The Archives of Richard J.H. Perkyns: A Guide
Collection Number: MS-3-27Collection processed and finding aid written by Amy Nickerson, April 2003
Finding aid edited and electronic version prepared by Kathryn Harvey, May/June 2003
Collection Level Description
Title: Richard J.H. Perkyns fonds
Dates: 1968-1993, predominant 1978-1985/1988-1989
Extent: 38 cm of textual records
Richard John Hardy Perkyns (1932- ) was a professor and drama specialist in the English department at Saint Mary's University (1968-1998). He directed and performed in a number of plays for the Saint Mary's University Drama Society, the Theatre Arts Guild, and Pier One Theatre, and was also a founding member of the Halifax Independent Theatre (1978). Born in England, Perkyns married Dorothy Perkyns. He graduated with a PhD from London University in 1968 and moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the same year. Richard Perkyns published numerous articles on theatre in scholarly journals including
Canadian Drama
and
Theatre History in Canada
. He is the author of
The Neptune Story: Twenty-Five Years in the Life of a Leading Canadian Theatre
(1989) and editor of two others,
Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre 1934-1984
(1984) and
Introduction to Literature: British, American, Canadian
(1981).
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The fonds remained in the custody of Richard J.H. Perkyns until 1998, when he donated it to the Dalhousie University Archives.
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The fonds consists of records related to Richard Perkyns' research undertaken in writing
The Neptune Story: Twenty-Five Years in the Life of a Leading Canadian Theatre
and editing
Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre 1934-1984
. The fonds also includes a copy of his doctoral thesis,
The Impact of the Expressionists Movements on British and American Drama and Theatre Practice
(1968) and records which pertain to his involvement with the Halifax Independent Theatre. Records include correspondence, minutes from meetings, research notes, drafts, newspaper clippings, reviews, manuscripts, photographs, and interviews recorded on audio cassettes. The fonds has been arranged in four series: The Neptune Story, Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre, Doctoral Thesis, and Halifax Independent Theatre.
The Neptune Story / 1977-1990, predominant 1983-1989
Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre / 1982-1993, predominant 1982-1986
Thesis / 1968
Halifax Independent Theatre / 1978-1985
The arrangement is based on the original order which was organized into four broad subject areas: research from
The Neptune Story
, research from
Major Plays
, doctoral thesis, and records involving the Halifax Independent Theatre. Materials withing these subject areas, however, have been rearranged according to record format and chronology.
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See also Pier One (MS-3-7), Neptune Theatre (MS-3-1), and Theatre Arts Guild (MS-3-4) fonds, Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections.
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[Identification of item], Richard J.H. Perkyns fonds, MS-3-27, Box [box number], Folder [folder number], Dalhousie University Archives and Special Collections, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
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Combined Series and File Level Descriptions
Date:1977-1990, predominant 1983-1989
Extent: 15 cm of textual records. -- 12 audio cassettes. -- 34 photographs.
Scope and Content:
The series consists of correspondence relating both to research for and publication of the book, research notes, and interviews recorded on audio cassette regarding the history of Neptune Theatre, collected for the writing of
The Neptune Story: Twenty-Five Years in the Life of a Leading Canadian Theatre
; photographs, messages, and tributes to Neptune Theatre included in the published work, can also be found here. As well, the series contains minutes of the meetings of the 25th Anniversary Committee of Neptune Theatre (of which Perkyns was a member), a draft copy of
The Neptune Story
, newspaper clippings, congratulatory notes, and a speech given at the book launch in 1989.
File Level Descriptions
Correspondence
1977-1990
Folder - 1.1
Miscellaneous (A-Z)
1985/1987/1988-1989
Folder - 1.2
Allison, Don
1987-1988
Folder - 1.3
Bennet, Laura
1977
Folder - 1.4
Benson, Eugene
1990
Folder - 1.5
Blakemore, Bruce
1988-1989
Folder - 1.6
Canadian Theatre Review
1983
Folder - 1.7
Canadian Actors' Equity Association
1985/1987
Folder - 1.8
Day, Elisabeth
1988
Folder - 1.9
Donat, Richard
1988
Folder - 1.10
Hastings, Ron
1985/1988
Folder - 1.11
Hewgill, Roland
1985/1988
Folder - 1.12
Kerr, Tom
1987-1988
Folder - 1.13
Lipman, Nicola
1985
Folder - 1.14
Major, Leon
1983-1984/1988
Folder - 1.15
Neville, John
1987-1988
Folder - 1.16
The Oxford Companion to Canadian Drama and Theatre
1984-1989
Folder - 1.17
Piller, Heinar
1983/1987-1988
Folder - 1.18
Reid, R.D.
1988
Folder - 1.19
Renton, David
1983/1985/1988
Folder - 1.20
Rooney, Denise
1987
Folder - 1.21
Rubin, Edwin
1987-1988
Folder - 1.22
Sherrin, Robert
1983-1984/1988
Folder - 1.23
Sperdakos, George
1988
Folder - 1.24
Theatre History in Canada
1983-1985/1989
Folder - 1.25
Wood, John
1983/1987-1988
Political Figures' Correspondence
1980s
Folder - 1.26
Misc.
Folder - 1.27
Abraham, Alan R.
Folder - 1.28
Bairstow, Ted
1988
Folder - 1.29
Buchanan, John
Folder - 1.30
Clancy, Mary
1989
Folder - 1.31
MacDonald, Flora
Folder - 1.32
MacDonald, Ronald
1988
Folder - 1.33
MacLean, Vince
Folder - 1.34
McDonough, Alexa
Folder - 1.35
McInnis, Stewart
1988
Folder - 1.36
Menard, Johanne
1988
Folder - 1.37
O'Connor, Daniel
1988
Folder - 1.38
Redmond, Michael
1988
Folder - 1.39
Savage, John
1988
Folder - 1.40
Wallace, Ron
Folder - 1.41
Young, Brian
Folder - 1.42
Photographs
Folder - 1.43
Staff Tributes
Folder - 1.44
Minutes of Meetings - 25th Anniversary Committee
1987-1988
Folder - 1.45
Research Notes
Folder - 1.46
Research Notes
Drafts
Folder - 1.47
"Neptune Theatre," "Oh Coward!," "G. B. S.," "Arms and the Sun," "Two Decades of Neptune Theatre"
Folder - 1.48
The Neptune Story (Beginning - Chapter 6)
Folder - 1.49
The Neptune Story (Chapter 7 - End)
Folder - 1.50
Newspaper Clippings - Book Launching
Folder - 1.51
Speech - Book Launching
Folder - 1.52
Congratulatory Notes - Book Launching
Photographs
1980s
Folder - 1.53
Allison, Don
Folder - 1.54
Behrens, Bernard
Folder - 1.55
Cass, Deborah
Folder - 1.56
Coates, Kim
Folder - 1.57
Follow, Ted
Folder - 1.58
Hastings, Ron
Folder - 1.59
Hewgill, Roland
Folder - 1.60
Krawford, Gary
Folder - 1.61
Nason, Kent - 1988
Folder - 1.62
Newhouse, Miriam
Folder - 1.63
Moore, Mavor
Folder - 1.64
Mulcahy, Sean
Folder - 1.65
Oland, Jackie
Folder - 1.66
Pierce, Ray
Folder - 1.67
Piller, Heinar
Folder - 1.68
Reis, Kurt
Folder - 1.69
Sperdakos, George
Folder - 1.70
Ward, Faith
Folder - 1.71
Young Neptune Tour
1983
Audio Cassette Interviews
1980s
Folder - 3.10
Neville, John and Carr, Bill
1983
Folder - 3.11
Renton, David
1983
Folder - 3.12
Sherrin, Robert
1987
Folder - 3.13
Major, Leon and Piller, Heinar
1987
Folder - 3.14
Ouzounian, Richard
n.d.
Folder - 3.15
Byrne, Al -
n.d.
Folder - 3.16
Rubin, Edwin and Ward, Faith
n.d.
Folder - 3.17
Rooney, Denise n.d.
Folder - 3.18
Oland, Jackie and Pierce, D. Ray
1988
Folder - 3.19
Gregson, Joan and Evans, Peter
n.d.
Folder - 3.20
McMurray, Mary and Wright, Shawn
1988
Folder - 3.21
White, Jenette and Borden, Walter -
n.d.
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Date:1982-1993, predominant 1982-1986
Extent: 14 cm of textual records. -- 1 audio cassette.
Scope and Content:
The series consists of records pertaining to Perkyns' anthology,
Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre, 1934-1984
, including correspondence (1982-1988) pertaining to both research and publication of the anthology, research notes, corrections and revisions for the text, a copy of the final draft, reviews of the book (1984), and an interview with Michael Cook which was recorded on audio cassette.
File Level Descriptions
Correspondence
Folder - 1.72
Miscellaneous (A-Z)
1982-1984
Folder - 1.73
Association for Canadian Theatre History
1982
Folder - 1.74
Bessai, Diane
n.d.
Folder - 2.1
Bolt, Carol
1983
Folder - 2.2
Borealis Press Ltd.
1982-1983
Folder - 2.3
Breakwater Books Ltd.
1982
Folder - 2.4
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
1984-1985
Folder - 2.5
Clarke, Irwin and Company Ltd.
1982-1983
In 1984 Clarke, Irwin and Company Ltd. changed its name to Irwin Publishing Inc.
Folder - 2.6
Clarke, Irwin and Company Ltd.
1984
Folder - 2.7
Cook, Michael
1982-1983
Folder - 2.8
Davies, Robertson
1983-1984
Folder - 2.9
Edwards, Murray D.
1983-1984
Folder - 2.10
Gelinas, Gratien
1983
Folder - 2.11
Garay, K.E.
1984
Folder - 2.12
General Publishing Company Ltd.
1982-1983
Folder - 2.13
Goodwin, John C. et Associes
1983
Folder - 2.14
Halifax Herald
1985
Folder - 2.15
Hare, Carl
1983-1984
Folder - 2.16
Herbert, John
1983/1985
Folder - 2.17
Irwin Publishing Inc.
1984
Folder - 2.18
Irwin Publishing Inc.
1985-1988/1993
Folder - 2.19
Johns, Ted
1984
Folder - 2.20
Kawartha Festival Foundation
1986
Folder - 2.21
Kurtosi, Katalin
1984-1985
Folder - 2.22
Loucks, Randee
1984
Folder - 2.23
Neale, Gladys E.
1984-1986
Folder - 2.24
NeWest Press
1982/1984
Folder - 2.25
Pemberton, Primrose
1982-1984
Folder - 2.26
Press Porcepic
1982
Folder - 2.27
Playwrights Canada
1982-1983
Folder - 2.28
Ravel, Aviva
1984-1985
Folder - 2.29
Reaney, James
1983-1985
Folder - 2.30
Ringwood, Gwen
1982-1984
Folder - 2.31
Talonbooks
1982
Folder - 2.32
Theatre Calgary
1984
Folder - 2.33
Voaden, Herman
1985-1986
Folder - 2.34
Wagner, Anton
1986
Folder - 2.35
Wassernan, J.
1982
Folder - 2.36
Research Notes
Folder - 2.37
Revisions and Corrections
Draft - Major Plays of the Canadian Theatre
Folder - 2.38
Introduction, Voaden
Folder - 2.39
Davies, Coulter, Gelinas, Herbert
Folder - 2.40
Ringwood, Bolt, Cook
Folder - 2.41
French, Ravel, Pollock
Folder - 2.42
Selected Bibliography
Folder - 2.43
Reviews
1984
Folder - 3.22
Audio Cassette - Interview - Cook, Michael
1988
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Date:1968
Extent: 5 cm of textual records
Scope and Content:
The series consists of a bound copy of Richard Perkyns' doctoral thesis entitled
The Impact of the Expressionists Movement on British and American Drama and Theatre Practice
. The thesis was submitted in 1968 for the completion of his PhD from London University.
File Level Descriptions
Folder - 3.1
Bound copy - The Impact of the Expressionists Movement on British and American Drama and Theatre Practice
1968
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Date:1978-1985
Extent: 4 cm of textual records. -- 5 photographs.
Scope and Content:
The series consists of records pertaining to Richard Perkyns' involvement with the Halifax Independent Theatre, including correspondence (1978-1983) regarding the function of the Theatre and minutes of meetings (1978-1985). It also contains programs, announcements and newspaper clippings concerning events put on by the Halifax Independent Theatre as well as photographs of some company members.
File Level Descriptions
Correspondence
1980s
Folder - 2.44
Miscellaneous (A-Z)
1978-1983
Folder - 2.45
Caines, George A.
1980
Folder - 2.46
Cathedral Church of All Saints
1978
Folder - 2.47
HR Doane and Company
1981
Folder - 2.48
Meisner, K. B.
1980-1981
Folder - 2.49
Nova Scotia Department of Consumer Affaires
1980
Folder - 2.50
Memorandum of Association, Bylaws, and Guidelines
Folder - 3.2
Minutes of Meetings
1978-1979
Folder - 3.3
Minutes of Meetings
1980-1981
Folder - 3.4
Minutes of Meetings
1982-1985
Folder - 3.5
Programs
Folder - 3.6
Notes
Folder - 3.7
Announcements
Folder - 3.8
Newspaper Clippings
Folder - 3.9
Photographs
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