Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1914-2000, predominant 1972-2000 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1.25 m of textual records. -- 666 photographs. -- 219 posters. - - 108 architectural plans. -- 1 film reel. -- 7 video cassettes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
In 1913 a single-storey brick structure was built on the Bow River to house water supply pumping equipment for Calgary's 40,000 residents. The pumphouse was abandoned twenty years later. In 1971 the Calgary Youth Drama Society, founded by Joyce Doolittle, Ellen Tims, Victor Mitchell and Ernest Watkins, spearheaded the renovation of the pumphouse into a versatile centre for the performing arts. The Pumphouse Theatre was declared an Alberta historic site in 1975 and received a Heritage Award for Architecture in 1984. It is used by a wide variety of theatre, dance and music groups. In 1987 the Calgary Youth Drama Society changed its name to the Pumphouse Theatres Society. Beginning in the late 1990s Pumphouse ran drama day camps for children, and sponsored a one-act play festival.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Gift of Pumphouse Theatres, 1989-2000.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The fonds consists of bylaws and minutes (1972-1987); office files, including booking records (1972-2000); contracts, programs and reviews (1972-1987); architectural plans (1914-1984); photographs of the interior and exterior of Pumphouse (1970s-1980s); videos, primarily of drama day camps (late 1990s); and extensive posters of events held at the theatre (1971-1997).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
No restrictions on access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
The material is in English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents of records.
Note
Three of the films are incomplete copies of a National Film Board Production called The Admittance, produced by Barrie Howell. These have not been included in the inventory..
Note
The photos and slides are in M 8035, files 209-216.