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History &
Archives
Chautauqua Institution Archives Search
2008 Chautauqua Heritage Lecture Series
The Chautauqua Institution
is a not-for-profit, 750-acre educational center beside Chautauqua
Lake in southwestern New York State, where approximately 7,500
persons are in residence on any day during a nine-week season,
and a total of over 142,000 attend scheduled public events. Over
8,000 students enroll annually in the Chautauqua Summer Schools which offer courses in art, music,
dance, theater, writing skills and a wide variety of special
interests.
The Institution, originally
the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly, was founded in 1874
as an educational experiment in out-of-school, vacation learning.
It was successful and broadened almost immediately beyond courses
for Sunday school teachers to include academic subjects, music,
art and physical education.
While founders Lewis Miller
(pictured at top left) and John Heyl Vincent (pictured at bottom
left) were Methodists, other Protestant denominations participated
from the first year onward, and today Chautauqua continues to
be ecumenical in spirit and practice. Chautauqua's Department of Religion presents distinguished religious
leaders of many faiths from this country and abroad, both as
preachers and teachers.
The Chautauqua Literary and
Scientific Circle
(CLSC) was started in 1878 to provide those who could not afford
the time or money to attend college the opportunity of acquiring
the skills and essential knowledge of a College education. The
four-year, correspondence course was one of the first attempts
at distance learning. Besides broadening access to education,
the CLSC program was intended to show people how best to use
their leisure time and avoid the growing availability of idle
pastimes, such as drinking, gambling, dancing and theater-going,
that posed a threat both to good morals and to good health. To
share the cost of purchasing the publications and to take encouragement
from others in the course, students were encouraged to form local
CLSC reading circles. Soon these were established throughout
the country and, in time, around the world. Among those who benefited
most from the CLSC program were women, teachers, and those living
in remote rural areas. At the end of their four years of study,
students were invited to come to Chautauqua to receive their
certificates in a ceremony, which is still held today during
the first week in August.
With the success of the
CLSC, many new Chautauquas were created, known as 'Daughter Chautauquas,'
giving rise to what was called the 'Chautauqua Movement.' Some
years later, the talent agencies that provided speakers and entertainers
for these platforms, put together shows of their own, which traveled
to small towns across the United States and Canada. These were
known as the 'circuit chautuaquas' or 'tent chautauquas.'
By 1880 the Chautauqua
platform had
established itself as a national forum for open discussion of
public issues, international relations, literature and science.
Approximately 100 lecturers appear at Chautauqua during a season.
Music became increasingly
important at Chautauqua, especially after the turn of the century.
A symphony orchestra season became part of the regular program
in 1920. The Chautauqua
Symphony Orchestra,
founded in 1929, now performs thrice weekly with leading soloists
in the 5,000-seat Amphitheater, Chautauqua's program center.
Popular
entertainers
perform other evenings. The Chautauqua Ballet Company also appears in the Amphitheater,
sometimes with guest artists, while the Chautauqua Conservatory Theater presents its season in Bratton
Theater. The Chautauqua Opera Company, also founded in 1929, performs
in English in Norton Hall.
Chautauqua plays a unique
educational role today, offering studies on a vacation level,
a more serious level and a professional level. In addition, there
are enhanced learning opportunities within Chautauqua's other
programming. Music, the arts, religion, recreation and the pursuit
of knowledge are all available. Younger and older students often
share learning experiences in an open, congenial atmosphere.
Children and young people are also provided with their own special
programs.
The Chautauqua Institution
is governed by a 24-member board
of trustees,
four of whom are elected by property owners. The board establishes
the policies and direction of the Institution, electing the officers
who are responsible for the operation of the Institution. Smith
Memorial Library
and the Chautauqua Institution Archives are open year round.
Between-season conferences are held at Bellinger Hall, the Athenaeum
Hotel and other
facilities on the grounds.
Archives
The Chautauqua Institution
Archives is both an Institution repository and a collection repository.
The parent, the Chautauqua Institution, is supported by a records
management program which allows the repository to receive records
directly. The Archives also builds its holdings through the acquisition
of papers, records and artifacts from sources that are not administratively
affiliated with the Institution.
The Mission of the Chautauqua
Institution Archives is to identify, organize, preserve and protect
the printed, microfilmed, taped, photographic and other records,
and selected artifacts and museum pieces to add to the general
and scholarly understanding of the Chautauqua Institution and
the Chautauqua Movement.
The Chautauqua Institution
Archives staff assists the public throughout the year. Please
stop in the research room of the Archives and explore Chautauqua's
history. Researchers and inquiries should be directed to the
Oliver Archives Center. The hours during the summer season are
10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. - Noon on
Saturday. Off-season hours are by appointment. They can also
be reached by phone, 716.357.6332, fax 716.357.9014 or e-mail
Archivist Jonathan
Schmitz. |
