Dayton Opera Records (MS-660)
Scope and Contents
The Dayton Opera Records include administrative files, such as Board of Trustee minutes; show files, such as programs, production binders, and posters; photographs and slides; scrapbooks; and audiovisual materials.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1960 - circa 2018
Creator
- Dayton Opera (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
There are no donor-imposed restrictions on accessing material in this collection; however, there are repository-imposed restrictions for logistical and preservation reasons:
This collection is stored off-site. Please contact us at least two (2) days in advance if you would like to use the off-site materials in this collection.
Due to preservation concerns, original audio and video materials cannot be played in the reading room. Patrons may have access... to digitized reference copies. Items without existing reference copies can be digitized at the patron’s request for the cost of creating a digital copy. Please contact us at least two (2) weeks in advance if you would like to request an audio or video reference copy.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
The first meetings of the Dayton Opera's founders took place in the fall of 1960. The founding director, Lester Freedman (1921-1994), also founded the Toledo Opera and led both for 20 years. Freedman resigned from the Dayton Opera in 1981. Other leaders of the Dayton Opera have included David DiChiera, Thomas Bankston, and Kathleen Clawson.
The Dayton Opera performed its first season in 1961–1962.
The Dayton Opera productions were performed at Memorial... Hall and the Victoria Theatre. In 2003, Dayton Opera moved to its new home at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center.
In 2012, the Dayton Opera became part of the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, along with the Dayton Ballet and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Opera Guild of Dayton, founded in 1963, is a volunteer support organization for the Dayton Opera, assisting with fundraising and community engagement.
Extent
30 linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Dayton Opera Records were donated to Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University Libraries, by the Dayton Opera in 2019.
Separated Materials
Any material relating specifically to the Opera Guild of Dayton, the Dayton Opera's volunteer organization, have been separated to the Opera Guild of Dayton Records (MS-509).
Processing Information
The Dayton Opera Records were processed by Lisa Rickey, Chip Boyer, and Megan O'Connor.
Subject
- Dayton Opera -- Archives (Organization)
- Dayton Performing Arts Alliance -- History (Organization)
- Freedman, Lester, 1921-1994 (Person)
- DiChiera, David (Person)
- Bankston, Thomas (Person)
- Clawson, Kathleen (Person)
donor
- Dayton Opera (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Dayton Opera Records (MS-660)
- Status
- In Progress
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Wright State University Libraries
Special Collections and Archives
3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy
Dayton OH 45435-0001 USA
937-775-2092
library-archives@wright.edu
