Reference Files, 1972-1992

The Tom Behm Papers, 1967-2002, are comprised of correspondence, handwritten notes, letters of support, note and greeting cards, postcards, newspaper and periodical articles, class syllabi and handouts, journals, professional papers, agendas and minutes, schedules and itineraries, outlines, speeches, newsletters, brochures, programs, certificates, photographs, a dissertation, biographical outlines, histories, reports, a promptbook, study guides, press releases, fliers, posters, press kits, video cassette tapes and pantomime books. The collection documents over thirty years of Behm's professional life in youth theatre as a director and educator at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. It has bulk dates of 1972 through 2000 and is divided into the following series: Professional History, Artistic Director, United States Theatre Companies Reference Files, and Theatre for Youth Reference Files. The Professional History series is divided into the following subseries: Biographical Materials and Correspondence.

Series I: Professional History documents Behm's professional life and correspondence with noted children's theatre colleagues. It is divided into the two following subseries: Biographical Materials and Correspondence. There is no arrangement within the series.

Sub-Series A: Biographical Materials (1967-2002) provides biographical material and information on Behm's involvement with the Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Children's Theatre Board, the Southern Children's Theatre Circuit Showcase, SETC (Southeastern Theatre Conference), the National Committee for Arts for the Handicapped, AAE (Alliance for Arts Education) and teaching at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) through handwritten notes, letters of thanks and support, note and greeting cards, newspaper and periodical articles, theatre journals, committee and conference agendas and minutes, an award presentation speech, newsletters, season brochures, showcase programs, certificates of appreciation, class syllabi and handouts, student and colleague photographs, student study notes, and an acknowledgement in a colleagues dissertation. The study notes are from children's theatre classes at the University of Kansas taught by Jed Davis.

Sub-Series B: Correspondence (1970-1993) consists of professional and personal correspondence, such as hand and typewritten notes, letters of thanks and support, postcards, note and greeting cards from and to notable children's theatre colleagues, such as Aurand Harris, Orlin Corey, Jed Davis, Nellie McCaslin, Natalia Sats and Sara Spencer. Included with the correspondence, arranged in file folders by name, are play programs, conference and meeting schedules and itineraries, newspaper and periodical articles, theatre journals, biographical outlines, and a few photographs. Of note is Behm's correspondence nominating the Bellevue School District Children's Theatre for the Dare to Dream competition.

Series II: Artistic Director (1975-2002) documents Behm's work as Artistic Director of the North Carolina Theatre for Young People, formerly the Pixie Playhouse. It also provides information on productions staged by these theatres. The series contains newspaper articles and reviews, a promptbook for Behm's play Tarheel Tales, tour and season brochures, study guides, press releases, fliers, posters, production photographs, newsletters, press kits and five VHS video cassette tapes of productions. There is no arrangement within the series.

Series III: United States Theatre Companies Reference Files (1970-2000) consists of individual folder files for children's professional, university and youth theatre companies. It contains newspaper and periodical articles, histories, performance schedules, season brochures, play programs, study guides, press releases, fliers, posters, annual and financial reports, newsletters, press kits and some correspondence. The arrangement is alphabetical by company title.

Series IV: Theatre for Youth Reference Files (1972-1992) contains information on creative drama and children's theatre, research for the play Peter Pan and English pantomimes, children's theatre organizations, and international children's theatre companies. It consists of newsletters, professional papers, conference reports and meeting minutes, newspaper and periodical articles, theatre journals, and books on pantomimes.