Scope and Content Note
The Firesign Theatre collection captures the origins, career, and personal lives of David Ossman, Peter Bergman, Phil Proctor, and Phil Austin. The collection spans the years of 1918-2015 with the majority of the collection dating from 1964-2002. The Firesign Theatre collection primarily includes scripts, promotional materials, artwork, and correspondence. The series assigned by David Ossman were retained.
Series 1, David Ossman, includes performances, financial information, and publicity for The Firesign Theatre. Most prominently are the materials representing the 'Papoon for President' campaign, which has campaign materials, newsletters, and correspondence with sectors throughout the United States.
The following subseries fall under series 1, David Ossman:
Performances, Scripts, Writings
Campoon
Publicity and Publications
Tour
Research
History
Correspondence
Legal
Finances
Series 2, Firesign files, highlights performances, props, album artwork and signage, articles written about Firesign Theatre, and includes the papers of assistant Edgar Bullington. Also featured is the planning and production of Eat or be eaten.
The following subseries fall under series 2, Firesign Files:
Subject Files
Scripts
Photographs and Visual Materials
Eat or Be Eaten Computer Game
Edgar Bullington
Serials
Miscellany
Publicity
Proctor and Bergman
Everything You Know Is Wrong
Slides
Negatives
Series 3, Peter Bergman, primarily contains correspondence and articles documenting the family, early life, and high school and college career of Bergman, as well as his writing contributions to Firesign Theatre.
The following subseries fall under series 3, Peter Bergman:
Writings
Files, Brochures, Handbills, Programs, Books
Peter Bergman Photographs
Peter Bergman Periodicals Collection
Correspondence, Clippings, and Letter-Size Ephemera
Series 4, Phil Austin, contains scripts, publicity, correspondence, and storyboards. The Austin series also features the Danger in Dreamland CD-Rom game scripts and flowcharts.
The following subseries fall under series 4, Phil Austin:
Performances and Scripts
Publicity and Publications
Legal and Finances
History
Production
Research
Series 5, Phil Proctor, mainly showcases the scripts of Proctor’s voice-over career after Firesign Theatre.
The following subseries fall under series 5, Phil Proctor:
Firesign Years
Voice-Over Career
Awards and Memorabilia