Records of the Florida Players at the University of Florida

The records of the Florida Players at the University of Florida date from 1922 to 2019 and contain meeting minutes, production lists, official documents, memorabilia, scripts, scrapbooks, clippings, playbills, play programs, photographs, correspondence, and other records of the Florida Players.

Series 1: "General Files, 1930-2019" contains various Florida Players records including copies of their Constitution, memorabilia, pledge examinations, ceremonies, correspondence, minutes from the Alpha Psi Omega Eta Tau Chapter, and other records. Biographical information on some of the members can be found on the Players' pledge forms and on application forms to the National Collegiate Players. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 2: "Minutes, 1940-1973" contains minutes for the Florida Players from the 1940s until the early 1970s.

Series 3: "Programs, 1930-2019" contains programs for the Florida Player’s performances from 1930 to 2019. Also included are booklets with news clippings and programs from 1979 to 1985. These were processed minimally and kept in their original folders. Finally, there are seasonal schedules that list performances for each year from 1930 to 1991. The series is arranged chronologically.

Of particular note are the programs for "The Adding Machine" (Nov. 4-7, 1959) and "Medea" (March 23-26 1960) starring Florida Player and future Hollywood actress Faye Dunaway. See also the University Archives Artifacts Collection for her handwritten signature on a script.

Series 4: "Production Files, 1922-1973 (Bulk: 1922-1942)" primarily contains detailed files on plays that were mostly directed by Lester Hale who served as Director of the Florida Players from 1935-1939. The files include programs, sketches, stage lighting directions, correspondence, and newspaper/magazine clippings and other records. Many of these files were removed from the Lester L. Hale Papers (Ms. Coll. 94) and stored in this series. The series is arranged chronologically.

Series 5: "Scrapbooks, 1929-2004" contains scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings, programs, and photographs of productions of the Dramatic Society and the Players for the years covering 1936-2004. Other theatre photographs can be found in the photograph collection of the University Archives.

One of the scrapbooks was donated by Marinus H. Latour, a retired electrical engineering professor at the University of Florida. While a student at UF (he graduated in 1940) he was a member of Florida Players and assisted in stage lighting for their productions. The scrapbook covers the years 1937-1939 and contains play programs, penciled diagrams of lighting systems for several plays, photographs, newspaper clippings, and posters. The lighting diagrams are of particular interest from an historical standpoint.

Series 6: "Photographs, 2000-2001" contains photographs and negatives from performances by the Florida Players in 2000 and 2001. Other theatre photographs can be found in the photograph collection of the University Archives.

Series 7: "Posters and Playbills, 2000-2019" contains a number of oversized posters and playbills from Florida Players performances. These are stored separate from the collection in compact oversize storage.