Dina Rees Evans Papers

The Dina Rees Evans Papers, 1930-1989, contain correspondence, handwritten notes, greeting cards, reports, lists, newspaper and journal articles, resumes, meeting minutes, diplomas, obituaries, brochures, programs, fliers, journals, newsletters, photographs, a banner, scrapbooks, a guestbook, audio cassette tapes, maps, posters, typescripts and a book. The papers consist of biographical materials, her written works and materials that document her teaching and directing career at Cain Park Theatre. The collection is divided into the following four series, some with subseries: Professional History (Box 1), Cain Park Theatre (Boxes 1 and 2), Scrapbooks (Box 3) and Audio Materials (Box 3). There is no arrangement within the series and subseries.

Series I: Professional History: This series, 1930-1989, contains mostly biographical materials comprised of correspondence, handwritten notes, letters of support and greeting cards, handwritten thank you notes on a banner, newspaper articles, resumes, diplomas, obituaries, family and colleagues' photographs, as well as dedication, memorial, reunion and convocation brochures and programs. Also included are her written works, such as journal and newsletter articles, manuscript pages for her book and a copy of that book, Cain Park Theatre: The Halcyon Years.

Series II: Cain Park Theatre: This series consists of Cain Park Theatre records, photographs and research materials complied by Evans while writing her book, Cain Park Theatre: The Halcyon Years. It is divided into three subseries: Records, Photographs and Book Research Materials.

Subseries A: Records: This subseries, 1944-1960, documents Cain Park Theatre operations, productions and instruction through annual, class, financial and teacher reports, newspaper articles, project proposals, production fliers and programs, a hand drawn map of the grounds, student and staff lists, school brochures, newsletters, committee meeting minutes and officer lists; correspondence and a thesis on the history of children's dramatics at Cain Park.

Subseries B: Photographs: This subseries, 1947-1958, contains black and white photographs of productions, classes and staff, some of which are heavily annotated on the verso.

Subseries C: Book Research Materials: This subseries, 1931-1949, contains individual packets by year complied by Evans in preparation for the writing of her book, Cain Park Theatre: The Halcyon Years. Materials included are Cain Park Theatre operational records such as annual, class, financial and teacher reports, project proposals, correspondence, student and staff lists, committee meeting minutes and officer lists, and school brochures, newsletters and newspaper articles.

Series III: Scrapbooks: This series, 1934-1976, contains one Cain Park Theatre reunion guestbook and six scrapbooks created by students to celebrate Evans' retirement, productions, and the dedication of the Dina Rees Evans Center for the Performing Arts. Of note is the scrapbook titled Cain Parkers that in addition to photographs, newspaper articles and correspondence, also has a list of television and stage actors, directors and professors who performed as children at Cain Park.

Series IV: Audio Materials: This series consists of twenty-six audio cassette tapes, mostly from 1975, that contain personal reminiscences of Cain Park Theatre and arts school in the mid to late 1940s.