2017-04-05 Preliminary Inventory of the John R. Thomas Papers, 1992-1996 RG.42.166 Finding aid prepared by Zoe MacLeod, Beth Crowner Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2017 March, 2019 September This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2020-02-04T11:08-0500 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard John R. Thomas Papers RG.42.166 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 1.39 Cubic feet 1992-1996 John Reid Thomas (circa 1952-1996) was an American director, actor, and designer who created lighting, sets, and costumes for the stage. Thomas attended the Ohio State University from 1992-1995 where he received his Master’s degree in Theatre with a focus in costume design. During the OSU theatre’s 1994-1995 season, Thomas designed the lighting for Arms and the Man and the costumes for The Country Wife. The John R. Thomas Papers date from 1992 to 1996, and contain lighting and costume designs, light plots, and materials from theatre classes and Ohio State University productions. (2) oversize flat boxes; (1) carton English Thomas, John R., (John Reid) Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are arranged in the order received.

 Acquisitions Information

Originally donated to the Theatre Research Institute by John R. Thomas in January 1996; Transferred to the University Archives in September 2019.

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], John R. Thomas Papers, RG 42.166, Ohio State University Archives, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for patron research, but may be used only in the University Archives Reading Room. Some materials in this collection may be stored off-site, and are only available if requested 72 hours in advance of your visit. Contact the University Archives for more information.

 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

Finding Aid written by: Beth Crowner, 2019 September

 Biographical Note

John Reid Thomas (circa 1952-1996) was an American director, actor, and designer who created lighting, sets, and costumes for the stage. He was the Technical Director and Resident Designer at the Weathervane Community Playhouse from 1982-1992. Thomas attended the Ohio State University from 1992-1995 where he received his Master’s degree in Theatre with a focus in costume design. During 1992 and 1994, he took Costume Design and Advanced Costume Design from Dennis Parker, a faculty emeritus in the Theatre department. During the OSU theatre’s 1994-1995 season, Thomas designed the lighting for Arms and the Man and the costumes for The Country Wife. He was also a costumer at the Player’s Guild in Canton, Ohio in 1995. Thomas died of lymphoma in 1996.

 Scope and Contents

The John R. Thomas Papers date from 1992 to 1996, and contain lighting and costume designs, light plots, and materials from theatre classes and Ohio State University productions.

 Ohio State University--Graduate students. Ohio State University--History. Ohio State University. Department of Theatre. Thomas, John R., (John Reid) Costume design--Study and teaching (Higher)--Ohio--Columbus--20th century Design drawings Graduate students--Ohio--Columbus--20th century Stage lighting--Study and teaching (Higher)--Ohio--Columbus--20th century Theater--Study and teaching (Higher)--Ohio--Columbus--20th century Processed 1.39 Cubic feet 1992-1996 (2) oversize flat boxes; (1) carton "Arms and The Man" lighting design UA.RG.42.166.0001 1-2 before 1996 "Assassins" lighting project UA.RG.42.166.0001 3-4 before 1996 "The Country Wife" production notebook UA.RG.42.166.0001 5-6 1995 "La Boheme" design project UA.RG.42.166.0001 7 before 1996 "La Boheme" light plots UA.RG.42.166.0001 8 before 1996 "Romeo and Juliet" lighting design UA.RG.42.166.0001 9 1993 Advanced Costume design TH 855-A UA.RG.42.166.0001 10 1993 Advanced Costume Design, TH 855-B UA.RG.42.166.0001 11 1994 "Hippolytus" costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0002 1 1993 Aphrodite 1993 Artemis Attendant Chorus Messenger Nurse Theseus "The Story of Zora Neale Hurston" costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0002 2 1993 Langston Hughes, II Langston Hughes, III Richard Wright Zora, I and Finale Zora, III Zora, V "Antigone" costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0002 3 1994 Antigone Creon Eurydice First Guard Haemon Ismene "Don Quixote" costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0002 4 1993 Preliminary Study Don Quixote "The Rivals," Belle Graceful costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0002 5 1992 Belle Graceful "The Rivals," Mrs. Malaprop of Bath Collage of mask images; performance photographs UA.RG.42.166.0003 1 before 1996 "The Country Wife" costume designs UA.RG.42.166.0003 2 1995 Alithea I Alithea II Boy Boy, Dainty Fidget, and Pinchwife Dainty Fidget Dorilant Harcourt Harcourt's Disguise Horner, 1 Horner Horner, Harcourt, and M'lady Fidget Jaspar Jaspar, M'lady Squeamish, Alithea, and Lucy Lucy Margery Margery's Disguise M'lady Fidget M'lady Squeamish Pinchwife Quack Sparkish Sparkish, 2 Sparkish, 3 Sparkish and two unnamed characters Townsman/Peddler