Abstract

This collection consists of theatre costume designs, set designs, print and digital photographs, fabric samples, playbills, and production posters from Marianne Custer’s career as resident designer and head of the MFA design program in Theatre for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Also included is a professionally bound proposal to Clarence and Marian Brown for the establishment of funding and endowments for the theatre program at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

Overview This collection comprises much of Bill Black’s career as a costume designer, from various theaters and productions across the USA, until his retirement from UTK professorship and design work for the Clarence Brown Theatre in 2020. Costume design sketches, fabric swatches, magazine clippings, correspondence, photographs, reviews, and playbills make up the bulk of the collection. Other items include costume designs for local Knoxville businesses, and a set of designs associated with several...