Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota
Collection
Identifier: Mss 3053
Content Description
The Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota Records primarily document the history and activities of the association from its beginnings as the North Dakota Speech and Theater Association from the early 1950s to the 2000s, with the majority of the records ending in the late 1990s. The initial records accessioned consist largely of photocopies of documents apparently compiled by Robert Littlefield related to speech and theatre activities in the state and no doubt used in the research for his book Voices on the Prairie. There are also incomplete sets of the newsletters, its annual journal, and the annual convention from 1986 to 2007.
The Executive Board Series consists of various documents that are organized chronologically related to the administration of the organization. The initial file stated they were ‘Start of NDSTA 1985 to 1996.’ Files include various documents and examples are correspondence, meeting agenda & minutes, budgets, financial report.
The Constitutions Series consists of copies of the various association’s constitutions, dating 1966, 1986,-1997 and 2007. Included in this original series was a 1990 constitution copy of North Dakota Intercollegiate Speech League with a handwritten note ‘Programs for the NDSTA.’
The Correspondence Series consists primarily of correspondence related to the people listed and mainly for nominations. They are addressed to and written by many people.
The State Conventions Series consist of the formal booklets issued for its conventions and they cover from 1986 to 2007. They include wide variety of information and photographs related to agenda, nominees and awardees.
The Publications Series consists of the organization’s journals titled North Dakota Journal of Speech and Theatre. They cover from 1992 to 2007. They are quite extensive regarding its activities.
The Newsletters Series consists of newsletters issued by the organization and cover from 1953 to 2006. The newsletters of 1953-1954 & 1974 have Speech and Drama Bulletin as title. Others have NDSTA Newsletter or just Newsletter as the title together with the name of the organization North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association.
The High School, Colleges & Universities Series consists of photocopies of documents and publication pages related to activities of various North Dakota high schools, colleges and universities, although many not related directly to Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota. They are arranged alphabetically by name of the 14 institution.
The Grand Forks Herald & Bismarck Tribune Series consists of photocopies of numerous articles from the Grand Forks Herald spanning from 1930 to 1949 related to various high school events and people. Many are related to Grand Forks events but does include others in the region and state. It includes several articles from 1949 in the Bismarck Tribune related to the Class B and C high school speech and music festival.
The North Dakota High School Activities Association Series consists of photocopy pages from its ‘Official Handbook’ for 1955-1979 and ‘Official Yearbook’ for 1980-1994. They include much details about events, competitions and committees.
The National Forensic League Series consists primarily of publications related to the National Forensic League with titles Northern Lights Nationals (1992) and Rostrum (1992 & 1993). There is also a file of several letters and printed documents likely related to the organization. There is also a handwritten 6-page listing of “National Forensic League Activity in North Dakota” with dates from 1920s to 1990s.
The North Dakota State Speech and Theatre Association Series consists of various documents related to the activities of the association. They have been organized into a number of files based upon the type of documents. The correspondence is mainly to and from various North Dakota high schools and associations between 1971-1979. The Executive Board file consists of agendas and meeting minutes from 1996 to 2007. There are detailed financial reports for 1996-2000. The garment information consists of recommended and visual images of various garments. The North Dakota Journal of Speech & Theatre is one formal issue published in 1995. Its subtitle is “An Historical Review of Public Speaking Component of the Language Arts Curriculum in North Dakota.” The ‘Officer and Speech Advisory Committee’ file includes many listings of officers organized by date from 1952 to 1995. A number of them are handwritten. The Tournament of Champions includes formal publications and correspondence from 1987 to 1990. The Hall of Fame consist of information issued likely all by Robert Littlefield but many are not dated, although some from 1986 to 2007.
The Subject Files Series contains a wide variety of information related to other North Dakota organizations, individuals and events. Some of the file documents are not dated and consists of many photocopies of other documents. The Awards file consist of various award listings in North Dakota including Elected, Service to the Profession and Teach of the Year awards, but not all are dated. The Dakota Playmakers file include article from The American Magazine of Arts (1918) and two lists of ‘Plays as Produced’ dated from 1923 to 1965. The Hall of Fame file is related to NDSTA nominations. There is quite large number of publications and related documents of North Dakota State Speech Association (NDSTA). The General items file includes copy of ‘A Donor’s Guide’ issued by Society of American Archivists and a handwritten note related to donation.
The Executive Board Series consists of various documents that are organized chronologically related to the administration of the organization. The initial file stated they were ‘Start of NDSTA 1985 to 1996.’ Files include various documents and examples are correspondence, meeting agenda & minutes, budgets, financial report.
The Constitutions Series consists of copies of the various association’s constitutions, dating 1966, 1986,-1997 and 2007. Included in this original series was a 1990 constitution copy of North Dakota Intercollegiate Speech League with a handwritten note ‘Programs for the NDSTA.’
The Correspondence Series consists primarily of correspondence related to the people listed and mainly for nominations. They are addressed to and written by many people.
The State Conventions Series consist of the formal booklets issued for its conventions and they cover from 1986 to 2007. They include wide variety of information and photographs related to agenda, nominees and awardees.
The Publications Series consists of the organization’s journals titled North Dakota Journal of Speech and Theatre. They cover from 1992 to 2007. They are quite extensive regarding its activities.
The Newsletters Series consists of newsletters issued by the organization and cover from 1953 to 2006. The newsletters of 1953-1954 & 1974 have Speech and Drama Bulletin as title. Others have NDSTA Newsletter or just Newsletter as the title together with the name of the organization North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association.
The High School, Colleges & Universities Series consists of photocopies of documents and publication pages related to activities of various North Dakota high schools, colleges and universities, although many not related directly to Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota. They are arranged alphabetically by name of the 14 institution.
The Grand Forks Herald & Bismarck Tribune Series consists of photocopies of numerous articles from the Grand Forks Herald spanning from 1930 to 1949 related to various high school events and people. Many are related to Grand Forks events but does include others in the region and state. It includes several articles from 1949 in the Bismarck Tribune related to the Class B and C high school speech and music festival.
The North Dakota High School Activities Association Series consists of photocopy pages from its ‘Official Handbook’ for 1955-1979 and ‘Official Yearbook’ for 1980-1994. They include much details about events, competitions and committees.
The National Forensic League Series consists primarily of publications related to the National Forensic League with titles Northern Lights Nationals (1992) and Rostrum (1992 & 1993). There is also a file of several letters and printed documents likely related to the organization. There is also a handwritten 6-page listing of “National Forensic League Activity in North Dakota” with dates from 1920s to 1990s.
The North Dakota State Speech and Theatre Association Series consists of various documents related to the activities of the association. They have been organized into a number of files based upon the type of documents. The correspondence is mainly to and from various North Dakota high schools and associations between 1971-1979. The Executive Board file consists of agendas and meeting minutes from 1996 to 2007. There are detailed financial reports for 1996-2000. The garment information consists of recommended and visual images of various garments. The North Dakota Journal of Speech & Theatre is one formal issue published in 1995. Its subtitle is “An Historical Review of Public Speaking Component of the Language Arts Curriculum in North Dakota.” The ‘Officer and Speech Advisory Committee’ file includes many listings of officers organized by date from 1952 to 1995. A number of them are handwritten. The Tournament of Champions includes formal publications and correspondence from 1987 to 1990. The Hall of Fame consist of information issued likely all by Robert Littlefield but many are not dated, although some from 1986 to 2007.
The Subject Files Series contains a wide variety of information related to other North Dakota organizations, individuals and events. Some of the file documents are not dated and consists of many photocopies of other documents. The Awards file consist of various award listings in North Dakota including Elected, Service to the Profession and Teach of the Year awards, but not all are dated. The Dakota Playmakers file include article from The American Magazine of Arts (1918) and two lists of ‘Plays as Produced’ dated from 1923 to 1965. The Hall of Fame file is related to NDSTA nominations. There is quite large number of publications and related documents of North Dakota State Speech Association (NDSTA). The General items file includes copy of ‘A Donor’s Guide’ issued by Society of American Archivists and a handwritten note related to donation.
Dates
- 1904 -2007
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the Institute.
Copyrights
Copyrights to this collection is held by the Institute for Regional Studies.
History
The origin of the North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association date to the early 1950s and the activities of the North Dakota Association of Speech Teachers. It appears that in 1953 the Speech and Drama Bulletin newsletter began publication by members of the Speech Advisory Committee of the North Dakota High School Activities Association. The newsletter became a way to communicate announcements and information to the teachers in the state who worked with forensic and theatre activities. At the 1952 North Dakota Teachers’ Convention Dr. John Penn of the University of North Dakota chaired the Speech Advisory Committee and out of that meeting became the first president of the newly organized North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association.
“Planning programs for the teachers’ convention in the fall and spring meetings; promoting debate, speech, and drama activities; scheduling tournaments; and encouraging forensic and dramatic coaches to participate fully appear to be the main purposes around which the activities of the Association revolved.”
At the 1985 biennial meeting of the NDSTA it was approved to hold an annual convention for teachers and coaches involved with speech communication and theatre arts activities, and the first convention was held in 1986. In 1987 the first annual issue of the association’s North Dakota Journal of Speech and Theatre was published. In 2006-2007 the name of the association was changed to Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota.
History based upon information obtained from: Littlefield, Robert S. Voices on the Prairie: Bringing Speech and Theatre to North Dakota. Fargo, N.D.: Institute for Regional Studies, 1998. Robert Littlefield joined the NDSU faculty in 1979 and served as chair of the Department of Mass Communication, Speech Communication and Theatre Art beginning in 1984. For North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association he served as president 1985-1987, historian 1988-2003 and editorial board of its ND Journal of Speech and Theatre 1997-2003.
“Planning programs for the teachers’ convention in the fall and spring meetings; promoting debate, speech, and drama activities; scheduling tournaments; and encouraging forensic and dramatic coaches to participate fully appear to be the main purposes around which the activities of the Association revolved.”
At the 1985 biennial meeting of the NDSTA it was approved to hold an annual convention for teachers and coaches involved with speech communication and theatre arts activities, and the first convention was held in 1986. In 1987 the first annual issue of the association’s North Dakota Journal of Speech and Theatre was published. In 2006-2007 the name of the association was changed to Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota.
History based upon information obtained from: Littlefield, Robert S. Voices on the Prairie: Bringing Speech and Theatre to North Dakota. Fargo, N.D.: Institute for Regional Studies, 1998. Robert Littlefield joined the NDSU faculty in 1979 and served as chair of the Department of Mass Communication, Speech Communication and Theatre Art beginning in 1984. For North Dakota Speech and Theatre Association he served as president 1985-1987, historian 1988-2003 and editorial board of its ND Journal of Speech and Theatre 1997-2003.
Extent
2.3 Linear Feet (2.3 linear feet.)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
The Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota Records primarily document the history and activities of the association from its beginnings as the North Dakota Speech and Theater Association from the early 1950s to the 2000s, with the majority of the records ending in the late 1990s.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Robert Littlefield, 2009, 2010 (Acc. 2907 & 2945)
Separation Record
5 photograph albums of snapshots taken likely at the annual conventions of members, banquets and events. (To be processed into the Institute Photograph Collection)
Property rights
The Institute for Regional Studies owns the property rights to this collection.
Source
- Littlefield, Robert S., 1952- (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to Communication, Speech and Theatre Association of North Dakota
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu