Guide to International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 368

Collection Summary

Title: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 368
Call Number: MS 2002-1
Size: 0.75 linear feet
Acquisition: Purchased from a local auction in Hutchinson, Kansas, by Mike Kelly.
Processed by: KJB: 12/18/2001


Literary Rights

Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.

Content Note

This collection contains the papers and business documents of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 368, from Hutchinson, Kansas. The collection contains business correspondence, membership information, meeting minutes from 1913-1915 and 1947-1950, steward and business agent logs in reference to productions and movies at theaters in Hutchinson, Kansas, from 1920-1924, and crew and carpenter logs from theatrical and musical productions at theaters in Hutchinson, Kansas, from 1917-1926.

Administrative History

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 368, of Hutchinson, Kansas chartered July 10, 1913. The object of this labor union was to maintain fair rate wages for its members employed as carpenters, property men, gas men, electricians, light operators, stage mechanics, flymen, and motion picture machine operators in Hutchinson, Kansas.

In 1913, membership to Local 368 was any white male over 18 years of age who was engaged in several branches of the theatrical business pertaining to stage mechanics for a period of three years. Members were voted in at regular meeting of Local 368. The membership fee was $25.

The collection contains the paperwork of the business Agent and the Steward. The business Agent made weekly written reports of all business transactions. This person went to all the theaters and places of amusement to see that all rules were strictly adhered to. A Steward was located at each of the theaters or places of amusement and had to be an employee of that place. The Steward examined members' cards and notified the Business Agent of any rules that were broken. The Steward also made reports at regular union meetings.

Series Listing 

Series 1

Box 1 FF 1

National Union documents: This series contains paperwork and correspondence received by the Hutchinson Local 368 of the Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees from the national headquarters.

Series 2

Box 1 FF 2

Local 368 Union Founding Document: This series contains the constitution and by-laws of the local union in Hutchinson, Kansas that began July 10, 1913. It contains the constitution, and stamp system booklets issued in 1920 and 1919.

Series 3

Box 1 FF 3-8

Minutes and Membership Rolls: This series contains minutes from meetings from 1913-1915, and 1947-1950. It also contains various membership rolls from 1913-1925.

Series 4

Box 1 FF 9-12

Local 368 Union business documents: This series contains business receipts from 1913-1916. This series also contains business correspondence from 1914-1927.

Series 5

Box 2 FF 1-10

Local 368 Union Crew and Carpenter Logs and Motion Picture Reports: This series contains crew and carpenter requirements for theatrical and musical production and the theaters the production played from 1917-1926. It contains motion picture and production reports for each theater in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Series 6

Box 2 FF 11

Ephemera: This series contains newspaper clippings, coupons, and cards.

Box and Folder Listing

Series 1 -- National Union documents
     

Box 1

FF 1

National documents from International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees including benefit show tickets from other chapters 3/14/1914 and 5/19/1915. Christmas Cards from National headquarters. Blank membership report forms, agreements, contracts, charter form. Includes national reports from 6/21/1926 – 6/25/1926.
 

Series 2 -- Local 368 Union founding documents
     

Box 1

FF 2

Constitution and By-Laws book of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 368, Hutchinson, Kansas which began July 10, 1913. The Stamp System instruction book issued July 1, 1920. Constitution and By-Laws adopted July 7, 1919. Rough draft of a resolution to raise membership fees.
 

Series 3 -- Minutes and Membership Roles
     

Box 1

FF 3

Minutes from meetings 8/18/1913 – 10/31/1915.

Box 1

FF 4

Minutes from meetings 6/9/1947 – 12/22/1947.

Box 1

FF 5

Minutes from meetings 1/12/1948 – 12/27/1948.

Box 1

FF 6

Minutes from meetings 1/8/1949 – 12/12/1949.

Box 1

FF 7

Minutes from meetings 1/9/1950 – 12/18/1950.

Box 1

FF 8

Membership and rolls book from inception of the chapter 7/10/1913-1915. Local roll logs March 1916 to unknown dates. Quarterly membership reports 9/30/1914 and 12/13/1914. Applications for membership from 1914, 1915, 1916, and 1925.
 

Series 4 -- Local 368 Union Crew and Carpenter Logs and Motion Picture Reports
     

Box 1

FF 9

Business receipts from October 1913-March 1916.

Box 1

FF 10

Business Agent and Steward reports from 1914-1954. Some with unknown dates. Business Agent reports tell who was working what productions. Steward reports list who was on the crew for productions and how much they were paid.

Box 1

FF 11

Correspondence from August 1914 to December 1915.

Box 1

FF 12

Correspondence from January 1916 to March 1916, one from October 1927 and correspondence without dates.
 

Series 5 -- Local 368 Union Crew and Carpenter Logs and Motion Picture Reports
     

Box 2

FF 1

Carpenter and Crew log cards from 1917-1926. Lists shows, production or company, its play dates, which theater the show began, and its route to different cities.

Box 2

FF 2

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Carey Lake Theater Hutchinson, Kansas, from 6/26/1924 – 8/19/1924.

Box 2

FF 3

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Convention Hall, Hutchinson, Kansas, 4/9/1920 – 4/14/1920, 1/10/1921, and 3/31/1924.

Box 2

FF 4

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for delude Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 12/23/1923 – 10/13/1924.

Box 2

FF 5

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Home Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 9/13/1920 – 11/28/1920.

Box 2

FF 6

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Iris Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 12/8/1923 – 11/22/1924.

Box 2

FF 7

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Liberty Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 12/24/1923 – 2/11/1925.

Box 2

FF 8

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Midland Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 12/21/1923 – 10/31/1924.

Box 2

FF 9

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Riverside Park Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 5/24/1920 – 9/7/1924.

Box 2

FF 10

Motion picture and production discrepancy reports for Royal Theater, Hutchinson, Kansas, from 12/24/1923 – 8/9/1924.
 

Series 6 -- Ephemera
     

Box 2

FF 11

Ephemera – Wrigley’s Gum profit sharing coupon; List of Bowl Team games from newspaper, unknown year; Coupon for Oasis Cigarettes;2 greeting cards; profit sharing coupons for Jones Six Automobile on exhibit in Hutchinson, Kansas, unknown date; Letter written 7/5/1915 on back of a poster for a Fourth of July Celebration along the Dan Patch Railroad Lines beginning in Minneapolis, Minnesota; newspaper clipping about musicians union, unknown date.