Guide to the Anchorage Opera Guild records
1975-2015
Collection number: HMC-1490.
Creator: Anchorage Opera Guild.
Title: Anchorage Opera Guild records.
Dates: 1975-2015.
Volume of collection: 2 cubic feet.
Language of materials: Materials in the collection are in English.
Collection summary: Records of an organization that supported opera and opera appreciation through fundraising, volunteering, education, and social gatherings.
Organizational history:
The Anchorage Opera Guild was founded in 1975 as the Anchorage Civic Opera Guild, to support the Anchorage Civic Opera, and was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in 1995. Though it began as a women’s auxiliary, membership was open to all by the mid-1980s. The Guild’s fundraising activities included hosting events such as auctions, garage sales, fashion shows, and the annual Dinner Opera, as well as selling concessions at Opera performances and publishing cookbooks. Educational activities included visiting local schools to teach students about opera, and bringing students to Anchorage Opera performances and behind the scenes tours. The Guild also provided refreshments to cast members at rehearsals. The organization disbanded in 2017.
Collection description:
The collection consists of records created by the Anchorage Opera Guild, including bylaws, meeting minutes, committee files, directories, newsletters, historical information on opera in Alaska, Dinner Opera programs, educational materials, guestbooks, awards and citations, and scrapbooks.
Arrangement: The collection is arranged by type of material.
Digitized copies: For preservation reasons, the scrapbooks were digitized and dismantled. The contents were then rehoused into archival enclosures and folders. For information about accessing the digitized scrapbooks, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Digital materials: The digital contents of this collection, including digitized materials and those originally created digitally, are not available online. Access may only be provided on-site in the Archives research room. For more information about potential distance access to digital records, please contact Archives and Special Collections.
Rights note: Copyright to materials created by the Anchorage Opera Guild has been transferred to Archives & Special Collections. Materials not created by the Guild may be subject to copyright not held by the Archives.
Preferred citation: Anchorage Opera Guild records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.
Separated materials: Materials created by the Anchorage Opera Company were transferred to the Anchorage Opera Company records (HMC-0049) and the Anchorage Opera programs (EPH-0120).
Related materials: The Archives also holds the Anchorage Opera Company records (HMC-0049) and a collection of Anchorage Opera programs (EPH-0120).
Acquisition note: The collection was donated by Dana Anderson and Leah Kumin in 2024. A deed of gift was signed in 2024 by Leah Kumin, who served as the organization’s last president.
Processing information: This collection was described by Gwen Higgins in 2025.
Container list:
| Box/Folder | Description | Date |
| 1/1 | Anchorage Opera Guild bylaws | 2010 |
| 1/2-9 | Meeting minutes | 1975-2006 |
| 1/10 | Board documents | 1989-1990 |
| 1/11 | Board agendas | 2013-2014 |
| 1/12 | Membership Committee file | 1991-1995 |
| 1/13 | Volunteer Coordinator report | 1994-1995 |
| 1/14-16 | Member directories | 1989-2015 |
| 1/17 | Newsletters | 1997-1998 |
| 1/18 | Anchorage Opera history | 1982-1991 |
| 1/19 | List of Anchorage Opera performances | 2011 |
| 1/20 | Dinner Opera programs | 1977-1982 |
| 1/21 | The Great Alaska Sing-Out program | undated |
| 1/22 | Opera educational materials | undated, 1990 |
| 1/23 | The Marriage of Figaro research materials | undated |
| 1/24 | “Anchorage Opera Guild’s 1994 Study Guide” | 1994 |
| 1/25 | Opera Volunteers International membership information | 2006-2012 |
| 1/26 | Certificates of appreciation | 1990 |
| 2/1 | Australian-themed promotional artwork | 1997 |
| 2/2 | Loose photographs | undated |
| Digital storage | Isle of Tulipatan by Jacques Offenbach. Singers: Wendy Baker, Mark Craig, Lexa Ferrill, and David Schmidt. Pianist, Tom Getty; Director, Cecelia Schieve; Stage Manager, Christina Walters | 2004 |
| Digital storage | Chugach Operamania & Stone Soup. Dana Anderson’s photos | 2004 April 15-16 |
| Digital storage | Studio Theatre 2005: Three Little Pigs & Music Shop. Cecelia Schieve, Director; Tom Getty, Pianist; Abigail Shue, Soprano; Jennifer DiDominici, Mezzo Soprano; Mark Craig, Tenor; and David Schmidt, Baritone. Dana Anderson photos | 2005 |
| 2/3-4 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1981-1983 |
| 2/5 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1983-1985 |
| 2/6-7 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1987-1988 |
| 2/8-9 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1988-1989 |
| 2/10 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1989-1990 |
| 2/11-12 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1990-1991 |
| 2/13 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1991-1992 |
| 2/14 | Scrapbook contents. Digitized copy of original scrapbook available on request. | 1992-1993 |
| 2/15 | Tudor School Hansel & Gretel ‘82 and Ursa Minor H&G, 11 Nov ‘83. Beta videocassette | 1982-1983 |
| 2/16 | 25th Statehood Show 1-3-84 and Sarajevo Olympics 2-84 | 1984 |