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Shakespeare Club of Niles, Michigan, Collection

 Collection
Identifier: RH-A-3314

Scope and Contents

According to the history, a group of Baptist Church women from Niles decided to start this group which met once a week to study Shakespeare and his writings. Within the typed history of the club there are a few historic photographs and documents from the Club including a menu from a 1907 luncheon and photographs dating from 1930. For the most part the photographs are identified with the exception of the later images especially those from the 1981 75th anniversary luncheon. There is no indication as to how much longer, past 1981, the club existed. The collection came to the Archives from Janet Houseman, whose mother, Ethel Rice, was a member. They had been housed at the Baptist Church in Niles which no longer wanted them.

Dates

  • Creation: 1906-1981

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions

Extent

0.50 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection is composed of one multi-paged typed history and three record books filled with minutes, attendance lists and activities for the Shakespeare Club of Niles, Michigan which began in 1906. It is not known when the Club ceased to exist but the typed history goes until 1981.

Physical Description

The collection amounts to .50 cubic feet and is composed of 3 bound record books of varying sizes. These are filled with handwritten minutes, attendance reports, annual reports and general activities of this organization. Occasionally there are yellowed newspaper clippings either taped or stapled in some of the pages. When possible, the clippings have been removed or copied. When that cannot be done, there is acid-free paper used as a barrier between the pages. The record books are in good shape although some of them have a very slight musty smell to them. In addition, there is a multi-paged, typed history of the organization from 1906 to 1981 that had been stored in a 3-ring binder. Overall the pages are yellowed although not too severe. Along with the typed history, there are photographs and news clippings taped to the pages. Acid-free paper has been placed between some of the pages to create a barrier. The clippings have yellowed considerably although the photographs, including the color are in good shape except for the tape that was used to attach them. The typed history also has a very slight musty smell. The three-ring binder is with the collection even though the history has been taken out of it. In the luncheon photographs taken in 1981 is an image where the history in its binder is being examined.

Title
Shakespeare Club of Niles, Michigan, Collection Finding Aid
Status
Completed
Author
Lynn Houghton
Date
2010-12-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Western Michigan University Archives & Regional History Collections Repository

Contact:
Charles C. and Lynn L. Zhang Legacy Collections Center
1650 Oakland Drive
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5307 US
(269) 387-8490