mnsss379 Women's Project and Productions Records, 1979-1996 Finding Aid Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College

Northampton, MA

Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. 2006-12-01 Finding aid written in English. Sophia Smith CollectionSmith College Women's Project and Productions Records, 1979-1996 Finding Aid MS 361 2006

Collection Overview Women's Project (New York, N.Y.) Women's Project and Productions Records1979-1996 MS 361 81 boxes (100.25 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection

Smith College Northampton, MA

Collection includes plays and programs, administrative records (correspondence of the artistic director, financial and fundraising files, production and publicity materials), photographs, audiotapes, and some printed materials. NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you. Historical Note

Julia Miles founded the Women's Theatre Project (WPP) at the American Place Theatre in 1978 with a grant from the Ford Foundation. Its purpose was to identify and nurture the work of women playwrights and directors. The group produced rehearsed readings, studio productions, and, in a few cases, main-stage productions for the American Place Theatre. Such performers as Colleen Dewhurst, Tammy Grimes, Linda Hunt, and Carrie Nye have supported the program. In eight seasons, the Project presented 150 scripts as rehearsed readings, produced 35 plays, and published two anthologies of plays written by WPP members. The WPP exists to bring women directors together with a playwright, a stage, and actors. Efforts have been successful: Joan Micklin-Silver, Ellie Renfield, Amy Saltz, Joan Van Thorne, Claudia Weill, Bryna Wortman, and many other directors have worked in the Project.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The overwhelming bulk of this collection consists of scripts and programs for "rehearsed readings." The rest includes administrative records (correspondence of the artistic director, financial and fundraising files, production and publicity materials); photographs; audiotapes; and some printed materials, including programs, newsletters, brochures, and clippings.

NOTE: There is no container list online for this finding aid. You may contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you want one sent to you.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection with the following restrictions:

Collection is stored offsite; researchers must request boxes 48 hours in advance.

Note: this collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

Copyright to unpublished materials may be owned by the creator, or their heirs or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Women's Project and Productions Records, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Additions to the Collection

Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.

Search Terms Miles, Julia Women's Project (New York, N.Y.)--History--Sources American drama--Women authors--History--Sources Feminist theater--United States--History--Sources Women in the theater--United States--History--Sources Women dramatists, American--20th century--Sources