Scope and arrangement
The Theatre Library Association (TLA) Records contain the administrative records of the organization, from 1936 to 2005. These records document TLA's history through administrative files, meeting minutes, TLA publications and materials relating to TLA's awards, conferences, and affiliate organizations.
Administrative files illustrate all aspects of running an active professional organization. Correspondence covers such topics as the founding of the Theatre Library Association, the 1937 meeting of the American Library Association, members' attendance at meetings, speakers lecturing to the TLA membership, committee appointments, and activities of various TLA committees. Other administrative files include financial records that document negotiations with contributing writers, editors and vendors regarding publications; galleys of Broadside; and transcripts of papers delivered at TLA meetings. Official documents, such as TLA's articles of incorporation, charter, and by-laws can be found in boxes 1 and 9.
The electronic records component of the administrative files contains letters, memos, meeting notes, agendas, and articles for Broadside. The bulk of the electronic records in this collection document four issues of Performing Arts Resources with electronic versions of all content for the journal, including articles, introductions, covers, titles pages, credit pages, and images; as well as correspondence regarding the publication and content of the journal.
Meeting minutes consist of agendas, minutes, and committee reports from both the executive board meetings and the annual business meeting open to the entire TLA membership. Programs for meetings, lecture programs, and conferences are also included with meeting minutes. Correspondence regarding meetings and meeting minutes can also be found in the administrative files.
The Awards annually presented by TLA are well represented in this collection. The Book Awards are documented with calls for nominations, lists of nominated books, and correspondence from committee co-chairs regarding the submission and selection process. The Distinguished Service Award is documented with ballots and correspondence. Also found here are lists of winners and press releases, as well as invitations to and photographs of the awards ceremony. Additional correspondence pertaining to the Book Awards can also be found in the administrative files.
Conferences sponsored or co-sponsored by TLA are documented with abstracts and full-texts of papers, questionnaires, and conference programs, packets, agendas, schedules, and attendee lists. Correspondence negotiating speakers, venues, and conference programming can be found here. Materials pertaining to programs, events, and panels from TLA's early days are inluded with administrative files. The affiliate organizations with which TLA often co-sponsored conferences and events included the American Society for Theatre Research, the International Association of Libraries, Museums, Archives and Documentation Centres of the Performing Arts (SIBMAS), the American Library Association, the Special Library Association, the Society of American Archivists, and the American Theatre Association. The 1993 Midwest Archives Conference in Chicago is documented with electronic records, including letters, memos, meeting minutes, agendas, and exhibition write-ups.
Arrangement
The Theatre Library Association records are arranged in the following groups: Administrative Files, Meeting Files, Awards, and Conferences.