeing as many as fifteen PhD dissertations, Lowell wrote 18 plays on subjects as varied as the young Eugene O'Neill to different international interpretations of the Cinderella story. He edited themed play anthologies for young audiences and convinced book distributors, such as the Stage and Screen Book Club, to promote them so they reached a much wider audience than the children's theatre field. He also wrote award-winning significant reference books and numerous articles in leading theatre, speech, children's literature, and English teaching journals. Reviews of his books appeared in the New York Times Book Review section.

Lowell was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre in 1992. He received the following awards from AATE (American Alliance for Theatre & Education) for his publications: Distinguished Book Awards for The Theatre of Aurand Harris: His Career, His Theories, His Plays in 1997 and for the International Guide to Children's Theatre & Educational Theatre in 1990.

In 1998, Lowell founded the New Plays for Young Audiences play reading series at NYU, which supported week long play development by professionals for 2-3 plays at the landmark Provincetown Playhouse each June. In addition to administering the program, Lowell taught a class, where students interacted with the professional playwriting process. He received a Lin Wright Special Recognition Award from AATE in 2001 for creating this program. His mentorship of playwrights Laurie Brooks and Y York continued beyond this summer program. After Lowell passed in 2004, Nancy took over managing this series, selecting the plays and nurturing playwrights.

Nancy also championed the development of new plays for young audiences by producing and/or directing scripts by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright John Patrick Shanley, Aurand Harris, Robert Landy, Lowell Swortzell and Laurie Brooks. Both she and Lowell were invited to serve as mentors for playwrights at New Visions/New Voices at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC and at the Bonderman National Playwriting for Youth National Festival and Symposium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Recognition of their accomplishments led to invitations to lead workshops abroad. The National Theatre of Taiwan invited them in 1992 to devise a T.I.E. program on substance abuse and to lecture on the process. In August 1993, the Swortzells led T.I.E. and D.I.E. workshops with students and professional actors in Seoul, Korea at the invitation of ASSITEJ Korea.

Nancy and Lowell retired from New York University in 2002, although both continued to teach at least one class long afterward. The Lowell S. and Nancy Swortzell Graduate Scholarship Fund for Educational Theatre at NYU was instituted upon their retirement.

The Swortzell's 1839-built townhouse at 76 Washington Place near Washington Square served as a retreat for hungry students, visiting NYU alumni, international scholars, playwrights and theatre for youth and former Yale colleagues. Every school year culminated with a graduation party; every holiday with huge gatherings for friends—usually with a very large English trifle for dessert.

Lowell passed away in 2004; Nancy in 2011. Both received these prestigious recognitions that document their impact on the field:

The Swortzells were always committed to documenting the history of theatre for youth and they saved every scrap of paper—every letter, photo and class note—and started donating them to the Child Drama Collection so that their scholarship, innovative artistic and teaching methods could be shared by scholars. This was the largest single donation of books and manuscripts to the Child Drama Collection.

Scope and Content Note

The Lowell and Nancy Swortzell Theatre Arts Collection includes materials that document the Swortzells' individual and joint university teaching and administrative careers; their childhood and family; their college education; their travels; their publications; their participation in theatre organizations and conferences; and the resources they used to support all of these endeavors. See individual Sub-Series descriptions for a list of types of materials included.

The Swortzell Collection is divided into six major areas as follows: Lowell's Papers (Series I and II), Nancy's Papers (Series III), Nancy and Lowell joint papers (Series IV and V), the Educational Theatre Program at New York University Records (Series VI), Resource materials collected by the Swortzells (Series VII through IX), Oversized (Series X) and Restricted (Series XI). Series I through XI have multiple subseries. Series are arranged chronologically, unless noted.

Materials in Series I through VI date from 1902-2011, with bulk dates of 1942-2006. There are some materials with copyrights prior to 1902 in the resource series.

Series I: Lowell's Personal Papers (Boxes 1-32): This series, 1918-2005, documents Lowell's childhood, family, education, conference participation, academic career and personal note taking. See Series II: Lowell's Writings for materials on Lowell's publications.

Sub-Series A: Biographical (Boxes 1-5): This Sub-Series, 1918-2005, documents Lowell's childhood, family history, his community theatre work, his awards, his membership in organizations, non-academic activities, and his annual schedules. Overviews of his career are provided through vita and obituaries. The earliest item is a 1918 article with Lowell's father's name. Of note are annotated scripts for plays in which he acted, directed or stage managed at the Crossroads Theatre in Bailey's Crossroads, Virginia during summer months and at the Mount Vernon Players in Washington, DC; and information about his Fulbright Scholar Award in academic year 1995-1996 in Australia. Bulk dates are 1942-1965, 1990-2005.

Included are: photographs, obituaries, personal journals, play programs, promptbooks, personal memorabilia, appointment books, books with inscriptions to Lowell, production materials, his Army discharge papers, awards, curricula vita, correspondence, society membership records, published play listings, research materials, handwritten notes and grant applications.

Sub-Series B: Education (Boxes 6-10): This Sub-Series, 1935-1964, documents Lowell's elementary through college education. Of note are programs from his high school plays, which include Outlaw Days, written and directed by Lowell for performance at his high school in his senior year.

Included are: exams, papers written for classes, report cards, handwritten and typed class notes, research, programs, commencement programs, diplomas, yearbooks, class handouts, class syllabi, awards and typescripts of his dissertation.

Sub-Series C: Teaching (Box 11): This Sub-Series, 1958-1966, documents Lowell's teaching prior to 1966, when he and Nancy established the Educational Theatre Program at New York University (NYU). These materials are from Hofstra University, Tufts University, Yale University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For additional teaching materials, see Series VI, Educational Theatre Program, New York University, Sub-Series M: Classes Taught by Lowell and Sub-Series O: Classes Taught by Either Lowell or Nancy. Of note are playscripts and programs for shows that Lowell directed and wrote during Tufts University's Arena Theatre 1960 Summer Season.

Included are: programs, fliers, season brochures, syllabi, exams, assignments written by students, playscripts—some with handwritten notes and newspaper articles.

Sub-Series D: Annual Professional Activities Reports (Box 12): This Sub-Series, 1976-2001, documents Lowell's annual accomplishments via his yearly self-evaluations at New York University.

Included are: article titles, photographs, programs, research descriptions and book and play annotations, programs, fliers, conference programs, playscripts, and correspondence.

Sub-Series E: Conferences (Boxes 13-17): This Sub-Series, 1959-2002, documents conferences that Lowell participated in as an attendee, presenter, panelist, adjudicator, committee member, invitee, respondent, keynote speaker, play reviewer, workshop leader, session chair, mentor, interviewer, or speaker. These materials are from ASSITEJ (the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People) Congresses; a Canadian Child and Youth Drama Association National Conference; a children's theatre conferences in Italy; ATA (American Theatre Association), CTAA (Children's Theatre Association of America), and AATE (American Alliance for Theatre & Education) conferences; Eugene O'Neill conferences at Suffolk University; an IDEA during Fulbright; and TYA/USA One Theatre World. See also Series IV, Sub-Series C: Conferences for materials about conferences attended by both Lowell and Nancy.

Included are: conference schedules, handouts, programs, registration packets, notes, Lowell's speeches, speeches presented by other attendees, and correspondence.

Sub-Series F: Notes (Boxes 18-19): This Sub-Series, majority undated, includes handwritten notes taken during speeches and sessions at conferences and at theatre performances; and to record his thoughts on a particular subject. Of note are writings on musical theatre, play, Eugene O'Neill's play Camino Real, storytelling and on people, such as Ruth Draper, Gavin Bolton, Brian Way, and Athol Fugard. Bulk dates are 1958-1998.

Sub-Series G: Books with Annotations (Boxes 20-26): This Sub-Series consists of published books and journals with Lowell's underlining, margin notes or handwritten inserted notes. Of note are annotations on Stephen Sondheim, musical theatre, theatre history, playwriting and Shakespeare.

Included are: books, playscripts, play anthologies, textbooks, and academic journals. They are arranged alphabetically by book or journal title. The publications copyrights range from 1912-1992.

Sub-Series H: Playscripts with Production Notes (Boxes 27-29): This Sub-Series documents Lowell's participation in productions. These playscripts are in a separate series, because there is no documentation of where and when these plays were performed. The underlining, blocking, and production notes are in Lowell's handwriting and fall into the following categories: lighting script, promptbook, actor's notes, stage manager's notes and director's notes. They are arranged alphabetically by play title. Play copyrights range from 1844-1949.

Sub-Series I: Photographs (Boxes 30-31): This Sub-Series, 1903-2000 with .5 linear feet undated, pictorially document Lowell's childhood, family, grades 6-9 classes, non-NYU play productions, vacations, friends and colleagues, Army life, shows directed by Lowell, and Lowell's book signings. Of note are photographs of Lowell's induction into the American Theatre College of Fellows, productions of The Contrast and Everyman directed by Lowell at Hofstra University in 1960 with cast member Madeline Kahn, and production shots of plays that Lowell was in as a teenager.

Included are: black and white and color photographs; negatives; proof sheets; and slides. They are arranged chronologically by date; undated are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Sub-Series J: Scrapbook (Box 32): This Sub-Series, 1950-1960, contains a 3-ring binder scrapbook titled, "Evidence of Previous Experiences in the Arts – Lowell Swortzell, (1950–1960)."

Included in the scrapbook are production photographs, newspaper articles, play programs, publicity fliers and brochures, press releases, and correspondence.

Series II: Lowell's Writings (Boxes 33-93): This series, 1950-2004, documents Lowell's published and unpublished writings in the following formats: journal and periodical articles, book chapters and forwards, book reviews, speeches, short stories, conference and academic papers, playscripts, and books.

Sub-Series A: Articles, Chapters, Speeches and Papers (Boxes 33-37): This Sub-Series, 1953-2004 with .5 linear feet undated, documents Lowell's writing process for his journal and periodical articles, book chapters and forwards, play reviews, speeches and papers delivered at conferences and other public events. The majority have been published. Subject matter includes: children's theatre as an art form, playwriting for young audiences, the history of children's theatre, puppetry, and Eugene O'Neill. For more information about the speeches and papers delivered at conferences, see Series I, Sub-Series E: Conferences. Bulk dates are 1965-1969 and 1976-2004.

Included are: handwritten notes; research; correspondence; typescript and/or handwritten copies of speeches, journal articles, book reviews, short stories, book forwards, play reviews, and academic papers; and correspondence.

Sub-Series B: Plays (Boxes 38-57): This Sub-Series, 1958-2002, documents Lowell's writing process for his plays and some of their productions. They are arranged alphabetically by play title and then chronological within each title. All the plays, except for The Contrast, A Trip to Chinatown and Our American Cousin were written for young audiences; some are unpublished. Note that Nancy Swortzell continued to work on revising Young Eugene, Somersault and the Sea and Who Is Sally Ann Thunder and Whirlwind Crockett? after Lowell's death. Her revisions and notes are included with Lowell's work on the play in this series. Of note is Box 38, which has play publisher catalogues with descriptions of Lowell's plays; these are arranged chronologically from 1984-2003.

For more information about the production of Young Eugene, see Series IV, Sub-Series C: Conferences for a presentation of scenes from Young Eugene and Ah Wilderness at the Historical Connections/International conference at the National Theatre in London in July 2004.

Included are: typescripts with revisions, correspondence, programs, research, handwritten notes, production photographs and slides, play publisher catalogues, student and teacher responses, reviews, published playscripts, musical scores, study guides, promptbooks, galley copies, and permission contracts.

Sub-Series C: Books (Boxes 58-93): This Sub-Series, 1950-2003, documents Lowell's writing process for his books. The series is arranged alphabetically by book title. Of note are Boxes 58-59, which contain materials and ideas for books that were never published. Included are correspondence with possible publishers, permission forms, contracts, and book outlines for a Delacorte Anthology of Plays for Young Readers and the Art of Children's Theatre. Also of note are 10 boxes (Boxes 81-90) of materials relating to Lowell's The Theatre of Aurand Harris, which include Harris correspondence, photos, production materials, playscripts, and biographical materials. Lastly of note is Lowell's research for the International Guide to Children's Theatre and Educational Theatre (Boxes 72-80), which contain primary source materials sent to Lowell by practitioners and scholars throughout the world.

Included are: prospectuses, publishing guidelines, typescript copies of plays included in anthologies, book reviews, an uncorrected proof copy, correspondence, research and handwritten notes, book outlines, typescripts with revisions, publicity fliers, biographical notes, newspaper and periodical articles, interview transcripts, photographs, programs, greeting cards, obituaries, copyright registration form, publishing contracts, illustration descriptions, press releases, book jackets, book awards, theatre brochures, and phonographic recordings.

Series III: Nancy's Personal Papers (Boxes 94-116): This series documents Nancy's childhood, family, education, conference participation, publications, plays directed, and academic career.

Sub-Series A: Biographical (Boxes 94-96): This Sub-Series, 1915-2006, documents Nancy's childhood, family history, retirement, professional history and awards. Of note are: the New Connections 1999 book draft sent to Nancy for her response as a consultant; an article about her retirement; and her sabbatical leave requests. Bulk dates are: 1960-1966, 1992-1993, and 1998-1999.

Included are: newspaper reviews, newspaper articles about Nancy, business cards, correspondence, programs, inscribed books, a certificate of program attendance, her parents' wedding announcement, photographs, Yale Alumni Newsletters, daily planners, curriculum vita, and awards.

Sub-Series B: Education (Boxes 97-98): This Sub-Series, 1946-1964 documents Nancy's elementary through college education.

Included are: diplomas, commencement programs, handwritten and typescript notes, a thesis production paper, report cards, programs, newspaper articles, a Skidmore College yearbook, handwritten class notes, papers written for classes, and correspondence regarding her dissertation. See call number SWOPX-219 for her dissertation.

Sub-Series C: Teaching (Box 99): This Sub-Series, 1960-1966, documents Nancy's teaching prior to 1966, when Lowell and she established the Educational Theatre Program at New York University (NYU). These materials are from Wheaton College and Douglass College (Rutgers College), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For additional teaching materials, see Series VI, Educational Theatre Program, New York University, Sub-Series N: Classes Taught by Nancy and Sub-Series O: Classes Taught by Either Lowell or Nancy.

Included are: handwritten class notes, correspondence, syllabi, handwritten lesson plans, and a photograph in a handmade frame of her creative drama class with children at Rutgers University.

Sub-Series D: Annual Professional Activities Reports (Box 100): This Sub-Series, 1982-1999, documents Nancy's annual accomplishments via her yearly self-evaluations at New York University.

Included are: article titles, programs, research descriptions, writings, and copies of awards. Bulk dates are 1990-1999.

Sub-Series E: Conferences (Box 101): This Sub-Series, 1965-2006, documents conferences that Nancy participated in as a panelist, planning committee member, workshop leader, speaker, play reader, attendee, presenter, mentor, or director.

Included are: conference schedules, handouts, programs, handwritten notes, speech notes, play typescripts, and correspondence. Bulk dates are 1965-1966, 1990-1995, and 2001-2006.

Sub-Series F: Writings (Boxes 102-103): This Sub-Series, 1961-2001, documents Nancy's published and unpublished writings in the following formats: journal and periodical articles, book chapters and forwards, book reviews, speeches, teacher resource guides, and reports. Of note is correspondence with publishers, co-authors and colleagues, which shows her relationships with her colleagues internationally.

Included are: typescript and/or handwritten copies of speeches, reports, journal articles, book reviews, and book forwards; correspondence; teacher resource guides; and research notes. Bulk dates are: 1967-1969 and 1989-1994.

Sub-Series G: Plays Directed by Nancy (Boxes 104-109): This Sub-Series, 1959-2004, documents plays written by playwrights other than Lowell Swortzell that were directed by Nancy at New York University and one show at Tufts University. For photographs of productions directed by Nancy, see Series III, Sub-Series I: Photographs for non-New York University productions and Series VI, Sub-Series R for New York University productions. For Lowell's plays directed by Nancy, see Series IV, Sub-Series D. Of note are directorial and production materials from multiple stagings of Selkie by Laurie Brooks, one of which was a development at New Visions/New Voices at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC in 1995. Bulk dates are 1969-2001.

Included are: programs, director's promptbooks, research and handwritten notes, teacher resource guides, play typescripts, publicity fliers and postcards, study guides, design renderings, budgets, rehearsal and production schedules, newspaper articles and reviews, handwritten rehearsal notes, actors' resumes, audition forms, light and sound cue sheets, posters, audition notices, contact sheets, cast lists, ground plans, student response forms, a stage manager's promptbook, correspondence, and musical scores.

Sub-Series H: Books with Annotations (Boxes 110-113): This Sub-Series, consists of published books and journals with Nancy's underlining, margin notes or handwritten inserted papers. Of note are annotations on Acting, Shakespeare, Lighting, German Theatre, Theatre History, and Masks.

Included are: books, playscripts, play anthologies, textbooks, and academic journals. They are arranged alphabetically by book or journal title. The publications copyrights range from 1929-1985.

Sub-Series I: Photographs (Boxes 114-115): This Sub-Series, 1947-1996 with .5 linear feet undated, pictorially documents Nancy's childhood, education (graduation photographs), friends, family, colleagues, non-New York University shows directed, shows in which she was an actress, stage manager or producer, and dogs owned. Of note are photographs from Cain Park Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1950s, where Nancy got her first introduction to children's theatre. Also of note are photographs from the Robin Hood Theatre in Arden, Delaware from summer 1947, where she acted with Anthony Perkins and Barbara Bel Geddes.

Included are: black and white and color photographs; negatives; proof sheets; and slides. They are arranged chronologically by date; undated are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Sub-Series J: Scrapbook (Boxes 116): This Sub-Series contains a small photo scrapbook with Nancy's birth announcement and black and white and a few color photographs of Nancy from birth through early adolescence. Some photographs are with her parents.

Series IV: Swortzell Duo Personal Papers (Boxes 117-150): This series documents Lowell and Nancy's joint projects, writings, conference participation, Lowell's plays directed by Nancy, their marriage, dogs, vacations and houses. See also Series VI: Educational Theatre Program, New York University for materials regarding their joint founding, teaching, and administration of this program.

Sub-Series A: Biographical (Boxes 117-120): This Sub-Series, 1957-2005, documents Lowell and Nancy's joint personal and professional lives through materials describing their vacations; Yale University years; summer programs at Tufts University, Rutgers University and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; the Experiment in International Student European Tours; joint retirement celebrations; and biographical and scholarly materials by and about friends and colleagues. Of note is a sketch of the Swortzell's house at 76 Washington Place and materials about a tour to the Soviet Union led by Miriam Morton in 1974, which includes the transcript of an interview with Zinovy Korogodsky, Artistic Director of the Leningrad Theatre of Young Spectators. Bulk dates are 1957-1969, 1973-1983, and 1992-2004.

Included are: a dissertation dedication; postcards; a wedding announcement; obituaries; theatre and vacation brochures; Yale School Bulletins; their marriage license; play programs, some with handwritten notes; play publicity fliers; a scrapbook; newspaper, newsletter and journal articles; class brochures and applications; a television show typescript; vacation itineraries; an artist's sketch; a handwritten retirement speech; and their retirement celebration invitation, RSVP emails and notes, and program.

Sub-Series B: Writings (Boxes 121-122): This Sub-Series, 1979-1993—most undated, documents Nancy and Lowell jointly written articles, a book prospectus, and a book never published. The articles' subjects are Soviet children's theatre, the characteristics of TIE and DIE, and theatre personalities, the latter written for the Continuum Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Theatre. The book prospectus is titled "Theatre in Education: Concepts and Practices for Theatre in Education in Schools and Communities." The unpublished book is titled, "The Art of Children's Theatre: The History, Philosophy, Materials and Methods for Creating Theatre for Children."

Included are: handwritten notes, research, a newsletter to friends, typescripts with revisions of articles and book chapters.

Sub-Series C: Conferences (Boxes 123-130): This Sub-Series, 1960-2005, documents conferences that both Lowell and Nancy participated in as attendees, advisors, mentors, speakers, presenters, hosts, panelists, workshop leaders, USA delegates, adjudicators, panel moderators, keynote speakers or session chairs. Bulk dates are 1966-2005. Of note are:

Included are: speeches, some with revisions; programs brochures; correspondence; newsletters; handwritten notes taken during conferences; papers presented; theatre brochures; itineraries; conference proceedings; other people's conference papers; workshop plans; handwritten notes; and registration packets and applications.

Sub-Series D: Lowell's Plays Directed by Nancy (Boxes 131-133): This Sub-Series, 1960-2003, documents Nancy's directing style and the subsequent performances of plays written by Lowell and directed by Nancy. The majority of these plays were directed at NYU. Some were directed at Rutgers (1962), Tufts University (1960), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1966).

Included are: play programs; newspaper articles, advertisements and reviews; press releases; correspondence; handwritten notes; director and stage manager's promptbooks; rehearsal schedules; budgets; warm-up activities; cast and crew contact sheets; children's audience response letters; sound cue sheets; costume research and designs; ground plans; teacher resource guides; audition forms; and actor's headshots.

Sub-Series E: Books with Annotations (Boxes 134-136): This Sub-Series consists of published books and journals with both Lowell and Nancy's underlinings, margin notes or handwritten inserted papers. Included are books on theatre history and production, and on playwriting.

Included are books, play anthologies, textbooks, and academic journals. They are arranged alphabetically by book or journal title. The publications copyrights range from 1932-1965.

Sub-Series F: Photographs (Boxes 137-142): This Sub-Series, 1959-2004, with .75 linear feet undated, pictorially documents events in the Swortzell's lives, joint projects and productions, vacations, conferences, friends, colleagues, their houses and their dogs. Of note are photos of their wedding, their New York house at 76 Washington Place, ASSITEJ Congresses, Bonderman Playwriting Symposium meetings, Lowell's plays directed by Nancy at Rutgers from 1961-1963, plays at Tufts University in 1960, their trip to China to attend the Eugene O'Neill Conference, theatre workshops in Taipei, Taiwan in 1992, and workshops for ASSITEJ Korea in Seoul in 1993. Also of note are photographs of The Cherry Orchard at Yale University, circa 1958, a play that brought the Swortzells together romantically for the first time, photographs taken at their retirement celebration in 2002 and at the Children's Theatre Foundation Medallion Luncheon in 2003.

Included are: black and white and color photographs; negatives; proof sheets; and slides. They are arranged chronologically by date; undated are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Sub-Series G: Scrapbooks (Boxes 143-149): This Sub-Series, 1961-1995, contains scrapbooks with the following titles:

Included in these scrapbooks are: newspaper reviews, advertisements, photographs and articles; programs; publicity brochures and fliers; correspondence; class, backstage, and production photographs; posters; budgets; applications; press releases; thank you letters to teachers; periodical articles; tickets; tourist brochures and postcards.

Sub-Series H: Moving Images (Box 150): This Sub-Series, 1991-2003, includes VHS video recordings on the following topics: Lowell's acceptance speech for the Campton Bell Lifetime Achievement Award; New York University's Swortzell Retirement Tribute; WOW! Women of Wonder cast party and tour of 76 Washington Place; Lowell's lecture discussion on Stephen Sondheim's Assassins; and New York University Alumni and Professors tributes to Lowell and Nancy Swortzell.

Series V: Correspondence (Boxes 151-161): This series includes correspondence from and to the Swortzells that document their personal relationships with colleagues, friends, family, and New York University alumni; their business relationships with publishers, organizations' officers, playwrights, scholars, and visiting professors; and the rapport between Nancy and Lowell.

Sub-Series A: Correspondence to Swortzells (Boxes 151-156): This Sub-Series, 1951-2010, contains business and personal correspondence sent to the Swortzells. Of note are multiple letters from managing director Lynda Zimmerman; university professors John Tolch, Virginia Koste, Jed Davis, Agnes Haaga, Geraldine Siks, Lin Wright, Susan Pearson-Davis, and Barbara Salisbury Wills; artistic directors Jeff Church and John Kauffman; playwrights Wendy Kesselman, Joanna Kraus, David Wood, Linda Daugherty, Suzan Zeder, Flora Atkin, Jonathan Levy, Linda Daugherty, James Still, and Laurie Brooks; British and Irish theatre for youth specialists Gavin Bolton, Jonathan Neelands, Tony Jackson, John Hodgson, Cecily O'Neill, and Dorothy Heathcote; and American specialists Kim Wheetley, Elizabeth Flory Kelly, and Dorothy Webb. The letters are arranged chronically by year. There are separate folders for Christmas cards for the years 1991-2009.

Included are: handwritten and typed letters and notes, Christmas cards, postcards, greeting cards and thank you notes.

Sub-Series B: Correspondence between Lowell and Nancy (Box 157): This Sub-Series, 1960-2004, documents the rapport and business relationship between the Swortzells. Of note are birthday cards, anniversary cards and correspondence sent while Nancy was administering the NYU Study Abroad Program overseas. Bulk dates are 1974 and 1980-1999.

Included are: handwritten and typed letters and notes, postcards, and greeting cards.

Sub-Series C: Correspondence between Nancy and Lowell and Lowell's Mother (Box 158): This Sub-Series, 1948-1982, documents the Swortzells relationship with Lowell's mother, Ora Smith. The majority of the letters were sent from 1955-1956 when Lowell was in the Army and stationed in Europe; they discuss his daily duties and his European travel. Also of note are letters sent to Lowell's mother by the Swortzells while they were on various vacations abroad.

Included are: handwritten and typed letters, postcards, and greeting cards.

Sub-Series D: Correspondence between the Swortzells and Notable People (Box 159): This Sub-Series, 1958-2010, contains correspondence from friends and former students, some of whom were also business associates. Most have had notable careers in educational theatre. Included are letters from: Margaret Foell, Nancy's mother; Orlin Corey, publisher; Aurand Harris, playwright; Coleman A. Jennings, professor; Nellie McCaslin, NYU professor; Sara Spencer, publisher; Natalia Sats, artistic director, Moscow, Russia; David van Fossen, composer; John Patrick Shanley, Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright; George Shail, Russian children's theatre scholar; and Winifred Ward, professor, Northwestern University. Materials are arranged alphabetically by the last name, then chronologically within each name. Of note are: long letters from Lowell's childhood friend and musical collaborator David van Fossen; letters from John Patrick Shanley regarding home repairs; personal and business letters from Orlin Corey; and personal notes from former doctoral student Coleman Jennings.

Included are: handwritten and typed letters and notes, postcards, and greeting cards.

Sub-Series E: Condolence Notes (Boxes 160-161): This Sub-Series, 2004, includes handwritten letters, emails, greeting cards, and notes that were sent to Nancy after Lowell's death on August 12, 2004.

Series VI: Educational Theatre Program, New York University (Boxes 162-257): This series, 1921-2011, describes the creation of the Educational Theatre Program at New York University in 1966 by Lowell and Nancy Swortzell, and the department's growth under the administration of the Swortzells.

Sub-Series A: Program History (Boxes 162-164): This Sub-Series, 1921-2007, provides a brief history and overview of the Educational Theatre Program. There are several items that describe the program before 1966, when it was known as the Department of Dramatic Arts. Of note is "New York University Program in Creative Dramatics and Children's Theatre," the Swortzell's initial program proposal, their job offer and acceptance letters, and publicity about the new program. Also of note are: conference planning for an AATE (American Alliance for Theatre and Education) mini-conference titled, "Exploring the Curriculum Through Drama"; Lowell's Celebration/Memorial registration packet; Provincetown Playhouse renovation articles and recommendations; and audition fliers, programs and publicity for the storytelling series. For New York University posters, see Series X, Sub-Series G: New York University Productions and Events. Bulk dates are: 1966-1967; 1980-1984; and 1988-2007.

Included are: a Program history; letterhead; schedules; program brochures and booklet; job announcements and descriptions; press releases; publicity packets; an award certificate; programs; newspaper and newsletter articles; guest workshops, residency, and lecture fliers; ground plans; a program information packet; graduate and undergraduate brochures; mission statements; invitations to professor's memorials; a memorial program script; student event fliers; student surveys; class presentation and project fliers; correspondence; invitations to events; staged reading fliers; and production schedules.

Sub-Series B: Newsletters (Boxes 165): This Sub-Series, 1967-2004, contains Program in Education Theatre Newsletters (bulk dates 1993-2004) and School of Education Newsletters (bulk dates 1967 and 1995-2003). Articles in these publications describe program news and events, audition notices, upcoming productions, and student and faculty updates. Bulk dates: 1993-2004 for Program in Educational Theatre Newsletter. School of Education Newsletter 1967, 1995-2003.

Sub-Series C: Alumni (Boxes 166): This Sub-Series, 1978-2003, contains information saved by the Swortzell that describe activities of alumni after they left New York University. Of note are the first two items in the box: 1999 alumni surveys; and a collection of short plays written by students. The remainder of the box contains folders arranged alphabetically by the last name of the alumnus. Bulk dates are 1991-2001. Also see Sub-Series B: Newsletters for articles about alumni.

Included are: alumni surveys, newspaper and journal articles, play typescripts, correspondence, brochures, and programs.

Sub-Series D: Administrative Files (Boxes 167-169): This Sub-Series, 1967-2005, documents departmental and school faculty meetings, operations, communication, course and room scheduling, budgeting, and enrollment statistics. Of note is an analysis of faculty salaries and raises and student attendance records--how many students were in the program at certain times. Bulk dates 1988-1996; Nancy was Program Director from 1988-1991.

Included are: correspondence; memos; master calendars; meeting agendas and notes; faculty retreat reports; a survey of teaching form; production, course, graduate fellowship, and workshop budgets; school and departmental budgets; reports; an expense code guide; course listings; schedules; faculty class assignment forms; and advisement schedules.

Sub-Series E: Productions (Boxes 170-171): This Sub-Series, 1967-2005, documents productions created by non-Swortzell Educational Theatre faculty and students or by outside companies that were in-residence. For more information about productions, see Series IV, Sub-Series D: Lowell's Plays Directed by Nancy and Series III, Sub-Series G: Plays Directed by Nancy by authors other than Lowell. Bulk dates: 1967-1969, 1978-1980, 1989-1991, 1993-1999.

Included are: programs; publicity postcards; correspondence; a promptbook; a press release; handwritten notes; schedules; newspaper articles and reviews; a play typescript; budgets; publicity and audition fliers; and posters.

Sub-Series F: Teacher Resource Guides (Boxes 172-173): This Sub-Series, 1983-2004, includes resource guides created for teachers' use in conjunction with a theatre production at New York University. In most of the resource guides Nancy Swortzell is listed as the editor. Of note is a letter explaining the development of the guides. Bulk dates: 1989-1992 and 1997-2001.

Sub-Series G: New Plays for Young Audiences (Boxes 174-188): This Sub-Series, 1995-2011, documents the creation, administration, class structure, and productions of new plays developed during the New Plays for Young Audiences series in June at the Provincetown Playhouse at NYU. Each play receives a week of development with professional actors and staff, culminating in staged readings for the public. Bulk dates are: 1998-2008. Included are: course materials (syllabi, handwritten lesson plans and notes, student course evaluations, student assignments, handouts, class lists, publicity fliers, a course catalog,) a Provincetown Playhouse history booklet, production materials (newsletter and newspaper articles and advertisements, audition forms, audience response forms, resumes and headshots, press releases, budgets, programs, invitations, published scripts, typescripts for unpublished plays, publicity fliers, cast lists, season brochures, contact sheets, rehearsal schedules, and a director's promptbooks), and VHS video recordings. It is divided as follows:

Sub-Series H: Creative Arts Team (CAT) (Boxes 189-190): This Sub-Series, 1974-2007, documents the establishment of the Creative Arts Team (CAT), a professional theatre company in residence from 1974-2004 at New York University and its' move to CUNY in 2004. Of note are: a document with handwritten title, "Original design for C.A.T.—NYC Drama Centre, N. Swortzell, L. Zimmerman, 1974;" "A Proposal for a Theatre-in-Education Centre" by Nancy Swortzell and Lynda Zimmerman, 1977; and a "Proposal to Establish a Master of Arts in Applied Theatre at the CUNY School of Professional Studies at the Graduate School and University Center" dated 2007 with a letter of support from Nancy Swortzell. Bulk dates are: 1976-1977 and 1988-1998.

Included are: fliers, staff resumes, brochures, classroom resource guides, handwritten notes, correspondence, financial set-up instructions, CAT program workshop proposals, programs, publicity postcards, invitations, travel itineraries, organizational proposals, newspaper articles and reviews, student responses to shows, resource materials, CATales newsletters, workshop catalogs, instructor handbook, and an information packet.

Sub-Series I: Study Abroad (Boxes 191-207): This Sub-Series, 1970-2006, documents the creation, administration, and course structure of the Study Abroad Program. This program was initiated by Nancy Swortzell and was overseen by her from 1974 through 2003. Of note are:

Included are: budgets and other financial information, brochures, handwritten notes, student handouts, faculty curriculum vitae, course proposal forms, course planning and student correspondence, theatre brochures, class notes, student and staff lists, publicity fliers, student papers, typescripts of plays performed, course guides, resource materials, student course evaluations, postcards of study abroad locations, study guides, and newspaper and journal articles.

Sub-Series J: New York University Course Catalogs (Box 208): This Sub-Series, 1952-2005, contain course catalogues that provide the following information: department and course descriptions; faculty lists; admission requirements; course and program requirements; registration and financial aid guidelines; and academic calendars. Of note are bulletins from 1952-1959, prior to the formation of the Educational Theatre Program. Bulk dates are: 1952-1959 and 1993-2005.

Included are: undergraduate, graduate, and summer New York University course catalogues and bulletins.

Sub-Series K: Curriculum Development (Boxes 209-210): This Sub-Series, 1969-2005, documents the revisions to the program's mission and course offerings. Of note are materials that describe the development of new programs for drama therapy and museum theatre; the planning and redesign of the department and program; the Program's New Mission Statement; required courses for majors; and off campus residencies in Puerto Rico. Bulk dates are 1987-1991.

Included are: committee reports, course and project proposals, correspondence, a grant application, course descriptions and syllabi, and memos.

Sub-Series L: PhD Program (Boxes 211-212): This Sub-Series, 1966-2005, documents the application process, course structure and the dissertation process for the PhD in Educational Theatre via a graduate student application packet; correspondence with students about dissertations; dissertation proposals; a PhD program analysis; a faculty members' evaluation of the PhD program; a State Review of the doctoral program; a suggested reading list; a School of Education Handbook for doctoral study; graduate candidacy examinations; and style guidelines for doctoral proposals and dissertation. Of note is a selected list of dissertations from 1966-2005.

Included are: correspondence, booklets, an application packet, a reading list, examinations, reports, a handbook, and a convocation program.

Sub-Series M: Classes taught by Lowell (Boxes 213-229): This Sub-Series, 1957-2005, is arranged alphabetically by class title and documents classes taught solely by Lowell at New York University. The class titles are: American Drama and Theatre I and II; American Musical Theatre: Background and Analysis; American Musical Theatre: Stephen Sondheim; Dissertation Proposal Seminar; Drama Appreciation; Drama with and for Adolescents; Independent Studies; Methods and Materials of Research in Educational Theatre; Playwriting (Beginning Playwriting, Advanced Playwriting, Playwriting for Children and Youth); and Theatre of Eugene O'Neill. Of note are the Eugene O'Neill class resource/research materials that include: phonograph recordings of plays, separate files for each play, O'Neill biographical materials, play programs, newspaper and journal articles, and VHS video recordings.

Included are: syllabi, bibliographies, handwritten class notes, exams, assignments, handouts, student papers, research, journal and newspaper articles, photographs, student evaluations for courses and the instructor, correspondence, phonograph recordings, programs, postcards, class fliers, and VHS video recordings.

Sub-Series N: Classes taught by Nancy (Boxes 230-236): This Sub-Series, 1964-2006, is arranged alphabetically by class title and documents classes taught solely by Nancy at New York University. The class titles are: Acting I, Directing I, Imagination Saturdays, Junior Repertory, Styles of Acting and Directing, Theatre-in-Education Practices, and Theory of Creative Dramatics. Of note are the extensive materials for the TIE class, which include: scripts created as class projects; handouts on TIE teaching methods; assessment guidelines; articles published in Great Britain about techniques and role playing; Greenwich Theatre for Young People publications; handwritten notes on lectures by Cecily O'Neill, Audrey Coldron, Pam Schweiter, Lynne Clark, Euton Daleyn, Christine Poulter, Paddy O'Dwyer, Helen White, and Emelie FitzGibbon. Also see Series VII: Resource Materials, Sub-Series Z for additional materials on TIE companies, plays and articles.

Included are: syllabi, handwritten notes and lesson plans, assignments, exams, student papers and projects, playscripts, scenes, research, class lists, handouts, handwritten student evaluations, bibliographies, and student contact sheets.

Sub-Series O: Classes Taught by either Lowell or Nancy (Boxes 237-244): This Sub-Series, 1950-2003, is arranged alphabetically by course title and documents classes taught by either Lowell or Nancy at New York University. These classes were not jointly taught, but alternately taught by one of the Swortzells. They shared lesson plans, class notes and handouts and most of the class files include notes written by both of them. Class titles are: Development of Theatre and Drama I and II; Drama-in-Education; Dramatic Activities for the Elementary Classroom; Dramatic Activities for the High School Classroom; Dramatic Criticism; Introduction to Children's Theatre; Play Production in Schools and College; and Theatre of Today and Tomorrow. Of note are the following materials in the Introduction to Children's Theatre class: a production book created by Coleman Jennings for The Great Cross Country Race by Allan Broadhurst, Spring 1968; and notes and handouts about the analysis of plays for young audience, about directing, and about professional theatre companies.

Included are: syllabi, handwritten notes, handouts, exams, assignments, student papers, photographs, newspaper and journal articles and reviews, fact sheets, student teacher and class evaluations, research, lesson plans, bibliographies, and play programs.

Sub-Series P: Other Faculty Members (Boxes 245): This Sub-Series, 1945-2005, provides biographical information about other professors teaching in the Educational Theatre Program. It is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the professor. Of note are significant materials for Nellie McCaslin and Lea Wallace.

Included are: curriculum vita, resumes, correspondence, an obituary, a memorial program, and journal articles.

Sub-Series Q: Classes Taught by Other Faculty Members (Box 246): This Sub-Series, 1966-2000, provides information about classes taught by professors other than the Swortzells. Of note are a New Perspectives on Classroom Drama book draft by Gavin Bolton; and "Leaders in Educational Theatre and Drama Selected Readings" compiled by Alistair Martin-Smith in summer 1997.

Included are: syllabi, periodical articles, class handouts, student papers, correspondence, and a book typescript.

Sub-Series R: Photographs (Boxes 247-254): This subseries, 1966-2002-most undated, documents productions, study abroad, professors, workshops, and classes. Of note is the New York University Educational Theatre recruiting slide show, which includes work done by the Swortzells before they came to New York University, as well as their early NYU productions and teaching. It is arranged chronologically by date; undated photographs are arranged alphabetically by subject. Included are black and white and color photographs; negatives; proof sheets; and slides. It is divided into the following sections:

Sub-Series S: Moving Images (Boxes 255-257): This Sub-Series, 1981-2007, includes VHS video recordings of performances, conferences, workshops, lectures by Nancy and/or Lowell, interviews with Professor Nellie McCaslin, student presentations and New Plays for Young Audiences performances.

Series VII: Resource Materials (Boxes 258-299): This series contains resource materials collected by the Swortzells to use in classes and as reference for their writing, production and teaching projects. Many of the items were cut out of magazines, newspapers, and journals. There are also brochures, catalogues, typescripts, fliers and other ephemera that they received in the mail or that they collected on their travels. At least half of these materials were originally housed in filing cabinets with each drawer assigned a letter of the alphabet; in each drawer was a variety of materials that related to that letter, i.e., play titles, subjects, people's name, theatre companies, etc. Other materials were originally tucked into books, if it related to the author or subject. This series was artificially created in order to make these materials more accessible to scholars. These items were arranged by subject or genre.

This series includes: newspaper articles and reviews; journal and periodical articles and reviews—most from theatre publications or popular magazines, such as Life and Time; whole journal issues; pamphlets; conference and workshop handouts; publicity brochures and fliers; newsletters; bibliographies; typescript and handwritten papers—some conference presentations; informational brochures; season brochures; posters; 8 mm film; VHS and 3/4" video recordings; museum catalogues; fliers; publicity and travel postcards; programs; photographs; and playscripts.

This series is arranged alphabetically, unless noted. Each Sub-Series description below lists topics, which have significant or a large amount of materials.

Sub-Series A: Adult Theatre Articles (Box 258): This Sub-Series is arranged chronologically. Topics covered include: aesthetics, acting, Broadway and Off Broadway, theatre challenges, directing, funding, and styles of theatre. Of note is a paper by John Gassner titled "Challenges to Theatre-in-the-Round" presented at a conference in Miami in 1953.

Sub-Series B: Adult Theatre American Companies (Box 259): Theatres that have significant materials are: the American Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre and the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre.

Sub-Series C: Adult Theatre Foreign Companies (Box 260): Theatres that have significant materials are: Britain's National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company, and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Sub-Series D: Adult Theatre Personalities (Boxes 261-262): The following personalities have significant materials: Edward Albee, Ingmar Bergman, Bertolt Brecht, Henrik Ibsen, Arthur Miller, Laurence Olivier, Harold Pinter, William Shakespeare, and Thornton Wilder.

Sub-Series E: Adult Theatre Plays by title (Boxes 263-264): The following plays have significant materials: Charles the Second; or, The Merry Monarch, The Deputy, The Exonerated, Fiorello!, Hello Dolly, The Octoroon, Rhinoceros, She Stoops to Conquer, Soldiers, A Taste of Honey, Twelfth Night, Whistle Down the Wind, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.

Sub-Series F: Adult Theatre Playscripts (Box 265): This Sub-Series includes plays that were published in various theatre publications and in Esquire magazine. There are two typescripts: The Colleagues, translated from Russian by George Shail, and The Constant Lover by St. John Hankin. Also included are a published musical score and a playscript--both with annotations of unknown origin.

Sub-Series G: Adult Theatre By Subject (Box 266): Topics covered include: Broadway economics, Actor Equity disputes, Broadway reviews, the Dallas Theatre Center, dramatic criticism, the Federal Theatre Project, Kabuki Theatre, Lincoln Center, musical theatre, opera, playwriting, Shakespeare and technical theatre.

Sub-Series H: American Universities (Box 267): Universities with significant materials include: Tuft University, Medford, Massachusetts; The University of Texas at Austin; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Sub-Series I: Foreign Universities (Box 268): Foreign universities with significant materials include: Bretton Hall, A College of the University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England; the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England; and the University of Warwick, Coventry, England.

Sub-Series J: Moving Images (Boxes 269-274): This Sub-Series, 1939-2004, includes 8mm film, VHS and 3/4" video tape recordings collected by the Swortzells. These moving image recordings were used in classes; for example, Brand of Freedom and The Laramie Project were used by Nancy in her T.I.E class. They were also used as research for plays, and for Lowell's books, such as Here Come the Clowns.

Sub-Series K: Non-Theatrical (Box 275): Subjects with significant materials include: American history, art exhibits, humor, New York City, President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon Johnson, and Mark Twain.

Sub-Series L: Photographs (Box 276): This Sub-Series includes slides of Master Betty prints; foreign theatres; "Masks in Greek Drama;" Bertolt Brecht and other adult productions; and Eugene O'Neill's homes, productions, and family. Of note is a collection of undocumented slides, which appear to be about Commedia del Arte characters, silent film comics, and productions.

Sub-Series M: Posters (Map Case Drawer 33): This Sub-Series includes posters from Russia, many from The Natalia Sats Children's Musical Theatre; London, many designed for London Transport; and Puerto Rico, many given to the Swortzells in NYU summer workshops. Of note are two toy theatres.

Sub-Series N: Theatre Organizations (Box 277): Theatre organizations with significant materials include: American Educational Theatre Association (AETA); ASSITEJ; Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE); Children's Theatre Conference (CTC); The College of Fellows of American Theatre; Educational Arts Association (EAA); Opera for Youth; Theatre for Young Audiences/USA (TYA/USA); and Young Playwrights Inc.

Sub-Series O: Travel Ephemera (Box 278): Included are: postcards; brochures; museum catalogues; and historical building, city, and country travel booklets. The majority are from Belgium, England, Italy, and the United States of America and were collected before or during their travels.

Sub-Series P: TYA Articles (Boxes 279-281): Topics with significant materials include theatre for young audiences, creative drama, youth actors, applied drama/theatre, the aesthetics of theatre for young audiences, teaching artists, theatre/drama teachers, learning through the arts, drama education, teacher training, creating curriculum, and children's theatre versus adult theatre. This Sub-Series is arranged chronologically.

Sub-Series Q: TYA American Companies (Boxes 282-284): Theatare companies with significant materials include: Arena Stage, Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis, FirstStage Children's Theatre, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the New Victory Theatre.

Sub-Series R: TYA by Country (Boxes 285-286): Countries with significant materials describing their theatre for young audiences' programs include: Belgium, China, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands, Scotland, Soviet Union, and Sweden.

Sub-Series S: TYA by Subject (Boxes 287-288): Topics with significant materials include arts advocacy, arts education, Bunraku puppets, child actors, childhood, children's literature, drama and theatre with young people with disabilities, high school theatre, the Junior League, movies for and with children, music education, New York City children's arts events, opera for youth, puppetry, television for and with children, toy theatre, and youth theatre.

Sub-Series T: TYA Educational Programs (Box 289): Programs with significant materials include: The Ark: Cultural Centre for Children, in Dublin, Ireland; Graveney School, London, England; Inter-Action in London; and the Staple Players.

Sub-Series U: TYA Foreign Companies (Boxes 290-291): Foreign companies with significant theatre for young audiences' materials include: the National Theatre of Great Britain, the Oxford Youth Theatre, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Triangle Theatre, the Unicorn Theatre, The Young Vic, Graffiti Theatre, GRIPS Theater, The Long Green Theatre Company, and Toronto International Children's Festival. Box 290 contains British theatre materials; Box 291 has materials from other countries arranged alphabetically by country.

Sub-Series V: TYA Personalities (Boxes 292-293): Personalities with significant materials include: Richard Courtney, Dorothy Heathcote, Nellie McCaslin, Cecily O'Neill, Maurice Sendak, and David Wood.

Sub-Series W: TYA Plays, by title (Boxes 294-295): Theatre for young audiences' plays with significant materials include: Alice in Wonderland, The Green Bird, His Dark Materials, More Grim Tales, Noye's Fludde, Peter and the Wolf, Peter Pan, Sparkleshark, and Young Abe Lincoln.

Sub-Series X: TYA Playscripts (Boxes 296-297): This Sub-Series includes plays that were published in various theatre publications, typescripts of plays or photocopies of published scripts. Many were sent to the Swortzells for comment or for consideration for productions. Some have publicity materials and letters to the Swortzells.

Sub-Series Y: TYA Publishers (Boxes 298): Publishers with significant materials include: Anchorage Press, Australian Script Center, Coach House Press, and New Plays Inc.

Sub-Series Z: TYA, T.I.E. (Box 299): This Sub-Series is divided into the following sections: companies, playscripts, and articles. The first two are arranged alphabetically, and the last is arranged chronologically.

Theatres with significant materials include: The Belgrade Theatre-in-Education Company, The Key Perspectives Theatre-in-Education Team, Replay Productions, and the TEAM Educational Theatre Company.

Series XIII: Programs (Boxes 300-337): This series contains theatre, dance, opera, music and other performing arts programs that were collected by the Swortzells. At least one of the Swortzells attended each of these performances, unless noted otherwise. Most of the programs are from theatre shows in New York City and London. This series is arranged chronologically unless noted; within each year they are arranged alphabetically by title, unless noted.

Sub-Series A: American Theatre Programs (Boxes 300-317): This Sub-Series, 1940-2008 with .25 linear feet are undated, includes programs from plays seen in America. The majority of the programs come from New York City performances.

Sub-Series B: British Theatre Programs (Boxes 318-327): This Sub-Series, 1954-2005, some undated, includes programs from plays seen in England. The majority of the programs come from London performances.

Sub-Series C: Dance Programs (Box 328): This Sub-Series, 1951-2003, includes programs from ballet, folk dance, and modern dance performances. The majority are from performances in New York City.

Sub-Series D: Foreign Theatre Programs (Box 329): This Sub-Series, 1958-2005, arranged by country then chronologically within each country, includes programs from Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Sweden.

Sub-Series E: Opera Programs (Boxes 330-333): This Sub-Series, 1947-2005, includes programs that are primarily from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Also included are programs for opera performances in Europe.

Sub-Series F: Souvenir Programs (Box 334): This Sub-Series, most undated, includes souvenir programs, usually purchased in the theatre lobby. They are arranged alphabetically by the title of the show.

Sub-Series G: Theatre for Young Audiences Programs (Boxes 335-337): This Sub-Series, 1950-2005, includes programs from professional and youth theatre productions, primarily in London and New York. Of note are programs from The Young Vic and Unicorn Theatre in London. There are also multiple programs for the play Peter Pan, the first one from the 1950 New York production with Gene Arthur and Boris Karloff; there is also one from the 1954 Mary Martin production. Bulk dates are 1982-2005.

Series IX: Sound Recordings (Boxes 338-362): This Sub-Series, 1960-2004, includes compact discs, audio cassettes, phonograph recordings and audio reel-to-reel tapes. These recordings were collected by the Swortzells to use in their classes, for listening at home, to support their research, and to document significant events.

Sub-Series A: Audio Cassettes (Boxes 338-339): This Sub-Series, 1980-1955, includes audio cassettes. Many are undated and 7 are not identified. Of note are cassettes of Leeds (Bretton Hall) T.I.E Interviews from the Study Abroad Program, recordings of Eugene O'Neill plays, a Wendy Kesselman interview, and WOW! Women of Wonder sound effects. Some may have been used for classes, others may have been for leisure listening.

Sub-Series B: Audio Reel to Reel Recordings (Boxes 340-341): This Sub-Series, 1960-1966, includes audio reel-to-reel recordings. Most are recordings of Lowell's shows presented at Tufts University, Rutgers University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and New York University.

Sub-Series C: Compact Discs (Box 342): This Sub-Series, 1991-2004, includes compact discs. Of note are Mischief Makers sound effect recordings, children's operas by Benjamin Britten, and a disc titled "Transformation" from the Unicorn Theatre in London.

Sub-Series D: Phonograph Recordings (Boxes 343-362): This Sub-Series includes phonographic recordings in the following formats: 6-inch non-commercial, 78 rpm, 45 rpm, and 33 1/3 rpm. They are arranged alphabetically by title in the following categories:

Series X: Oversized (Boxes 363-379): This series includes items removed from other series due to their weight, shape or size. They are arranged in the following Sub-Series:

Sub-Series A: Lowell Biographical (Boxes 363-364): This Sub-Series, 1805-2002, includes diplomas, artwork, a calendar, an award, newspaper articles and Lowell's glasses. Of note are a portrait of Lowell by J. Edgar Webb, "The Young Roscius [Master Betty] in the Character of Douglas" (1805) engraved by Godbey, a New York University Founders Day Award, a newspaper article with photograph of Lowell as a child, and school and college diplomas.

Sub-Series B: Lowell's Plays (Boxes 365-366): This Sub-Series, 1962-1969, includes posters, costume and set renderings, a musical score, newspaper and periodical articles. Of note are: costume renderings of Cuckooland; costume and set renderings for Gammer Gurton's Needle by Bob Troie; and the musical score of Christopher Columbus.

Sub-Series C: Lowell's Books (Boxes 367-369): This Sub-Series, 1970-1996, includes posters, a musical score, programs, newspaper articles, photographs, a construction kit, and an oil painting. Of note are the following: Polichinelle and Arlequin construction kit, an oil painting by Red Skelton, and a Federal Theatre article by Ruth B. Kerns.

Sub-Series D: Nancy Biographical (Boxes 370-371): This Sub-Series, 1915-1997, includes diplomas, a newspaper photograph, a poster, and a calendar. Of note is Nancy's mother's nursing school diploma.

Sub-Series E: Swortzell Duo Biographical (Map Case Drawer 33): This Sub-Series, 1961-2003, includes posters and newspaper articles. Of note are the Swortzell's retirement posters with historic photographs and captions.

Sub-Series F: Duo Classes (Box 372): This Sub-Series, 1968-1995, includes newspaper and periodical articles. These materials were used for research for the American Theatre and Theatre for Today and Tomorrow classes.

Sub-Series G: Educational Theatre Program, New York University (Boxes 373-378 and Map Case Drawer 32): This Sub-Series, 1967-2003, includes posters, ground plans, set renderings, mounted photographs, a musical score, newspaper articles, handwritten notes, and puppets. The posters are from the New Plays for Young Audiences play series and from shows directed by Nancy - many of which were Lowell's. Of note are handwritten student responses to the Study Abroad program. There are also six puppets used in the production WOW! Women of Wonder (Boxes 373-378).

Sub-Series H: Photographs (Box 379): This Sub-Series, 1946-1971, contains the following formats: black and white and color photographs. Of note are: production photographs of Lowell at the Crossroads Theatre, Baileys' Crossroads in the 1940s; photos of baby Lowell; Lowell's junior high class photo 1946; and production photos from The Contrast at Hofstra in 1960. Also of note are photographs of shows directed by Nancy: The Matchmaker at Tufts University in 1960; and NYU productions of Gammer Gurton's Needle, Afternoon with Lewis Carroll and The Miracle Worker.

Series XI: Restricted (Box 380): This box contains restricted materials. For access to these materials contact the curator of the Child Drama Collection.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Box 380 (0.5 linear feet) is restricted. Access to these materials is available through the Curator of the Child Drama Collection.

To view this collection, make an appointment at least five business days prior to your visit by contacting Ask an Archivist or calling (480) 965-4932. Appointments in the Wurzburger Reading Room at Hayden Library (rm. 138) on the Tempe campus are available Monday through Friday. Check the ASU Library Hours page for current availability.

Copyright

The Arizona Board of Regents retains copyright to this collection for and on behalf of the Arizona State University Library. Requests to publish, display, or redistribute information from this collection must be submitted via our online application.

Related Material

See also the Swortzell book collection in the Child Drama Collection. It can be searched separately in the ASU Libraries online catalogue by using the unique call numbers SWO, SWOP, and SWOPX.

Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Lowell and Nancy Swortzell Theatre Arts Collection, MSS-220, Arizona State University Library.

Provenance

The Lowell and Nancy Swortzell Collection was received in several accessions from 1992 through 2011, as recorded in multiple accession records; ongoing.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Molly Gittelman Kurtz, under the supervision of Katherine Krzys, Child Drama Collection Archivist, from October 2008-2011.

Container List