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6th, December 3, 1925

 File — Box: 5, Folder: 607

Scope and Contents

From the Collection: In addition to biographical information on his life, the Alfred G. Arvold papers document Arvold’s life from his youth in Wisconsin, his training at the University of Wisconsin and his two year teaching career at Eau Claire. The collection reflects his forty-five year career at NDAC focusing primarily on the Citizen’s Lecture Course/Lyceum series he founded in 1910, the Little Country Theatre he founded in 1914 and his theatrical endeavors including plays and pageants. It also includes materials on his involvement as a member of the Players Club of New York City and as a Shriner including his term as Imperial Potentate for the Shrine of North America in 1944-1945. The collection has been arranged into six series in chronological order.

The six series are: Biographical information; Personal background; Activities at the University of Wisconsin [1901-1905]; Orator, Correspondent and Storyteller; North Dakota Agricultural College [1907-1952]; Masonic Temple/Shrine activity; The LCT Register and The Players.

The Biographical series is comprised of: photo print, clippings, research notes and copy of an article written by Arvold.

Personal background includes Honors [Doctor of Humanities from UND and former students honor A. G.], and Obituaries.

Activities at the University of Wisconsin 1901 – 1905 include club activities, play activity, commencement oration and alumni magazine position.

Orator, Correspondent and Storyteller include Lectures/Presentations/Quotations [1907 – 1952]; Personalities Met & Travel; Correspondence [1924-1948]; Alfred G. Arvold Stories

North Dakota Agricultural College includes Outreach, Speech, Oration and Public Programing [1914 Arvold address; extension service/Package Lending Library; Public Speaking System; Declamatory Activities; Public Programs, Community Center Movement; Play Days; Department of Public Discussion and Social Service; Neighborhood Programs; One-Act Plays; Neighborhood Activities in Country Communities and two student papers on Arvold]; Little Country Theatre [Auditorium remodel; LCT stained glass windows; Lincoln Log Cabin; LCT postcard; The Little Country Theatre book and two pamphlets; 10th , 15th , & 20th anniversaries; articles about LCT 1914-1939; Family; NDAC Campus Artifacts & Copies; Miscellaneous; Citizen’s Lecture Course/Lyceum [1910-1910/1920-1953]; Cyclone Circus [1908]; Student Life Train [1913]; Senior Class Graduation Plays [1909-1938]; The Land of Dakotahs, Statewide Pageant [scripts with n.d.]; Country Life Conferences [1912-1913]; Community Programs [1915-1945]; Literary Society Festivals [1912-1918]; Industrial Course Graduation Plays [1914-1928]; Short Course Graduation Play [1916]; Other NDAC Plays [1909-1935]; Annual Harvest Festivals [1916-1951]; Annual Christmas Festivals [1915-1951]; May Festivals/Lilac Days [1916-1932/[1933-1952]; Boys and Girls Institute [1920-1945]; One Act Play Festivals/Contests [1920-1951]; and A & MT High School Graduation Plays [1915-1937].

The Masonic Temple/Shrine series includes General Materials; Shrine News; Activites; Imperial Council, St. Felix Conclaves and Red Cross of Constantine; El Zagal Temple St. Felix Conclave banquet programs for Red Cross of Constantine, held in Fargo various years between 1925 and 1938. There are a number of banquet programs from across the United States honoring the Imperial Potentate, including one for Arvold held at San Francisco in December 1944. Another file contains miscellaneous Mystic Shrine programs, several from Fargo in 1917 and 1919. There is a copy of Letters from an “Old Made” Merchant to His Sons booklet apparently prepared for a Shrine event in Fargo in 1905 and contains humorous vignettes on initiation rites. There are different editions of The Mystic Shrine that feature photographs and events during the year Arvold served as Imperial Potentate. Three Scottish Rite reunion booklets for meetings held in Fargo (1900 and 1908) and Valley City (1950), North Dakota. Completing the collection are issues of Shrine News from 1944-1945 that feature news articles on Arvold’s tenure as Imperial Potentate including his itineraries for several months as Imperial Potentate.

The LCT Register contains signatures of visitors to the Little Country Theatre 1927-1953

Dates

  • 1900-2004

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Extent

From the Collection: 17 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Repository Details

Part of the University Archives Repository

Contact:
West Building
3551 7th Avenue N
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States