Manuscript Collection
Kah-Woh, Catawba Theatrical Poster Collection - Accession 1792 M846 (904)
Files
Identifier
Accession 1792 - M846 (904)
Inclusive Dates
1961
Restrictions
Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections
Collection Size
2 pieces
Language
English;
Scope and Content Note
The Kah-Woh, Catawba Theatrical Poster collection consists of two promotional posters advertising a 1960 historical drama titled Kah-Woh, Catawba, also presented under its formal title, Kah-Woh, Catawba (Thank You, People of the River): A Drama of the Catawba Indians of South Carolina, and the White People Closely Associated with Them, from 1750–1791. The play interprets the history of the Catawba people and their interactions with European settlers during the late colonial and Revolutionary periods in the Carolina Piedmont.
The drama was written by William Ivey Long (1911–1998), a professor of theatre at Winthrop College from 1954 to 1976 and the founder of the college’s Theatre Department. The production was sponsored by the York County Historical Commission, reflecting a mid-twentieth-century effort to present regional history through large-scale community theatre.
Performances were held at Winthrop College Auditorium (Byrnes Auditorium) between September 21 and September 24, 1960, and featured a cast of 106 participants. The posters document admission prices—fifty cents for children and students and one dollar for adults—illustrating the accessibility of the production to the local community.
As historical artifacts, these posters provide insight into public history initiatives in York County, the representation of Catawba Indian Nation history in mid-twentieth-century performance, and Winthrop College’s role as a cultural center in Rock Hill, South Carolina. They also reflect broader trends in outdoor and community-based historical drama used to educate audiences and commemorate regional heritage.
Provenance
The Kah-Woh, Catawba Theatrical Poster Collection was donated to the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections by the York County Library on May 22, 2022.
Copyright
For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.
Finding Aid Citation
Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections, Winthrop University, "Kah-Woh, Catawba Theatrical Poster Collection - Accession 1792 M846 (904)". Finding Aid 1577.
https://digitalcommons.winthrop.edu/manuscriptcollection_findingaids/1577