Hershel Zohn papers
Collection
Identifier: Ms-0359
Scope and Content
The papers of Hershel Zohn span the years 1932-1975. The collection includes much of what Zohn wrote in his academic career, many of his students' works, and official Theatre Department records and correspondence from the period in which Zohn was department head.
The collection has been organized into thirteen series: Writings, Notes, Student Works, Production Prompt Books, Scripts, Theatre Department, Southwest Theatre Conference, Pacific Tour, Theatre Programs, Published Materials, Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Posters.
Included in Writings are class assignments from his student days, his thesis on the Yiddish Theatre, and a manuscript of All The World's A Stage with editing marks. Notes includes college course notes taken by Zohn as a student and notes used as a teacher.
Student Works consist of term papers and student prompt books. The Production Prompt Book series contains prompt books of plays directed by Zohn. Included in the Scripts series are manuscripts sent to Zohn by other playwrights for his review.
Theatre Department, Southwest Theatre Conference and Pacific Tour series consist of correspondence, records and other miscellaneous material. Included in the Theatre Department series is correspondence with Jaqueline Brooks regarding her guest role as Rosalind in the new theatre's premier production As You Like It, and correspondence with John Kerr concerning his guest role as Oedipus in Oedipus Rex.
The Theatre Programs series contains programs of productions by the Coronado Playmakers from 1932-1975. The Scrapbook series contain programs, clippings and photographs of Coronado Playmakers' productions during the years 1942-1975. The Photograph series contains two albums and loose images of theatrical performances. Included in the photographs are images of James Earl Jones in his portrayal of Othello in the 1966 NMSU Playmakers production.
The Poster series consists of drawings, paintings, and posters of theatrical performances and stage designs.
The collection has been organized into thirteen series: Writings, Notes, Student Works, Production Prompt Books, Scripts, Theatre Department, Southwest Theatre Conference, Pacific Tour, Theatre Programs, Published Materials, Scrapbooks, Photographs, and Posters.
Included in Writings are class assignments from his student days, his thesis on the Yiddish Theatre, and a manuscript of All The World's A Stage with editing marks. Notes includes college course notes taken by Zohn as a student and notes used as a teacher.
Student Works consist of term papers and student prompt books. The Production Prompt Book series contains prompt books of plays directed by Zohn. Included in the Scripts series are manuscripts sent to Zohn by other playwrights for his review.
Theatre Department, Southwest Theatre Conference and Pacific Tour series consist of correspondence, records and other miscellaneous material. Included in the Theatre Department series is correspondence with Jaqueline Brooks regarding her guest role as Rosalind in the new theatre's premier production As You Like It, and correspondence with John Kerr concerning his guest role as Oedipus in Oedipus Rex.
The Theatre Programs series contains programs of productions by the Coronado Playmakers from 1932-1975. The Scrapbook series contain programs, clippings and photographs of Coronado Playmakers' productions during the years 1942-1975. The Photograph series contains two albums and loose images of theatrical performances. Included in the photographs are images of James Earl Jones in his portrayal of Othello in the 1966 NMSU Playmakers production.
The Poster series consists of drawings, paintings, and posters of theatrical performances and stage designs.
Dates
- 1932-1975
Creator
- Zohn, Hershel (Person)
Language of Materials
English.
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with copyright and other applicable statutes.
The copyrights held by Hershel Zohn, excluding those to All The World's A Stage and The Yiddish Theatre, have been transferred to the Archives and Special Collections at New Mexico State University.
The copyrights held by Hershel Zohn, excluding those to All The World's A Stage and The Yiddish Theatre, have been transferred to the Archives and Special Collections at New Mexico State University.
Biographical Sketch
Hershel Zohn was born in Russia in 1909. His family emigrated to the United States in 1922, when Zohn was fourteen years old. In Manhattan he discovered the theatre and worked as a play reader, senior researcher, and translator in the New York Public Library Theatre Collection. He acted with the Yiddish Art Theatre and the Federal Theatre in the 1930s. In 1940, Zohn directed his first play, an original, in Greenwich Village. He had more acting offers, but in 1941 was drafted and served four years as supply sergeant in the U.S. Army.
Following World War II, Zohn earned Bachelor of Arts (1948) and Masters of Arts (1949) degrees at the University of Denver. He also studied at New York, Northwestern, and Cornell universities. After working at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Zohn joined the faculty at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later New Mexico State University) in 1950.
During his tenure at NMSU, he toured the Far East with the Playmakers in 1963, saw a new campus theatre built (1963), chaired the Southwest Theatre Conference (1967), and guest directed plays in Mexico City for several summers. He appeared with the Playmakers as Prince Bolkonski in War and Peace (1969) and as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (1971). He toured in Europe and wrote articles based on his travels, judged theatre contests, and had a radio program called "Drama Through the Ages." After directing more than 100 plays from Shakespeare to modern American theatre, Zohn retired from NMSU in 1975.
Following World War II, Zohn earned Bachelor of Arts (1948) and Masters of Arts (1949) degrees at the University of Denver. He also studied at New York, Northwestern, and Cornell universities. After working at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico, Zohn joined the faculty at New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (later New Mexico State University) in 1950.
During his tenure at NMSU, he toured the Far East with the Playmakers in 1963, saw a new campus theatre built (1963), chaired the Southwest Theatre Conference (1967), and guest directed plays in Mexico City for several summers. He appeared with the Playmakers as Prince Bolkonski in War and Peace (1969) and as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (1971). He toured in Europe and wrote articles based on his travels, judged theatre contests, and had a radio program called "Drama Through the Ages." After directing more than 100 plays from Shakespeare to modern American theatre, Zohn retired from NMSU in 1975.
Extent
14 Linear Feet
Abstract
Theatre director and professor at New Mexico State University from 1950-1975. The collection contains academic and profession papers of Zohn, in addition to work by his students.
Acquisition
- A75-50 Gift of Hershel Zohn
- RG81-53 Gift of Hershel Zohn
- RG91-120 Gift of Hershel Zohn
- RG92-89 Gift of Hershel Zohn
- RG93-1 Gift of Hershel Zohn
General
Contact Information
- Archives and Special Collections
- New Mexico State University Library
- P.O. Box 30006
- Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8006
- Phone: (575) 646-3839
- Fax: (575) 646-7477
- Email: archives@nmsu.edu
- URL: https://lib.nmsu.edu/archives/
General
Creator
- Zohn, Hershel (Person)
- Title
- Register of the Hershel Zohn Papers, 1932-1975
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Processed by Marah deMeule and Christine Moreland-Bruhnke
- Date
- © 2001
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//New Mexico State University::Archives and Special Collections//TEXT (US::NmLcU::Ms 359::Hershel Zohn Papers)//EN" "nmlcu1ms359.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository