| Dates: | 1905-1966, undated (bulk dates, 1950-1965) |
| Size: | 2.5 linear feet in 4 boxes, includes 70 photographs |
| Repository: | Chicago Public Library, Sulzer Regional Library, Northside Neighborhood History Collection, 4455 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625 |
| Collection Number: | nnhc.hgk |
| Immediate Source of Acquisition: | Donated by Reverend George A. Rice of Addison Street Congregational Church. |
| Conditions Governing Access: | Materials are open without restrictions. |
| Conditions Governing Use: | Please consult staff to determine ability to reuse materials from collection. |
| Preferred citation: | When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: Helen G. Kinsella Collection, [Box #, Folder #], Northside Neighborhood History Collection, Chicago Public Library |
| Finding Aid Author: | Original author unknown. Updated and ingested into ArchivesSpace by Allyson Smally, 2021. |
Abstract
Helen G. Kinsella was a teacher in Chicago for over 50 years, including 30 years teaching drama and public speaking at Lake View High School. This collection documents her career and work. It includes photographs of dramatic productions and student activities at Lake View High School.
Biographical/Historical
Helen G. Kinsella was a teacher in Chicago for over 50 years. She was born in May 1891 and was involved with theater from a young age. Kinsella taught drama and public speaking in the English Department of Lake View High School from 1931-1961 and also served as department chair. She was a graduate of DePaul University and was active with the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae. She died in Chicago in November 1971.
Scope and Contents
The Helen G. Kinsella Collection consists mostly of material Kinsella used in her role as a drama and public speaking teacher at Lake View High School. It includes scripts for plays and radio broadcasts, sheet music, a scrapbook, and a small amount of writings and poetry. It also contains photographs, mostly of student drama productions and activities.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in 8 series:
Series 1: General Historical Files, 1931-1966, undated
Series 2: Plays, 1942-1960, undated
Series 3: Poetry, undated
Series 4: Radio Broadcasts and Workshops, 1952-1953, undated
Series 5: Scrapbook, 1954-1955
Series 6: Songbooks & Sheet Music, 1905-1956
Series 7: Writings, 1952-1965, undated
Series 8: Photographs, 1939-1960, undated
Related Collections
Lake View High School Collection
Subject Headings
- Kinsella, Helen G. — Photographs.
- Lake View High School (Chicago, Ill.) — Students — Photographs.
- College and School Drama, American — Illinois — Chicago — Photographs.
- High School Student Activities — Illinois — Chicago — Photographs.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: General Historical files, 1931-1966, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains correspondence, news clippings, awards, programs, a teaching manual, and publications, mostly related to Helen Kinsella's work as a teacher at Lake View High School or professional organizations she was active in.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 1 | Awards, American Legion Citation of Merit, 1957 |
| Box 1 | Folder 2 | Awards, Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Association, Citation of Recognition, 1966 |
| Oversize | Awards, Valley Forge Freedoms Foundation Classroom Teachers Award, 1959 [see oversize material] | |
| Box 1 | Folder 3 | Correspondence, 1950-1966 |
| Box 1 | Folder 4 | George Washington Bicentennial Commission, publications, 1931-1932 |
| Box 1 | Folder 5 | Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Service program and news release, 1966 |
| Box 1 | Folder 6 | International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, Saint Xavier College, correspondence, 1963 |
| Box 1 | Folder 7 | Military order of the Purple Heart, correspondence and brochures, 1954 |
| Box 1 | Folder 8 | News clippings, Lake View High School students and student productions, 1939-1953 [photocopies] |
| Box 1 | Folder 9 | News clippings, Lake View High School television in the classroom pilot program, 1945 |
| Box 1 | Folder 10 | Radio workshop teaching manual, undated |
Series 2: Plays, 1942-1960, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains scripts of plays that were written or directed by Helen Kinsella or one of her students during her tenure at Lake View High School. Many are undated.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 1 | Folder 11 | Always A Santa, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 12 | Arms Entwined, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 13 | Behold I Come: A Christmas Pageant, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 14 | The Best Four Years of Our Lives, or The Tradition Assembly, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 15 | The Christmas Guest, script, 1951 |
| Box 1 | Folder 16 | Christmas Play, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 17 | [A Christmas Play], untitled, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 18 | Cinderella & Prince Firechief’s Masquerade Ball, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 19 | Class DayJune 1951, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 20 | Class Day Program, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 21 | Compassionate Patriot: AVeterans’ Day Program Honoring Lucille Pepoon, Army Nurse, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 22 | The Cremation of Sam McGee, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 23 | Freedom’s Pledge, by John Sabato Insolato, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 24 | Grads’ and Dads’ Night - 75th Anniversary skit, script, circa 1949 |
| Box 1 | Folder 25 | Great Composers: Six Radio Dramatizations, selected by George H. Cartlan, booklet of scripts, 1942 |
| Box 1 | Folder 26 | If Christ Came to His Own…?( A Christmas Satire), script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 27 | Keystone Cops, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 28 | Known But to God, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 29 | Lake View Tradition Assembly, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 30 | Letter to Abe Lincoln - Written from Hodgenville. Kentucky, script, undated |
| Box 1 | Folder 31 | Mr. Main Motion, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 1 | Memorial Day program script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 2 | Parliamentary Law, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 3 | Parliamentary Law (A), script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 4 | The Past is Prologue: a Chronicle Presented by the Illinois Education Association, script, 1955 July |
| Box 2 | Folder 5 | From The People, Yes, by Carl Sandburg, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 6 | Peter and the Christmas Lamb, written and produced by Helen G. Kinsella and her drama classes, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 7 | A President’s March, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 8 | The Purple Heart: An Historical Pageant, written and produced for the Military Order of the Purple Heart by students of Lake View High School, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 9 | Quarter Deck of a Pirate Ship, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 10 | The Sacred Dove of Peace: A Christmas Fantasy, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 11 | A Salute to Chaplains, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 12 | A Salute to John and Mary Logan, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 13 | Singing America, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 14 | Solemnly We Pause: A Memorial Pageant, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 15 | Songs of Christmas, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 16 | Stars for Christmas, script and notes, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 17 | The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare, a television workshop, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 18 | These Things are America, by George Jennings, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 19 | They Were Not Afraid, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 20 | This is Your Fire, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 21 | This is Your Life, script, 1960 |
| Box 2 | Folder 22 | Tribute to a Great Man: A Civil War Centennial Pageant, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 23 | Unfinished Symphony, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 24 | The Valiant, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 25 | Valley Forge, script, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 26 | The Valley of Fortitude, by Lucille Freund, script, 1954 |
| Box 2 | Folder 27 | The Wizard of Lake View, script, undated |
Series 3: Poetry, undated
Scope and Contents
This small series contains copies of a few poems collected by Helen Kinsella.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 2 | Folder 28 | Collected poems, undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 29 | “I’m Going to Join the Colours, Dad,” undated |
| Box 2 | Folder 30 | “The Town Band,” by Wilbur D. Nasvit, undated |
Series 4: Radio Broadcasts and Workshops, 1952-1953, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains scripts of radio productions done by students in Helen Kinsella’s workshop classes.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 3 | Folder 1 | “The Chicago Fire,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 2 | “Christmas Carol,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 3 | “Divided We Fall,” script, 1953 October 30 |
| Box 3 | Folder 4 | “English Drama: Shakespeare – Restoration," program number 2, script undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 5 | “English Drama: The 18th Century,” program number 3, script undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 6 | “English Drama: The 19th Century,” program number 4, script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 7 | “English Drama: The 20th Century,” program number 5, script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 8 | “The First Thanksgiving,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 9 | "In Your Hands,” script for Illinois Congress of Parents & Teachers, sponsored by Helen G. Kinsella, 1953 October 22 |
| Box 3 | Folder 10 | “Lazaro in the Pueblos,” script, 1952 November 6 |
| Box 3 | Folder 11 | “Saints, Heroes, Sinners: Even With a Miracle...,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 12 | "Saints, Heroes, Sinners: God's Darling, Saint Philomena,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 13 | “Saints, Heroes, Sinners: The Invalid’s View,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 14 | “Saints, Heroes, Sinners: B1, John Ogilvie, S.J.,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 15 | “Saints, Heroes, Sinners: Our Lady in Our Land, 1492-1952,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 16 | “Saints, Heroes, Sinners: A Saint of the Stage, Eve Lavalliere, 1866-1929,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 17 | “The Three "E""s of Fire Prevention,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 18 | “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” script, undated |
| Box 3 | Folder 19 | Workshop, “A Pen That Set a People Free,” script by Rilla Bergman, undated |
Series 5: Scrapbook, 1954-1955
Scope and Contents
This is a scrapbook of news clippings compiled by Helen Kinsella. It focuses on censorship in movies, radio, and television. Also included are a few clippings on birth control.
Arrangement
The material was left in the order found.
| Box 3 | Folder 20 | Scrapbook of newspaper clippings regarding censorship in movies, radio, and television; also a few clippings on birth control, 1954-1955 |
Series 6: Songbooks and Sheet Music, 1905-1956
Scope and Contents
This series contains sheet music and songbooks found in Helen Kinsella’s papers.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Alexander's Ragtime Band, bv Irving Berlin, songbook, 1938 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Anchors Aweigh, by Captain Alfred H. Miles and Charles A. Zimmerman, songbook, 1943 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Anniversary Song, by Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin, songbook, 1946 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Around the World (In 80 Davs), by Harold Adamson and Victor Young, songbook, 1956 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | The Bell Man, by Cecil Forsyth, songbook, 1919 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Christmas Carols, selected and arranged by Karl Schulte, songbook, 1942 |
| Box 4 | Folder 1 | Father of the Land We Love, by George M. Cohan, songbook, 1931 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Good-bye Broadway, Hello France, by C. Francis Riesner, Benny Davis, and Billy Baskette, songboook, 1945 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Hinky Dinky Parlez-Vous, bv "Red" Rowland and Gitz Rice, songbook, 1940 |
| Box 4 | Folder 2 | Hits Through the Years, Remick Music Corporation, songbook, 1951 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | The Holy City, by F.E. Weatherly and Stephen Adams, songbook, 1942 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | How ‘Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm? (After Thev’ve Seen Paree), by Sam M. Lewis, Joe Young, and Walter Donaldson, 1947 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | In Mv Merry Oldsmobile, by Gus Edwards and Vincent Bryan, songbook, 1905 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Over There, by George M. Cohan, songbook 1945 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | The Poor People of Paris, by Jack Lawrence and Marguerite Monnot, songbook, 1956 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | The Rose of No Man’s Land, bv Jack Caddigan and James A. Brennan, songbook, 1945 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Smiles, by J. Will Callahan and Lee S. Roberts, songbook, 1918 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | Waltzing Matilda, by A.B. Paterson and Marie Cowan, sheet music, 1943 |
| Box 4 | Folder 3 | The White Cliffs of Dover, bv Nat Burton and Walter Kent, songbook, 1941 |
Series 7: Writings, 1952-1965, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains Helen Kinsella’s writings, other than plays or scripts.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Box 4 | Folder 4 | “The Banquet Table of St. John,” typescript, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 5 | “A Challenge to All Women,” in What is Your Destiny?, booklet of a panel discussion presented by the Family and Youth Program of the Department of Social Service, International Federation of Catholic Alumnae, 1952 August 21 |
| Box 4 | Folder 6 | [The Cinema], handwritten essay, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 7 | “Evaluating Criteria of a Good Motion Picture,” handwritten essay, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 8 | “I am Radio,” typescript and handwritten notes, undated |
| Box 4 | Folder 9 | “Illinois Chapter, I.F.C.A.: Completing First Half Century of Service,” typescript, 1965 April 25 |
| Box 4 | Folder 10 | “The Little Flower Appears in Ireland,” typescript, undated |
Series 8: Photographs, 1939-1960, undated
Scope and Contents
This series contains photographs related to Helen Kinsella’s work as a drama teacher at Lake View High School.
Arrangement
In three subseries.
Subseries A: Plays, 1939-1950, undated
Scope and Contents
Contains images of Lake View High School drama productions.
Arrangement
Alphabetically according to the title of the play, with photographs where the production is unknown at the end.
| Photograph 2.14 | Best Foot Forward cast, undated |
| Photograph 1.20 | [Christmas play], nativity scene, cast, undated |
| Photograph 2.19 | Christmas Victory Bond Appeal cast, 1945 |
| Photograph 2.18 | Diamond Jubilee cast, 1949 |
| Photograph 1.15 | Don't Take my Penny cast, 1941 |
| Photograph 1.16 | Don't Take my Penny cast, 1941 |
| Photograph 2.10 | Don't Take my Penny cast, 1941 |
| Photograph 2.11 | Don't Take my Penny cast, 1941 |
| Photograph 2.15 | Don't Take my Penny cast, 1941 |
| Photograph 2.17 | The Family Upstairs cast on stage, 1939 |
| Photograph 2.21 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.22 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.23 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.24 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.25 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.26 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.27 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 2.28 | Gold in Them Thar Hills cast, 1940 |
| Photograph 1.13 | It Never Rains cast on stage, 1944 |
| Photograph 1.14 | It Never Rains cast on stage, 1944 |
| Photograph 1.17 | It Never Rains cast on stage, 1944 |
| Photograph 1.18 | It Never Rains cast on stage, 1944 |
| Photograph 2.16 | It Never Rains cast on stage, 1944 |
| Photograph 2.13 | I've Joined the Colors, Dad cast, undated |
| Photograph 2.12 | The Taming of the Shrew, Television Workshop Production, 1950 December |
| Photograph 2.20 | The Taming of the Shrew, Television Workshop Production - cast, audience, and film crew, 1950 December |
| Photograph 1.19 | Cast of unidentified play on stage, undated |
| Photograph 1.21 | Cast of unidentified play, undated |
| Photograph 1.22 | Cast of unidentified play on stage, undated |
| Photograph 1.23 | Cast of unidentified play on stage, undated |
| Photograph 1.24 | Cast of unidentified play, undated |
|
Oversize Photograph 1.25 |
Cast of unidentified play, circa 1897 |
|
Oversize Photograph 1.26 |
Cast of unidentified play, circa 1897 |
|
Oversize Photograph 1.38 |
Cast of unidentified play, circa 1887 |
|
Oversize Photograph 1.39 |
Cast of unidentified play, circa mid-twentieth century |
Subseries B: Student programs and activities, 1941-1957, undated
Scope and Contents
This subseries includes images of Lake View High School ROTC events, a public speaking group, and prom queen contestants. It also includes casual images of drama students.
Arrangement
Alphabetically according to the type of event and chronologically therein.
| Photograph 1.1 | Armistice Day, ROTC students and veterans, 1947 |
| Photograph 1.2 | Armistice Day, ROTC students and veterans standing outside, 1957 |
| Photograph 1.3 | Armistice Day, ROTC students and unidentified man sitting with Captain W.G. Andrews, 1957 |
| Photograph 2.1 | Armistice Day, "Six Angels" performers, 1948 |
| Photograph 1.4 | Armistice Day, students sitting with Captain W.G. Andrews, 1957 |
| Photograph 1.5 | Armistice Day, students sitting with Captain W.G. Andrews, 1957 |
| Photograph 1.6 | Armistice Day, three ROTC students and unidentified man standing with Captain W.G. Andrews, 1957 |
| Photograph 1.7 | Drama students, group, undated |
| Photograph 1.8 | Drama students, group, circa 1940s |
| Photograph 1.9 | Drama students, large group, 1941 |
| Photograph 1.10 | Drama students, large group, 1941 |
| Photograph 2.2 | Drama students on a float during "Clean up Chicago" parade, 1948 |
| Photograph 2.3 | Drama students on a float during "Clean up Chicago" parade, 1948 |
| Photograph 2.4 | Drama students on a float during "Clean up Chicago" parade, 1948 |
| Photograph 2.5 | Drama students on a float during "Clean up Chicago" parade, 1948 |
| Photograph 1.11 | Drama students, sitting on couch and standing, circa 1950s |
| Photograph 1.12 | Drama students, standing outside with Helen Kinsella, circa 1950s |
| Photograph 1.33 | Prom queen contestants, undated |
| Photograph 1.34 | Prom queen and court, undated |
| Photograph 1.27 | Public speaking group, large group, 1941 |
| Photograph 1.28 | Public speaking group, smaller group, 1941 |
| Photograph 1.30 | ROTC Honor Guard, circa 1956 |
| Photograph 1.31 | ROTC Honor Guard at Lt. Lucile Pepoon memorial, circa 1956 |
| Photograph 1.32 | ROTC Honor Guard and others at Lucile Pepoon memorial, circa 1956 |
| Photograph 2.32 | Television in the classroom pilot program, circa 1945 |
| Photograph 2.33 | Television in the classroom pilot program, circa 1945 |
| Photograph 1.35 | Variety show with performers on stage, undated |
| Photograph 1.36 | Variety show with performers on stage, undated |
| Photograph 1.37 | Variety show with performers on stage, undated |
Subseries C: Teachers and Administrators, 1955-1960, undated
Scope and Contents
This subseries contains five images of Helen G. Kinsella and one of Lake View High School principal J. Trimble Boyd.
Arrangement
Alphabetically.
| Photograph 1.29 | Boyd, J. Trimble, Lake View High School Principal, circa 1955 |
| Photograph 2.7 | Kinsella, Helen G., receiving Classroom Teachers Award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, 1959 |
| Photograph 2.8 | Kinsella, Helen G., receiving Classroom Teachers Award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, 1959 |
| Photograph 2.9 | Kinsella, Helen G., receiving Classroom Teachers Award from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, 1959 |
| Photograph 1.40 | Kinsella, Helen G., portrait, circa 1960 |
| Photograph 2.6 | Kinsella, Helen G., portrait, undated |
