Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this collection is unrestricted with the exception of one file noted on the inventory.
Navigate the Collection
Summary
- Abstract:
- Personal and professional papers of Paul Bruce Pettit, professor of theatre at the University at Albany, 1947-1972. Includes essays, play scripts and literary writings produced while enrolled in graduate programs at Cornell University, his theses (M.A. 1943 and Ph.D. 1949), correspondence, offprints of articles about theater related subjects, newspaper clippings, scripts of radio broadcasts (1947-1948), and lecture notes from Pettit's tenure as a professor and chairman of the Department of Theatre. While on a Fulbright Scholarship Pettit directed the National Theater in Cyprus (1964 and 1965) and was known for his work in arena theater.
- Extent:
- 2.0 cubic ft.
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Paul Bruce Pettit Papers, 1938-1972. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pettit Papers).
Background
- Scope and Content:
This collection documents Dr. Paul Bruce Pettit's professional life as a researcher, professor, and arts administrator. Materials in the collection include folders that contain correspondence, academic papers and other samplings of work that Dr. Pettit produced while enrolled in graduate programs (M.A. and Ph.D.) at Cornell University, 1942-43 and 1947-49 respectively. Besides three bound copies of printed scripts from his radio broadcasts of theatrical reviews, 1947-1948, there are also copies of his master's thesis and doctoral dissertation, The Important American Dramatic Types to 1900: A Study of the Yankee, Negro, Indian, and Frontiersman, 1949.
Correspondence, offprints of articles about theater related subjects, plays and reviews, and lecture notes from Dr. Pettit's tenure as a professor of theatre at the University at Albany (known as New York State College for Teachers at the time of hire) are also part of the collection, 1947-72.
Additionally, there is material from within this time frame that includes a bound copy of his play A Night from a Thousand Nights and a Night translated into Arabic, and presented while directing the National Theatre in Cyprus as part of a Fulbright scholarship, 1964-1965. Writings in the collection from the era and clippings give an account of Dr. Pettit's and other Americans evacuation from Cyprus when a Turkish invasion appeared eminent. There are other newspaper clippings chronicling Dr. Pettit's accomplishments throughout his life.
The majority of the file names are names that Dr. Pettit assigned them based on handwritten or typed labels the archivist found on the original folders in the collection. If there was no label indicating the file's name, the archivist chose a name based on the subject of the records. All the files are arranged chronologically. Within the files, items are arranged based on the year of their creation.
Related collections in the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives include the records of the Department of Theatre (UA-609) and the Jarka M. Burian Papers, (UA-902.017).
- Biographical / Historical:
Paul Bruce Pettit (1920-1972) was a professor of theatre and the first chair of the Department of Theatre at the University at Albany, 1947-1972.
Pettit was born in Greensburg, Indiana, on July 9, 1920. After completing high school at The Principia in Saint Louis, Missouri, he attended and received a Bachelor of Arts (1942) in English from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. Immediately following his graduation Pettit enrolled in graduate school at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he became involved in the vibrant theatre arts community. Pettit earned a Master of Arts (1943) and a Doctor of Philosophy (1949) from Cornell.
Though their marriage did not last, E. Bernice "Bunny" Pettit (nee Minkler) was very involved in Dr. Pettit's professional life while they were together, often collaborating on projects or accompanying him to events. She also mothered their two children, Alexander Drummond and Faith Caldwell Pettit.
Dr. Pettit was appointed to the faculty at New York State College for Teachers in 1947 in the combined English and Dramatic Arts Department and remained employed at the institution until his death. After the college became the State University of New York at Albany, he was instrumental in the forming of the Department of Speech and Dramatic Arts and fostered the evolution into the Department of Theatre which he initially chaired. As a professor of theatre, he was actively involved in the American Educational Theatre Association (AETA). After returning from a Fulbright Scholarship in Greece (1950-51) where he directed the Athens Players, and with a renewed interest in arena theater, Pettit founded the Arena Summer Theatre at the university in 1952. Dr. Pettit traveled extensively, particularly in the Mediterranean, on various grants and Fulbright Scholarships. In 1964 Dr. Pettit and his family were among hundreds of Americans evacuated from the strife-torn island of Cyprus during the escalating Greek-Turkish conflicts. Until the struggle made his work there impossible, Dr. Pettit had served as American advisor and director of the Greek-Cypriot National Theatre in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Drawing on his cultural background, Dr. Pettit was often called on to contribute to the surrounding community as a subject expert. From 1947-1949, WROW radio featured Dr. Pettit as an entertainment critic. He provided a start-up for Albany Civic Theater and served as president of the Albany League of Arts working directly with the New York State Council on the Arts. In his capacity as president of the Albany League of Arts, Dr. Pettit proposed and advocated for the building of a Cultural Arts Center for the City of Albany.
In 1971, while on leave from the university, Dr. Pettit served as Visiting University Fellow and director of program development in the fine arts for the newly established Empire State College. Prior to returning to his teaching post at the university in 1972, Dr. Pettit died of a heart attack in his home. He was 52 years old.
The information provided above was gleaned from the following sources, in addition to those found in the Paul Bruce Pettit Papers themselves:
- Acquisition information:
- The Department of Theatre donated the Paul Bruce Pettit Papers in 1973 and 1978.
- Processing information:
Processed in 2014 by W. Dan Johnson.
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized chronologically. There are no series.
- Physical location:
- The materials are located onsite in the department.
Subjects
- Subjects:
- Radio and Television Broadcasting
Theater--Study and teaching--New York (State)--Albany
Fulbright scholarships--Greece
Fulbright scholarships--Cyprus
Arena theater--New York (State)
Higher education--New York (State)
UAlbany Faculty & Alumni Papers
Clippings
Correspondence
Files by subject
Lecture notes
Lectures
Manuscripts
Photographic prints
Postcards
Radio scripts
Speeches
theater programs - Names:
- State College for Teachers (Albany, N.Y.)
State University of New York at Albany
State University of New York at Albany. Theatre Department
Pettit, Paul Bruce, 1920-1972
Contents
Access
Using These Materials
- ACCESS:
- The archives are open to the public and anyone is welcome to visit and view the collections.
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
Access to this collection is unrestricted with the exception of one file noted on the inventory.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of copyright. Whenever possible, the M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives will provide information about copyright owners and other restrictions, but the legal determination ultimately rests with the researcher. Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Paul Bruce Pettit Papers, 1938-1972. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Pettit Papers).