Biographical Note
C.B. (Charles Buren) Mitchell joined the faculty of Oregon Agricultural
College in 1920 to head the new Department of Speech. As department head,
he established and developed the dramatics and forensics programs at
Oregon State. More than 200 plays were produced under his administration.
Mitchell retired in 1952; the College Playhouse was renamed in his honor
as Mitchell Playhouse in 1961.
Mitchell was born in Lebanon, Indiana, in 1886 and earned degrees at
DePauw University and the University of Michigan. He taught at Michigan
Agricultural College prior to his appointment at Oregon State. Mitchell
died in 1955.
Content Description
The C.B. Mitchell University Theater Scrapbooks consist of four volumes
assembled by Mitchell documenting 32 years of theater productions at
Oregon State College. Several of the productions were staged by the Mask
and Dagger Club. The scrapbooks consist predomininantly of high quality
photographs arranged chronologically; most depict finished stage sets with
actors in complete costume. The volumes also include images of set
construction, lighting equipment, application of makeup, outdoor
productions, and the logistics of taking a production "on the road" to
Portland. The play title and production dates are identified; many of the
images include handwritten annotations by Mitchell regarding set design
and production innovations, such as the first use of backstage lighting
for atmosphere and the appearance of silhouette onstage. Many of the
photographs were made by Ball Studio and Howell's Studio
photographers.
The scrapbooks also include programs and playbills for some of the
productions.