LW Conolly Theatre Archives

History

Since 1969 the library has been acquiring theatre collections, but it was really during the 1980s after the formal establishment of Archival & Special Collections that Leonard Conolly’s leadership as chair of the Drama Department (1981-1988) and later as Associate Vice-President Academic (1988-1992) helped firmly establish the University of Guelph as a destination for the study of theatre history. It was through Conolly’s contacts and discussions with significant Ontario theatres such as Phoenix and Tarragon in Toronto and the Grand in London, that soon led to their boards to agree to donate what was then a precious but endangered cultural heritage for Canadian drama and theatre. These rich and varied holdings, now known as The L.W. Conolly Theatre Archives, have become a major resource used by Guelph faculty and students as well as researchers within Canada and from around the world.

Collection strengths

The collections are focused on the work of Bernard Shaw; modern Ontario theatre companies; and playwrights, actors, directors, designers, cutters, and administrators active in Ontario theatre life. Over the years, the library's commitment has grown significantly to the point that it has become the largest collection of Canadian theatre and Shaw-related materials in Canada with more than 200 collections in its holdings.

Professional theatres

Major theatres in regional centres are well-represented in our holdings, including:

• The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake
• Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton
• The Grand Theatre in London
• The Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa

Smaller companies

A great many smaller Ontario companies are represented in the collection including:

• The Blyth Festival
• Le Théâtre Français de Toronto
• Theatre Terra Nova from Hamilton
• The Lighthouse Festival from Port Dover

Companies that ceased operation

The records of many companies that are no longer in operation have also been acquired and preserved. They include:

• The Toronto-based Phoenix Theatre
• NDWT
• Toronto Workshop Productions
• Theatre and Company (Kitchener)

International reach

In addition to holdings representing theatre in Ontario, many individuals have generously donated their own personal papers and materials which represent not just their work in Ontario but also internationally. Our library is much richer with holdings from Christopher Newton, William Hutt, Richard Rose, Judith Thompson, Hilary Corbett, Cameron Porteous, Tony van Bridge, Neil Munro, Susan Benson, George Walker, Barry Morse, and many others.

Topical, activist, thematic companies

Various facets of the rich complexity of Ontario and Canadian theatre are reflected in the Guelph archives. These include:

Children's theatre:

• Young People's Theatre
• The Carousel Players
• Theatre on the Move

First Nations theatre:

• Native Earth Performing Arts

LGBTQ theatre:

• Sky Gilbert fonds
• Buddies in Bad Times

Feminist theatre:

• Windsor Feminist Theatre
• Nightwood Theatre

Multicultural and community theatre:

• Black Theatre Canada
• Cahoots Theatre Projects
• Eramosa Community Players

Various forms of theatre outside the mainstream:

• Toby Gordon Ryan Collection
• Theatre Smith-Gilmour
• Theatre Columbus Outaouais Popular Theatre
• Necessary Angel

Professional organizations and associations

Archives of major national professional organizations are also housed at Guelph, including:

• The Professional Association of Canadian Theatres
• The Associated Designers of Canada
• The Playwrights' Union of Canada

Two examples of the preservation of important research and scholarship resources include:

• The archives of the Association for Canadian Theatre Research
• The records of the 1991 International Women Playwrights Conference

Late 19th-Century collections

By far the majority of collections relate to twentieth-century theatre, but there are one or two interesting exceptions, including the Garrick Family Papers.

Other exceptions include small collections on a nineteenth-century Toronto Opera House, British actor Edmund Kean, late nineteenth-century U.S. and Canadian music halls and theatres, and London's Independent Theatre.