[A charming archive of photographs, theatre programs, clippings, and photo album scrapbook chronicling the theatrical productions, and backstage efforts of Haverhill High School students for the decade including World War II].

[Haverhill, MA: Haverhill High School, The Thinker Yearbook Staff, 1937-1949]. Three vols. 4to. [48 pp (unpaginated).], with 32 photos, sized 2.5 x 2.5 in. up to 4 x 6 in., numerous programs & clippings preserved in archival mylar sleeves, recent cloth 3-ring binder, w/ stamping front cover; 2nd -- [68 pp (unpaginated).], on thick brown paper stock, w/ 63 photos tipped-in w/ black corners, sized from 4 x 6 in. up to 8 x 10 in., many of them cropped or w/ annotations for yearbook reproduction, many bear grease pencil markings for “The Thinker” yearbook. Front cover cork binding, rear cover renewed in cloth, post-binder (edgewear, rubbing), still VG; 3rd - [34 pp (unpaginated).], yearbook blueline proof copy, w/ annotations in pencil, corrections, photos and text for Ring Around Elizabeth (toning to fore-edges, some soiling, scuffing), VG- exemplars. This archive of photos and ephemera document the efforts of Haverhill High School students and their English teacher and drama enthusiast Paul Harriman to produce the senior theatrical production every year in the school auditorium. Productions included Captain Applejack by Walter Hackett, the hit Broadway play which inspired the pre-code and rather racy 1931 comedy film; Charles Divine’s, Strangers at Home; Booth Tarkington’s Clarence & Seventeen, with several photos in this grouping showing the production of Clarence; two from Moss Hart & George Kaufman including “You can’t take it with you” and “The man who came to dinner,” and others. Many of the photos surround the Ring Around Elizabeth production with production stills, make-up, sets, costume preparation, and rehearsals. Other shots show hair dye being applied, makeshift dressing rooms, along with a few obligatory class pictures, and portraits. Many of the clippings, and notes included refer to the energy and professionalism brought by the young students to the Broadway plays, and the What a Life production in March, 1943 garnered young Damon Cummings a radio program spot, with letter included from talent agency, with clipping. Harriman (1903-1974) was longtime English teacher and drama instructor at Haverhill High School before retiring to Maine after the construction of the new school in 1963.