Morris and Concetta Cloninger Papers
Scope and Contents
The Morris and Concetta Cloninger Papers consists of photographs, correspondence, memorabilia, programs, and other assorted materials that document the many community and educational interests that the two of them held thoughout their long lives. One of the particular strengths of the collection is the many photographs of Concetta Cloninger (stage name "Connie Marlo") and her classmates at the Pasadena Playhouse School of Theatre in California in the 1930s. The Optimist Club, South Park High School, the Broadway Theatre League of Beaumont, as well as many other organizations and educational and cultural instutitons of Beaumont, Texas throughout the twentieth century are also represented in the collection.
Dates
- Creation: 1926 - 2016
Creator
- Cloninger, Morris, 1907-2008 (Person)
- Cloninger, Marie Concetta Mazzagatti, 1919-2016 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Some restrictions may apply.
Conditions Governing Use
The Tyrrell Historical Library holds copyright. The researcher must secure permission to publish. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the Tyrrell Historical Library. The researcher assumes full responsibility for complying with copyright, literary property rights, and libel laws.
Biographical Note
Morris Cloninger graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and taught English at both Conroe and South Park High Schools. Concetta (nee Mazzagatti) Cloninger became interested in theatre while a student at South Park High School and then attended Lamar Junior College, where she studied under Irene Arnett. She later won a scholarship and did post graduate work at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts in Pasadena, California. Upon leaving California, Concetta took the stage name of "Connie Marlo" and pursued professional theater work in New York City. Afterward, she moved back to Beaumont to raise her children and became actively involved with the Beaumont Little Theater and the Beaumont Community Players. It was while serving as director of the Community Players, and being recently divorced, that Concetta met her future husband, Morris Cloninger, during the audition of a play, "The Heiress." The two were soon married and continued their active interests in both theatre and the arts. Morris, who worked in finance, also served on the Beaumont Independent School District Board of Trustees and as Vice President of the Optimist Club International.
Extent
6 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Morris Cloninger graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and taught English at both Conroe and South Park High Schools. Concetta (nee Mazzagatti) Cloninger became interested in theatre while a student at South Park High School and then attended Lamar Junior College, where she studied under Irene Arnett. She later won a scholarship and did post graduate work at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts in Pasadena, California. Upon leaving California, Concetta took the stage name of "Connie Marlo" and pursued professional theater work in New York City. It was while serving as director of the Community Players, and being recently divorced, that Concetta met her future husband, Morris Cloninger, during the audition of a play, "The Heiress." The two were soon married and continued their active interests in both theatre and the arts. The Morris and Concetta Cloninger Papers consists of photographs, correspondence, memorabilia, programs, and other assorted materials that document the many community and educational interests that the two of them held thoughout their long lives.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series. The first two series are dedicated to the papers of Concetta Mazzagatti Cloninger and Morris Cloninger, respectively. These two series are further arranged into subseries based on the various institutions and organizations that each were involved with. A third series consists of plaques and awards while the fourth consists of books and playbooks. The fifth and final series is dedicated to the collection's born-digital photographs and other digital materials.
Series 1: Marie Concetta Mazzagatti Cloninger, 1930-2016
Series 2: Morris Sheppard Cloninger, 1926-2011
Series 3: Awards and Plaques, 1975-2007
Series 4: Books, 1930-1990
Series 5: Born-digital Materials
Subject
- Cloninger Family (Family)
- Mazzagatti Family (Family)
- Cloninger, Morris, 1907-2008 (Person)
- Cloninger, Marie Concetta Mazzagatti, 1919-2016 (Person)
Genre / Form
- Alumni directories
- Awards
- Books
- Brochures
- Bulletins
- Certificates
- Contract documents
- Correspondence
- Digital images
- Magazines (periodicals)
- Newsletters
- Newspaper clippings
- Newspapers
- Pamphlets
- Photograph albums
- Photographs
- Plaques
- Programs (organizations)
- Scrapbooks
- Yearbooks
Geographic
Topical
- Associations
- Banks and banking
- Beaumont Community Players (Beaumont, Tex.)
- Broadway Theatre League of Beaumont
- Business
- Charitable organizations
- Colleges and universities--Lamar University (Beaumont, Tex.)
- Community life
- Community life--Beaumont (Tex.)
- Education -- Beaumont (Tex.)
- Entertainers
- Family life
- Family--Beaumont (Tex.)
- Genealogy
- High schools—Beaumont (Tex.)
- Local history
- Nonprofit organizations--Beaumont (Tex.)
- Optimist International
- Pasadena Playhouse (Pasadena, Calif.)
- Performing Arts
- Photography of families
- Recreation
- School yearbooks
- Schools--Beaumont, Texas.
- Social groups
- South Park High School--Beaumont (Tex.)
- Theater
- University of Texas
- Women--Societies
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Morris and Concetta Cloninger Papers, 1926-2016
- Author
- Jennifer Perritt
- Date
- October 1, 2020
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Tyrrell Historical Library Archives Repository
