2017-04-05 Guide to the Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Collection, 1870-1961, 1989 SPEC.TRI.UTC Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod; Mackenzie Sommers Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2017 April; 2017 October This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2024-09-30T15:01-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Collection SPEC.TRI.UTC Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 37.6 Cubic feet 1870-1961, 1989 The Harmount’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Company was a touring theatre company, active in the early 20th century, that performed the stage version of "Uncle Tom’s Cabin" for rural communities in the Midwest. In the early 1950s, for the centennial celebration of the publication of the novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and its stage adaption, Professor William G. Bale staged several performances of the play using original set backdrops from the Harmount Company. The Harmount Uncle Tom’s Cabin Company Collection contains materials from both the original Harmount Company show and the 100th Anniversary productions such as financial ledgers, advertisements for shows, scripts, correspondence, photographs, notes, props, and backdrops. (11) oversize flat boxes; (6) oversize folders; (3) 5" letter document boxes; (1) 2.5" letter document box; (1) 2.5" legal document box; (1) artifact box; (1) oversize document box; (1) trunk English Bale, William G. Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Harmount, Albert L. Arrangement of Materials

Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Collection is arranged into two series; materials are organized chronologically within each series.

Series 1: Original Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Series 2: 100th Anniversary Productions

 Acquisitions Information

Unknown.

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Harmount’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Company Collection, SPEC.TRI.UTC, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Mackenzie Sommers, 2017 December. Finding aid written by: Zoe Macleod, April 2017; Mackenzie Sommers, 2017 October.

 Historical Note

The Harmount’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin Company was a touring theatre company that was active in the early part of the 20th century. In 1902, the Harmount Family of Williamsport, Ohio performed their own adaption of George Aiken's play Uncle Tom's Cabin (based on the Harriet Beecher Stowe novel) for the Williamsport community and decided to take the show on the road through Ohio and Indiana, performing in tents in small rural towns. The majority of the actors, musicians, and workers for the show were members of the Harmount Family. The company gained critical and popular acclaim allowing them to buy bigger tents and better wagons, travel farther, and hire more actors and workers.They began to perform during the winter season in indoor theatres and during the summer season, they sent out three different caravans of actors to perform the show all over the Midwest. The company performed this way until 1931 when it ceased to receive the critical praise it once had and, having to compete with motion pictures in theatres, stopped bringing in large crowds.

Beginning in about 1950, theatres in Ohio began to stage "100th Anniversary Productions" of Uncle Tom's Cabin in homage to the centennial of the novel and George Aiken's stage adaption. Professor William G. Bale was the main figure behind this revival. He wrote the script and acted as Uncle Tom in several of the productions. Bale used the original set backdrops and props from the Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin company in his productions.

 Scope and Contents

The Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Collection contains financial ledgers, advertisements, scripts, correspondence, photographs, and notes from both the original Harmount Uncle Tom's Cabin Company and from Professor William G. Bale's 100th anniversary productions. The collection also contains props and several large backdrop sets painted by scenic artists M. Armbruster & Sons in their studio in Columbus, Ohio. The set drops have been created using Aniline dye instead of paint because the company feared that frequent folding and unfolding would chip with regular paint. The props and sets are orignally from the Harmount Company, but were also used during 100th Anniversary productions of the show. Materials in this collection range from 1870-1961, 1989.

 Bale, William G. Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Harmount, Albert L. Account books Backdrops Banners Promotional materials Tent shows–-United States--20th century Traveling theater--United States--20th century Uncle Tom’s cabin (Drama) Original Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company Series 1 1870-before 1950 Arrangement of Materials

The Original Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company series is arranged chronologically.

 Scope and Contents

The Original Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin Company series contains financial ledgers, advertisments for the show, scripts, correspondence, photographs depicting life on the road with the original traveling Harmount Company, props and set backdrops from 1870 to before 1950.

 Moore (John) directing notes on script 18 15 1870 Lagstaff (C.W.) "Uncle Tom's Cabin Songster" and correspondence 1 14 1889 Thorton (Claudu)'s copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin novel 1 3 circa 1890s Haramount (Mr.) correspondence to 1 32 1900-1916 Harmount Company business correspondence 2 1 1900-1931 Character and scene posters 2-3 circa 1902-circa 1931 Scene posters 4 circa 1902-circa 1931 Scene poster 5 circa 1902-circa 1931 Account book #3E 3 5 1902 Backdrop: Allegory III, Uncle Tom's cabin TECH.BACKDROPS.2 circa 1903-1930 Promotional posters 1 circa 1903-circa 1931 Account book #1 schedule 2 17 1903 Early Harmount shows photographs 18 1 1903 Account book #2 schedule and notes 2 14 1903-1905 Account book #3A 3 11 1905 Account book #3B 3 10 1905 Account book #3C 3 9 1905 Account book #3D 3 6 1905 Account book #3F 3 8 1905 Account book #3G 2 18 1905 Account book #3H includes population count of Ohio tour towns 3 7 1905 Account book #3I 3 3 1906 Account book #4 for summer season 2 5 1908 Account book #5 for summer season 3 1 1909 Advertisement postcard 1 21 circa 1910s Band photographs 18 21 circa 1910s Blank contract forms 18 17 circa 1910s Dog photograph 1 10 circa 1910s Phillips (C.G.) Uncle Tom's Songster 1 34 circa 1910s Posters announcing Harmount Uncle Tom's Cabin show photographs 1 18 circa 1910s Tent ground photographs 18 19 circa 1910s Ticket stubs 1 12 circa 1910s Two dogs photograph 1 11 circa 1910s Unknown theatre program 1 20 circa 1910s Wagons photographs 18 20 circa 1910s Account book #4 for summer season 2 6 1911 Account book #6A for summer season 2 15 1911 Boy with dog at camp photograph 3 23 circa 1912-1929 "Harmount drying out bedclothes after bad rain" photographs 3 25 1912 Show wagon photographs 18 22 1912 Canceled checks and receipts 3 14 1912-1920 Show wagon photographs 3 22 1912-1929 Tour dates and locations 2 3 1913 Account book #7 for winter seasons 2 7 1913-1915 Interest sheets for theatres 2 4 circa 1914 Account book #9 for summer season 1 24 1914 Show band photograph 1 8 1914 Show band publicity photograph 1 9 1914 West Baden Springs Hotel Menu with Uncle Tom's Cabin show mention 1 13 1914 March 26 Account Book #8 for the winter season 3 2 1914-1915 American flag 14 circa 1915 Auction 15 circa 1915 Autumn wood wing 9 circa 1915 "Harmount's Big Company" Felt Banner 5 circa 1915 "Harmount's Uncle Tom's Cabin" Felt Banner 5 circa 1915 "The Greatest of All" Felt Banner 5 circa 1915 "The Only Big One" Felt Banner with hardware 5 circa 1915 Legree Plantation 13 circa 1915 Magnolia wood wing 16 circa 1915 Rocky pass 10 circa 1915 "$500.00 Reward...Wm Harris" prop sign 5 circa 1915 Scrim drop 11 circa 1915 Tab R.A. 7 circa 1915 Wooden mallet 6 circa 1915 Woodwing ice 8 circa 1915 Woodwing II 12 circa 1915 Account book #10C for winter season 2 11 1915 Advertising pamphlets 1 19 1915 Firearm license 1 2 1915 Illinois theatres correspondence and contracts 3 16 1915 Iowa theatres correspondence and contracts 3 19 1915 Michigan theatres correspondence and contracts 3 20 1915 Minnesota theatres correspondence and contracts 3 21 1915 Ohio theatres correspondence and contracts 2 9 1915 Pennsylvania theatres correspondence and contracts 3 18 1915 West Virginia theatres correspondence and contracts 3 17 1915 Wisconsin theatre correspondence and contracts 3 15 1915 Account book #10A for winter season (part I) 2 12 1915-1916 Account book #10B for winter season (part II) 2 13 1915-1916 Account book #10D for the winter season 1 26 1915-1916 Actor's contracts for the season 1 25 1915-1916 Indiana theatres correspondence and contracts 3 13 1915-1916 Account book #11 for summer season 3 4 1916-1917 Employed outside list 18 16 circa 1917 Account book #12 for the summer season 1 29 1917 Account Book #13 for summer season 1 31 1918 Account book #14A for summer season (Part I) 2 10 1919 Account book #14B for the summer season 1 28 1919 Show setup photograph 3 24 circa early 1920s Auction block scene photograph (on stage) 18 13 circa 1920s Cast photograph 18 4 circa 1920s Cotton picking photographs (on stage) 18 6 circa 1920s Eva dying scene photographs (on stage) 18 7 circa 1920s Grand Opera House program 1 17 circa 1920s Harmount (A.L.), founder of company and show grounds photographs 1 6 circa 1920s Marks and lights cues program 18 23 circa 1920s Phineas Fether spanking Lawyer Marks/Haley being shot by George Harris with wife Ophelia photograph (on stage) 18 5 circa 1920s Plantation scene photographs (on stage) 18 12 circa 1920s Scene in a bar photographs (on stage) 18 11 circa 1920s Simon Legree whipping Uncle Tom Cabin photograph 18 2 circa 1920s Simon Legree whipping Uncle Tom scene negative (on stage) 4 7 circa 1920s Slave Catcher scene negative (on stage) 4 6 circa 1920s Slave hunting scene photograph (on stage) 18 8 circa 1920s Uncle Tom and Eva photographs (on stage) 18 3 circa 1920s Uncle Tom and Simon Legree scene photograph (on stage) 18 10 circa 1920s "Uncle Tom Became Pastor in Canada After Escaping" article 1 5 circa 1920s Uncle Tom whipping scene photograph (on stage) 18 9 circa 1920s Wood's Theatre program 1 16 circa 1920s Account book #15D for the summer season 1 27 1920 Harmount (C.B.), manager photograph 1 4 1920 Harmount wagons photograph 4 8 1920 Shattuck Opera Program 18 14 1920 Account book #15A for summer season 2 8 1920 May Account book #15B for summer season 2 9 1920 June Account book #15C for summer session 2 16 1920 July Motor vehicle registration for Harmount Company 18 18 1921 Tent grounds and show wagons 4 9 1921 Harmount (Clarence) photograph 1 7 1929 "Hitting the Road with an Ohio Uncle Tom's Cabin Show" Columbus Dispatch Article 3 12 1938 Worcester (David) obituary 1 33 before 1950 100th Anniversary Productions Series 2 1950-1961, 1989 Arrangement of Materials

The 100th Anniversary Productions series is arranged chronologically.

 Scope and Contents

The 100th Anniversary Productions series contains materials related to the centennial stage productions of Uncle Tom's Cabin. It contains advertisements, notes, photographs, and scripts belonging to William G. Bale who helped stage many of the 100th anniversary productions and acted in them as Uncle Tom. The materials range from 1950-1961, 1989.

 Bale (William) arranged acting script for Uncle Tom's Cabin 17 3 circa 1950s Bale (William) autographed photograph and resume 3 26 circa 1950s Bale (William) original and copy of personal script 3 31 circa 1950s Bale (William) personal copy of script 4 1 circa 1950s Bale (William) script page of Act I 3 30 circa 1950s Cast in front of Greyhoud Charter bus photograph 3 28 circa 1950s Denison University's Summer Theatre Production of Uncle Tom's Cabin postcard 4 5 circa 1950s Northern Players production poster 6 circa 1950s Ohio Northern University's Northern Players production of Uncle Tom's Cabin flyer 4 4 circa 1950s Whipping scene from Uncle Tom's Cabin Production still 3 27 circa 1950s Script photocopies 3 32 circa 1950s Unidentified group photograph on plantation stage negative 3 33 circa 1950s Allegory negatives 1 23 after 1950 Scenes from Uncle Tom's Cabin drawings; bills for photography 1 15 after 1950 Kent State University Summer Theatre Fyler for Uncle Tom's Cabin show 1 2 after 1950 Photocopies of original programs, correspondence, and bulletins 17 2 after 1950 Promotional photographs from various Uncle Tom's Cabin Companies 1 22 after 1950 Script photocopy 17 1 after 1950 Buell (Reverend Lewis E.) correspondence regarding the "Real Uncle Tom" 3 29 1951 April 3 Denison University's Summer Theatre Production of Uncle Tom's Cabin program 4 3 1952 Scene breakdown 4 2 1952-1953 McDowell (John) original scenery and documents for production of Uncle Tom's Cabin lecture 1 1 1961 Timeline Magazine with article about Uncle Tom's cabin centennial 1 30 1989