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Scrapbooks, 1928-1972, of programs, publicity, and newspaper clippings compiled by the directors and staff of various University theatrical productions; history of University play production, 1909-1956; and departmental correspondence and miscellanea.

Records of the Department of Speech include 31 linear feet of material and 6 oversize scrapbooks, dating from 1928 to 1982. Virtually all of the records relate directly to the department's work in theater education. Included are extensive records of university theatrical productions (1938-1972); records of the University Players, a student organization dedicated to presenting live theater on campus; and general information regarding theater in Ann Arbor. Actual department records make up a small minority of the documentation found within the collection, although some information regarding a 1972 unit review and the decisions leading to the 1979 reorganization of the department are included. Photographs include images of plays and actors in various University theatrical productions.

Official photographer for the University Players (formerly Play Production) at the University of Michigan starting in 1928; photographic negatives of cast (in costume) from various student productions.

The Francis W. Ouradnik collection consists of 421 black and white negatives of scenes from plays produced by the University Players (formerly Play Production) at the University of Michigan in the period of 1928 to 1968. Francis Ouradnik, produced the majority of the negatives. A partial listing of the plays, which he made, can be found with the negatives.

The collection has been arranged into three series: two series of negatives and a series containing positive photographs. The first series contains photographic negatives dated from 1928 to 1944 (32 photos), apparently not taken by Ouradnik. The second series, running from 1934 to 1968, numbers 389 negatives identified as being taken by Ouradnik. Each series is arranged chronologically with a very few exceptions.

All negatives and photographs are black and white, and only a few scattered copies are not identified by date. Ouradnik composed a list of his negative file of plays and a copy is enclosed with the collection. Only three productions for these years cannot be located. All there are for the year 1947: "In Spite of Heaven," "Candida," and "In the Zone."