Today's Hours:
Ask Us
My Library Account
KSU Creative Arts Festival records
Special Collections and Archives
KSU Creative Arts Festival records
Special Collections and Archives
KSU Creative Arts Festival records
| Repository: | Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives. |
| Title: | Kent State University Creative Arts Festival records |
| Inclusive Date(s): | 1966-1975 |
| Bulk Date(s): | 1973-1974 |
| Author: | Finding aid prepared by Cara Gilgenbach |
| Creation: | Finding aid encoded by Cara Gilgenbach using the OhioLINK EAD Application in 2023 |
| Origination: | Kent State University |
| Extent: | 1.16 cubic feet (2 document cases + 1 half-size record storage box) |
| Physical Location: | 11th Floor |
| Finding Aid Identifier: | OhKeUSC0224 |
| Abstract: | The collection contains programs, artists' files, photographs, audio recordings, and other materials associated with the Kent State University Creative Arts Festival, an annual event that brought artists from many different genres and artistic media to campus for a series of lectures, workshops, readings, exhibits, and performances. |
| Language(s): | The records are in English |
History of the Creative Arts Festival
According to a 1969 article, the Creative Arts Festival (CAF), conceived as a week long event hosting visiting artists, was started in 1966 (Brenner, Bill. "Festival History," Daily Kent Stater. January 28, 1969, p. 9). The idea for the festival was suggested in 1965 by Sharon Graves who was at the time the cultural committee chair of the Student Activities Board (SAB). The festival, typically held during January or February, was intended to help students become more aware of the influence and importance of the arts (defined broadly) and creative endeavors. Outside artists were brought in for a week of activities, not only a single lecture or performance, providing students with ample opportunities to engage with artists from a variety of fields and genres. The festival featured lectures, seminars, readings, performances, workshops, and panel discussions among other activities over the years. A number of prominent artists and performers participated in the CAF over the years. The festival was advertised and covered in the Stater campus newspaper. It is difficult to establish a definitive date on which the festival ended, but articles about its existence as part of annual campus programming can be found dating through 1984.
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection is comprised of Artists' Files that contain correspondence, biographical information, and photographs of artists who came to Kent State for the Creative Arts Festival. There are also selected programs, event photographs, and audio recordings in the collection. This is a partial archive of this event as Special Collections & Archives has only received partial records to date.
Statement of Arrangement
The collection is organized into five series:
| Series 1: Artists Files | |
| Series 2: Photographs | |
| Series 3: Brochures/Programs | |
| Series 4: Other Records | |
| Series 5: Audio Recordings |
Related Material
There are additional photographs of selected events and artists who came to Kent State as part of this festival in the Kent State University Photographs collection. Contact Special Collections & Archives for additional assistance locating these materials.
Restrictions on Use
Most of the artist photographs in the collection are not owned by Kent State and were supplied by the artists themselves. Kent State University cannot grant permission for use beyond personal, research use.
Preferred Citation
Kent State University Creative Arts Festival records. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.
Acquisition Information
The records in this collection were gathered and compiled by Special Collections & Archives staff over time. A large influx of material was created and compiled by Kent State faculty member Robert J. Bertholf (English) who was an organizer of the festival in 1973 and 1974.
Accruals
Additional records of the Creative Arts Festival will be added to this collection as they are acquired.
Controlled Access Headings
The following are found in this collection:
| Subjects: | |
| Kent State University. Creative Arts Festival | |
| Art festivals -- Ohio -- Kent | |
| Arts -- Ohio -- Kent | |
| Arts -- Study and teaching -- Ohio -- Kent | |
| Performing arts festivals -- Ohio -- Kent | |
| Persons: | |
| Bertholf, Robert J. | |
| Functions: | |
| Arts -- Study and teaching | |
| Art festivals -- Management | |
| Performing arts festivals -- Management | |
| Occupations: | |
| College teachers | |
| Material Types: | |
| Photographs | |
| Open reel audiotapes | |
| Portraits | |
| Records (Documents) | |
| Brochures | |
| Clippings | |
| Lectures | |
| Literary readings | |
| Sound recordings | |
| Programs (Publications) | |
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Artists Files, 1969-1974, undated
| Scope and Content | |
| The Artists Files contain clippings, biographical information, correspondence, photographs, and other material by and about the artists or artistic groups that were invited to participate in the Creative Arts Festival. Please note that some files contain very little information such as a single photograph or single clipping. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 1 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Akron Jazz Workshop, Inc., 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 2 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Arnett, Carroll, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 3 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Barton, Bruce Walter, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 4 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Benglis, Lynda, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 5 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Bialy, Harvey, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 6 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Brakhage, Stan, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 7 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Brolaski, Ines, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 8 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Brown, Harvey, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 9 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Byrd, Charlie, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 10 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Carlin, George, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 11 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Clark, Tom, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 12 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Clarke, Shirley, undated (but 1969) |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Box 1 / Folder 13 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Creeley, Robert, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 14 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Dawson, Fielding, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 15 |
| CAF: Artists Files: DEVO Sextet, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| This file contains one item: a small, handwritten note written on the back of a piece of scrap paper that reads: "Sextet Devo, 1) Gerald Casale, 2) Robert " [Casale], 3) Robert Lewis, 4) Mark Mothersbaugh, 5) Rod Reisman, 6) Charles Frederick Weber III, (Gonna) Buy the Farm" | |
| Box 1 / Folder 16 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Dinglefest Theatre Company, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 17 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Doctorow, E. L., 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 18 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Dorn, Edward, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 19 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Fuller, Samuel, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 20 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Gerber, Dan, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 21 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Hardwick, Elizabeth, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Biography or History | |
| Hardwick was a moderator during the 1969 CAF. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 22 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Kimball, George, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 23 |
| CAF: Artists Files: King, B. B., undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Biography or History | |
| King performed during the 1969 CAF. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 24 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Kyger, Joanne, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Box 1 / Folder 25 |
| CAF: Artists Files: LaMama Co., undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Biography or History | |
| LaMama was part of the 1969 CAF. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 26 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Lowell, James, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Box 1 / Folder 27 |
| CAF: Artists Files: McClure, Michael, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 28 |
| CAF: Artists Files: McGuane, Thomas, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 29 |
| CAF: Artists Files: McMurtry, Larry, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 30 |
| CAF: Artists Files: McNaughten, William, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 31 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Metcalf, Paul, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 32 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Music Now & Then, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 33 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Mydans, Carl, 1972 |
| Box 1 / Folder 34 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Myers & Teter, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 35 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Okamura, Arthur, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 36 |
| CAF: Artists Files: The Open Theater, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 37 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Oppenheimer, Joel, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Box 1 / Folder 38 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Pearls Before Swine, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 39 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Petersen, Will, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 40 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Raphael, Frederic, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Box 1 / Folder 41 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Scardina, Paul, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 42 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Segal, Michael, 1973 |
| Box 1 / Folder 43 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Sennett, Gerti, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 44 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Shapiro, Karl, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Biography or History | |
| Shapiro participated in the 1969 CAF. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 45 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Sharits, Paul, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 46 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Soleri, Paolo, 1971 |
| Box 1 / Folder 47 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Street Fiction Press, undated |
| Box 1 / Folder 48 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Sugarman, George, 1974 |
| Box 1 / Folder 49 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Tenney, James, undated |
| Scope and Content | |
| File contains only photograph(s). | |
| Biography or History | |
| Tenney participated in the 1969 CAF. | |
| Box 1 / Folder 50 |
| CAF: Artists Files: Theatre of Communities, undated |
Series 2: Brochures/Programs, 1966-1973
| Box 2 / Folder 1 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1966 |
| Biography or History | |
| Festival theme: "The Artist and His Work" | |
| Box 2 / Folder 2 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1968 |
| Biography or History | |
| Festival theme: "Encounter Interpret Innovate" | |
| Box 2 / Folder 3 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1969 |
| Biography or History | |
| Festival theme: "The Arts Reach Out" | |
| Box 2 / Folder 4 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1970 |
| Box 2 / Folder 5 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1971 |
| Box 2 / Folder 6 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1972 |
| Box 2 / Folder 7 |
| CAF: Brochures/Programs, 1973 |
Series 3: Photographs, 1973-1974, undated
| Separated Material | |
| For photographs of individual artists or groups, please also see the Artists Files series above. | |
| Box 2 / Folder 8 |
| CAF: Photographs: Art of the American Indian, 1974 |
| Box 2 / Folder 9 |
| CAF: Photographs: Events, 1973 |
| Box 2 / Folder 10 |
| CAF: Photographs: Events, 1974 |
| Box 2 / Folder 11 |
| CAF: Photographs: Unidentified Artists and Events, undated |
Series 4: Other Records, 1968-1974, undated
| Box 2 / Folder 12 |
| CAF: Other Records: Clippings, 1968-1974, undated |
| Box 2 / Folder 13 |
| CAF: Other Records: Contract (form, blank), undated |
| Box 2 / Folder 14 |
| CAF: Other Records: Correspondence: Inter-Departmental, 1968, 1972 |
| Box 2 / Folder 15 |
| CAF: Other Records: Portfolio, 1974 |
| Scope and Content | |
| Portfolio publication featuring poems, illustrations, and photographs by CAF artists from the 1974 festival. This file includes the printed portfolio as well as mock-ups, manuscript drafts and annotations, and other materials related to the production of this piece. | |
| Related Material | |
| A copy of the published portfolio is also available in the LC-classified book collection. See catalog record for contents and other details. | |
Series 5: Audio Recordings, 1974-1975
| Box 3 |
| CAF: Audio Recordings, 1974 |
| Physical Description: reel-to-reel tapes 3 reels 7 inch |
| Scope and Content | |
| Three reels containing recordings of readings by Ines Brolaski, Joanne Kyger, Joel Oppenheimer, Ed Dorn, and the Panel on the West. | |
| Alternate Form Available | |
| Audio cassette duplicates (5 tapes) have been produced of the these audio reels. | |
| Box 3 |
| CAF: Audio Recordings, 1975 |
| Physical Description: reel-to-reel tapes 4 reels 7 inch |
| Scope and Content | |
| Three reels containing recordings of readings by Harvey Bialy, Robert Creeley, Fielding Dawson, and lectures by Stan Brakhage and Will Petersen, as well as a performance by Music Now & Then. | |
| Alternate Form Available | |
| Audio cassette duplicates (6 tapes) have been produced of the these audio reels. The cassettes are numbered 5-10. | |
