Ren Faire Posters and Other Materials, 1971-2005

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Whitman College. Ren Faire (Walla Walla, Wash.)
Title
Ren Faire Posters and Other Materials
Dates
1971-2005 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.2 linear feet, (1 oversize box, 1 oversize folder)
Collection Number
HTM_WCA21
Summary
Collection of posters and materials created by the committee organizing the annual Whitman College Ren Faire, with various information about the event
Repository
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Whitman College and Northwest Archives
Penrose Library, Room 130
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362
Telephone: 5095275922
Fax: 5095264785
archives@whitman.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ren (Renaissance) Faire originated in 1971 at Whitman College as an outgrowth of the Whitman Renaissance Consort. Kate Bracher, the co-director of the Consort at that time, and Ruth Spangler, were the first chairpersons of Ren Faire. The title of the event changed often in the beginning, shifting between May Fete, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, and Renaissance Faire. The festival is currently known as Ren Faire.

Ren Faire designates a committee of current students and alumni, under and funded by ASWC – the Associated Students of Whitman College. The committee organizes the annual Ren Faire, as well as other activities focusing on the Elizabethan/Renaissance period throughout the academic year. The first fairs, focused on music and dance, were a celebration of spring and had student-built selling booths. Through the years, tournaments, jousting and fights, various merchant booths, jugglers, potters and blacksmiths, fanfares, madrigals and Irish or Celtic bands, all of them both Whitman and non-Whitman affiliated, have been added. The coronation of a May Queen used to be the highlight of the fair; now Ren Faire hosts a noon procession ceremony and trial and punishment at the end of the day with a King and/or Queen presiding.

Ren Faire has become known throughout Washington. While the first fairs usually lasted two days in late April or early May, Ren Faire is now held on the last Saturday of April, between 10 a.m. and 5 a.m. All the activities and performances are held on Whitman College’s campus. Over the years various others activities became associated with Ren Faire, but they are organized by different groups: The Renaissance Fun Run and the Renaissance Triathlon are organized by the Health Center and Health Aids. Whitman’s Faire magazine shares no connection with Ren Faire. Although important for its history, Ren Faire is an entirely separate entity from the Renaissance Consort.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains posters, flyers, programs, photographs and correspondence created by Ren (Renaissance) Faire from 1971 to 2005. There is a nearly complete set of posters made annually by the committee members. Posters contain information on the dates of the Faire, the time, the location, various activities offered, entertainers in attendance, and entertainment offered. Other items in the collection include photographs from various Ren Faires, programs, merchant letters and information, newspaper articles, correspondence or flyers about related events.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Copyright transferred to Whitman College.

Preferred Citation

Ren Faire Posters and Other Materials, Whitman College and Northwest Archives.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Flat arrangement.

Acquisition Information

Donated to the archives by Laura Schultz and Andreea Coca in 2005.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Posters 1974-2005
1/2 Miscellaneous 1971-2005
MC1.2/Oversize 3 Poster 2005

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Festivals--Washington (state)--Walla Walla
  • Pageants--Washington (state)--Walla Walla
  • Renaissance

Corporate Names

  • Whitman College. Ren Faire (Walla Walla, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Walla Walla,Wash.--History