Peer Gynt

ma122 Louis P. Dolbeare (AC 1940) Papers, 1934-1998 (bulk 1934-1965) Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Ciona Van Dijk 2003. Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Amherst College Archives and Special Collections

Amherst, MA

Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Sarang Gopalakrishnan. 2003-06-23 Finding aid written in English. 2005-09-23 ma122 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02-5c.xsl (sy2003-10-15). Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Louis P. Dolbeare (AC 1940) Papers, 1934-1998 (bulk 1934-1965) Finding Aid Processed: 2002 By: Ciona Van Dijk (AC 2003) Prepared by: Claudia M. Gunter (AC 2005E) Edited by: Peter Nelson, Assistant Archivist Revised: 2004 Jan Encoding funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Collection Overview Dolbeare, Louis P. Dolbeare Papers 1934-1998 1934-1965 2 archives boxes (1 linear ft.) Amherst College Archives and Special Collections 1940 graduate of Amherst College; urban planner. Collection contains correspondence with friends and family, photographs and newspaper clippings relating to Amherst College alumni reunions and theater productions. English. Biographical Note

For a biographical summary, see the Chronology section.

Louis Dolbeare forged a life-long friendship with the late Charles Rogers, Professor of Fine Arts and Dramatics, who taught at Amherst College from 1942 to 1970. Although Dolbeare did not pursue a professional career in theater, he was deeply influenced by Professor Rogers. At the Class of 1940's 50th reunion in 1990, he and other members of The Masquers arranged a session at which Dolbeare read a narrative poem he had written about Professor Rogers; a general discussion ensued.

Biographical Note 1916 Sep 27 Born in Brooklyn, New York 1931-1933 Brookline, Mass. High School 1933-1936 Phillips Academy, Andover (graduates 1936) 1940 Graduates from Amherst College 1942-1945 Serves in U.S. Office of War Information, Washington, DC and London, England 1946-1948 Planning student, Graduate School of Design, Harvard University (degree: Master of City Planning) 1949-1952 Metropolitan Consultant, Philadelphia Housing Association 1953 Associate Planner, Bucks County (Pa.) Planning Commission 1954 Associate Planner, South Jersey Mass Transportation Study 1955 Planner, Urban Traffic and Transportation Study Board, City of Philadelphia 1956 Staff, Urban Renewal Study Board, Baltimore, Md. 1956 July 1 Marries (Mary) Cushing Niles (Swarthmore 1949), daughter of Henry E. and Mary Cushing Niles, Baltimore 1958 July 8 Daughter Mary Cushing born 1958-1960 Planning consultant (self-employed) 1960-1963 Associate Planner, Pennsylvania-Jersey Transportation Study 1960 Son Louis Niles born 1963-1966 Planning Director, Roy F. Weston, Inc. 1966 Member, ADA, Philadelphia Art Alliance 1966-1976 Various positions, Board of Education, School District of Philadelphia 1967-1970 Board member, American Institute of Planners 1977-present Househusband Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Louis P. Dolbeare (AC 1940) Papers document the personal life and activities of Louis P. Dolbeare primarily during his undergraduate years at Amherst College and his post-collegiate years. The Papers consist primarily of correspondence between Dolbeare and his college friends and family members. Other items include photographs and programs from Amherst College theater productions (The Masquers), as well as from alumni reunion gatherings. The correspondence within the collection dates from 1934 to 1990, with the bulk falling between the years of 1934-1965. Also included are Dolbeare's grade reports, Amherst College theater production flyers, and newspaper clippings.

A great deal of the correspondence in Series 3, Masquers, relates to Dolbeare's attempts to create a memorial fund in honor of Charles Rogers, Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts and Dramatics at Amherst College.

Organization of the Collection

This collection is organized into three series:

1. Personal Correspondence, 1934-1995 2. Class of 1940 Materials, 1980-1990 3. Masquers, 1940-1998 Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

There is no restriction on access to the Louis P. Dolbeare (AC 1940) Papers for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.

Requests for permission to publish material from the Papers should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

[Identification of item], in Louis P. Dolbeare (AC 1940) Papers [Box #, Folder #], Amherst College Archives and Special Collections, Amherst College Library

Search Terms Dolbeare, Louis P. Rogers, Charles E., 1906-1980. Amherst College--Students. Masquers (Amherst College) Theater--Massachusetts--Amherst. Rogers, Charles E., 1906-1980. Amherst College. Class of 1940. Dolbeare. Additional Information Series 1: PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE, 1934-1995 1 1 Family members 1934-35 1 2 Family members 1935-36 1 3 Family members 1936 1 4 Family Members 1937 1 5 Mr. and Mrs. Guy B. Dolbeare, paternal uncle; Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Sherill, mother and stepfather 1937 1 6 Mother 1938 1 7 Family members 1938 1 8 Family members and friends 1939 1 9 Family members and friends 1940 1 10 Family members 1940 1 11 New York connections 1991 1 12 Correspondence with Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Department 1991 1 13 Correspondence 1995 Series 2: CLASS OF 1940 Materials, 1980-1990 1 14 40th Reunion 1980 1 15 45th Reunion 1985 1 16 50th Reunion (Folder 1 of 2) 1990 2 1 50th Reunion (folder 2 of 2) 1990 Series 3: MASQUERS, 1940-1998 2 2 Charlie Rogers, biographical information n.d. 2 3 Charlie Rogers correspondence (folder 1 of 2) 1940-1959 2 4 Charlie Rogers: miscellaneous correspondence and theater production flyers, obituary of Charlie Rogers (folder 2 of 2) 1960-1981 2 5 Kirby Theater Celebration 1938-1988 1988 2 6 Charlie Rogers celebration 1990 2 7 Charlie Rogers Celebration Transcription 1990 2 8 Kirby Theater 1990 2 9 Peer Gynt (play) prompt book correspondence and photograph of sign advertising the play (see Dramatic Activities Collection for actual promptbook) 1998 2 10 Peer Gynt alumni/ae theater trip to Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, DC - correspondence, news clippings of play reviews 1998