Skip to main content

Young Company records

 Collection
Identifier: UA 1024

Scope and Contents

Collection documents the history of the Whittlin' Whistlin' Brigade's and The Young Company's history at Brigham Young University as well as the history of Harold R. Oaks, director of the company. Materials include photographs, calendars, posters, film, audio, and play scripts from 1961 to 2002.

Dates

  • 1961-2002

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Restricted. Closed for 35 years from the date of creation of the records, and thereafter open to the public in accordance with the University Archives Policy.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright of Young Company records is held by Brigham Young University.

Permission to publish material from the Young Company records must be obtained from the Permissions & Licensing Office of the University and the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Board of Curators.

Administrative History

The Whittlin’ Whistlin’ Brigade (1974-1983) is a performing group from Brigham Young University.

The Whittlin' Whistling Brigade borrowed its name from a part of Nauvoo history. Life in Nauvoo in the 1840’s was a time of great persecution. Whenever a suspicious stranger came to town, a group of boys armed with knives and sticks would surround the stranger, not saying anything, and would whittle and whistle until the stranger became uncomfortable and left. Harold R. Oaks founded BYU's brigade in 1974. Ever since, this group has become a vital member of BYU's touring groups. Every year they tour elementary and junior high schools, sharing plays such as Androcles and the Lion, Yankee Doodle, and more recently The Yellow Boat and Taste of Sunrise. The group changed its name to The Young Company in 1983, when the company took their play Patches of Oz on tour to Yugoslavia. The name change made it easier to associate the group with Brigham Young University.

Administrative History

The Young Company (1974-) is a theatre group at Brigham Young University.

The group was founded as the Whittlin' Whistlin' Brigade in 1974 by Harold R. Oaks. In 1983, however, its name was changed to Young Company so that it could be more easily affiliated with the University. Today, the troupe mostly performs for young audiences, reaching more than 23,000 young people every year. The Young Company's mission statement is "to introduce theatre to children at an early age through performances and workshops, helping them to start a lifelong love of fine arts," as well as to give experience to the student actors involved in each production.

Extent

9 boxes (4.5 linear ft.)

1 oversize folder (0.2 linear ft.)

1 carton (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement

Arranged into seven series: 1. Young Company performance files, 1961-2002. 2. Young Company research files, 1966-2001. 3. Young Company reports, 1975-2002. 4. Young Company publications, 1972-2001. 5. Young Company recognition and feedback files, 1974-2000. 6. Young Company general files, 1974-2002. 7. Young Company multi-media files, 1976-1999.

Other Finding Aids

A more detailed finding aid is available in print in the repository.

Other Finding Aids

File-level inventory available online. http://files.lib.byu.edu/ead/XML/UA1024.xml

Custodial History

Found in University Archives workroom, February 2003.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Found; University Archives workroom; 2003.

Appraisal

Departmental records (University Archives collecting policy, July 2003).

Processing Information

Processed; Natalie Clark; April 2003.

Processing Information

Processed; Jenna Kirchhoefer; March 2015.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Register of the Young Company records
Status
Completed
Author
Natalie Clark
Date
April 2003
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • 2015 March 17: Addendum to subseries made and content revised by Jenna Kirchhoefer.

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections. University Archives Repository

http://sc.lib.byu.edu/
Contact:
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo UT 84602 US

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.