This study will chronicle the contributions of Irene Olivia Colbert Edmonds (1908-1968) to the field of educational theatre. The study will focus on her years as an educator at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) during the years 1947-1968. / The dissertation is organized into six chapters. Chapter one establishes the historical importance of Edmonds before examining her family heritage and her place in the socio-political context of the time. Specifically, it provides background information on the woman and on her career prior to her arrival at FAMU. / Chapter Two, involving the years 1947-1960, deals with Edmonds' initial years at FAMU and her place in the historical development of educational children's theatre from an African-American context. Additionally, the chapter will discuss Edmonds' position as a cultural role model within the black community. / Chapter Three focuses on Edmonds' varied essays in literary criticism and politics. Edmonds' writings speak symbolically, eloquently and directly to the racism that permeated the United States during her lifetime. / Chapter Four examines the role that Edmonds played in the 1958 continental tour of Africa by the FAMU Playmakers Guild. This group was the fourth university group and significantly, the first entourage from an historically black college or university (HBCU) to be selected by the federal government to represent the nation under President Dwight D. Eisenhower's Special International Cultural Exchange Program. / Chapter Five discusses the final decade of Edmonds' life, and focuses on her work with the FAMU Playmakers Verse Choir. The group demonstrates Edmonds' continuing experimentation with dramatic presentations until the time of her death. / Chapter Six presents the summary and conclusions derived from the study and suggestions for further research. This dissertation documents an American original, a pioneer within the American theatre who was uniquely qualified to leave her mark on the history of educational theatre. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-11, Section: A, page: 4207. / Major Professor: John A. Degen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77590 |
| Contributors | Matthews, Valencia Eloris., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 220 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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