Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the John B. Rogers Producing Company Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.0245
Creators:
Rogers, John B., Producing Company
National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Community Life
Dates:
1929-1934.
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.33 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
The John B. Rogers Producing Company was established in 1903 as a supplier of costumes, sets, lights, and scripts for amateur theater. Its main office remained in Fostoria, Ohio until 1977, when the company moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of material for a musical production, titled "Minstrel Mimics" (dated 1934), by the John B. Rogers producing company.
Included are the musical score, libretto, publicity notices, instructions for packing scenery and props, a notice of "Changes for Directors," a "Talent Sheet" and "Chorus Sheets." Dates noted on some of these items cover the period 1/15/29 to 7/1/34.
In addition to the original score and libretto ("The Hunts' Club Minstrel" and "Isle of Never Known") are a number of published songs that are incorporated in the two-part production.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The John B. Rogers Producing Company was established in 1903, with its main office in Fostoria, Ohio and billed itself as the "World's Largest Directors of Amateur Theatricals."
The company "supplied its client towns with costumes, sets, lights and a pageant script consisting of local historical episodes (based on the company's general formula) and standard spectacular symbolic interludes ."
In 1977 the company moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where it continued to produce "historical spectacles" into the 1980's.
Source
Glassberg, David. "American Civic Pageantry and the Image of the Community, 1900-1930." Ph. D. dissertation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1981: 240.

Administration

Author
NMAH Staff
Custodial History
Collection transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Community Life (now Division of Cultural and Community Life), November 3, 1986.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by The Rogers Company, May 17, 1980.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Archives Center Staff, 2006.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Preferred Citation
John B. Rogers Producing Company Collection, 1929-1934, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Costumes Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musical productions Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Theater -- 1920-1940 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Theatrical equipment Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Theatrical producers Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Libretto Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Publicity notices Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Professional papers Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musical scores Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rogers, John B. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu