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The Papers of Joan Dillon
Joan Kent Dillon is a nationally known activist in the area of historic preservation, having served on the Board of Directors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (1980-89) and Smithsonian Institution (1989- .) A 1947 graduate of Smith College, she also earned an M.A. in History from the University of Missouri in 1969. A long time resident of Kansas City, Ms. Dillon began her involvement with historic theaters in 1974, when she purchased the Folly Theater in the city center. Over the next 13 years she raised more than $5 million to complete renovate the former burlesque hall. This led her to involvement with the League of Historic American Theaters (LHAT), on whose Board of Directors she served for much of the period after 1978. Through her growing involvement with theaters she met David Naylor, a photographer and author of two books on American movie theaters. Together they decided to pursue Ms. Dillon's longstanding idea of a book on nineteenth century American theaters. With support from LHAT and other theater organizations, they obtained a publishing contract with the Preservation Press (as of 1995 part of John Wiley and Sons.) In the period 1994-96 they traveled extensively viewing, evaluating and photographing theaters throughout the United States. The resulting book, American Theaters: Performance Halls of the Nineteenth Century, appeared in 1997. At the time of the donation of this collection, Ms. Dillon lived in Chatham, MA.
The Dillon collection was compiled during the period 1994-1998 and focuses exclusively on the research, preparation and publication of American Theaters: Performance Halls of the Nineteenth Century by Joan Dillon and David Naylor (New York: Preservation Press of John Wiley and Sons, 1997.) The largest group of files document each theater included in the book, as well as many theaters which were considered for inclusion but rejected. Separate sets of files include extensive photographs and slides of almost all of the same theaters. Working files from the publication process are also part of the collection, including correspondence from Ms. Dillon to Mr. Naylor, grant applications, and lists and indexes to theaters being considered for inclusion in the book. Finally, one file includes material from shortly after the book's publication, including reviews.
This collection was donated to the University of Maryland by Ms. Dillon in April 2003.
The Dillon papers have been divided into the following series:
Series I: Theaters Considered for Inclusion
Series II: Working Files
Series III: Indexes
Series IV: Photographs
Series V: Slides
Series I: Theaters Considered for Inclusion in American Theaters: Performance Halls of the Nineteenth Century by Joan Dillon and David Nayor (1997), 1890-1997 and undated (5 lin.ft.)
The first portion (c. 3 lin.ft.) includes one file for every theater included in this book. The remainder of the series consists of material concerning theaters that were not selected for inclusion. Survey forms, flyers, leaflets, newspaper and periodical articles, correspondence, and photocopies of photographs of these theaters comprise this series. Included theaters are arranged alphabetically by state, and then subdivided by city of location, and theater name. Rejected theaters are arranged primarily only by state.
Series II: Working files, 1960-2002 and undated (c. 1.2 lin. ft.)
This series consists of materials related to the preparation, publication and response to the book. Included is an outline of the book, and drafts of the entire manuscript, the backstage chapter, and several of the theater lists. Research materials used in preparing the backstage chapter are also part of this series; they include photocopies of articles and book chapters on stage equipment, lighting and the like. Correspondence between Ms. Dillon and theater owners, operators and supporters, as well as with her co-author, David Naylor, comprise another portion of the series. Grant proposals developed in an effort of fund the book's publication are also included, as is correspondence with the Preservation Press, the book's eventual publisher. Considerable material dating from after the book's publication, including press releases, book reviews, correspondence, author appearances, and related articles are also found in this series. Directories and other publications of the League of Historic American Theaters are also included.
Series III: Indexes, undated (.5 lin.ft.)
Card file indexes related to the book include one comprised of informational cards returned by theaters owners filed alphabetically by state, and two of theaters by state compiled by the book authors. Also included is a bibliographic card file on secondary works concerning theaters and theater history, arranged alphabetically by author. An additional card file gives information on theaters not selected for inclusion in the book; it is arranged by state, then locality and theater name.
Series IV: Photographs, 1862-1995 and undated (2.5 lin.ft.)
An extensive collection of photographs makes up a critical portion of this collection. They are divided into theaters which were selected for inclusion in the book, and those not included. The former are arranged by state, and then subdivided by locality and theater name; the latter are arranged primarily by state only. There are small files of photographs that were originally located in Series II: Working Papers, and one file of negatives. Most of the photographs were taken by the authors, apparently in the period 1993-1996. David Naylor's photographs are high quality, 8" x 10" black and white images, many of which were used in the book. The largest single group of photographs are color snapshots (3" x 5" or 4" x 6") taken during site visits to many of the theaters. Correspondence suggests that most of these were taken by Ms. Dillon. Also included are some early images of the theaters obtained from other sources, as well as contemporary photographs obtained from theater owners or managers.
Series V: Slides, 1995 and undated (.5 lin. ft.)
This series consists of almost 1000 color slides of many of these same theaters. From the correspondence, it appears that most of these were taken by the authors during their visits to these theaters in the early to mid 1990s. These are filed in two albums in rather a random order. Some of these images also appear in the book.
This guide was prepared by Peter Curtis in October of 2003.
