Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 1955, MBA

Committee: Gilbert W. Cooke (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 1955, MBA

Committee: Gilbert W. Cooke (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2010, Theatre and Film

Today, there is more information available about Tennessee Williams than ever before. Yet, despite this deluge of information, I argue that we are no closer to defining who Tennessee Williams was than the day that he died. In fact, one might even go so far to say that with each publishing of a new, rediscovered play or correspondence, we move one-step further from a strict definition of Tennessee Williams. Indeed, our search for Tennessee Williams is a fruitless one as a platonic form of Williams does not exist. The real, complete, or authentic Tennessee is a mirage. For every text that is brought into the light another interpretation of Williams is born. This process is mimicked in the multiplicity of biographical solo-performances that playwrights keep writing about Tennessee Williams with each passing year. In this study, I examine the works of three different playwrights to see how they construct a fragmented image of Tennessee Williams within the genre of biographical solo-performance. I begin with an examination of Ray Stricklyn's Confession's of a Nightingale and how he fashions a performance of Williams's biography and celebrity. Next, I look at Will Scheffer's Tennessee and Me to examine how gay playwrights and activists have tried to reclaim Williams as a distinctly homosexual artist. Finally, I discuss Steve Lawson's A Distant Country Called Youth and Blanche and Beyond as performances that seek to objectify and sanitize the narrative of Williams. In addition to this "case-study," I also offer the political implications and consequences that each production has on our historical understanding of Tennessee Williams and on the genre of biographical solo-performance itself.

Committee: Ronald Shields PhD (Committee Chair); Lesa Lockford PhD (Committee Member); Scott Magelssen PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Theater

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 1947, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 1964, Theatre

Committee: Allen M. Kepke (Advisor) Subjects: Theater

BA, Oberlin College, 2021, Comparative American Studies

This thesis draws on interviews with voters and organizers to disrupt preconceived popularized notions of the Deep South, arguing for a reimagining of the region's value through the lens of electoral politics and the Democratic Party's campaign efforts. There is plenty of room for revision in the apathetic approach that national Democrats and progressives treat the South with. This historic and contemporary disdain, paired with common guilt in the promotion of a limited and exclusionary idea of what the South is, contributes to the marginalization of Southern communities of color, queer and trans people, working class folks, and more. However, through attention to voter access, revised organizing tactics, and more, the Democratic Party can be a part of the solution.

Committee: Shelley Sang-Hee Lee (Advisor); Wendy Kozol (Other); Caroline Jackson-Smith (Committee Member); Charles E. Peterson (Committee Member) Subjects: African American Studies; African Americans; American History; American Studies; Black History; Black Studies; Communication; Demographics; Economic History; Environmental Justice; Ethnic Studies; Gender; Glbt Studies; History; Journalism; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Political Science; Regional Studies

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, English

This dissertation documents community response to disaster and the processes and politics of rebuilding in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with attention to what structures are being built, under what circumstances, and for whom, as well as the physical features and aesthetics of the rebuilt landscape. Gatlinburg, which experienced a devastating wildfire in 2016, is a mountain town and tourist destination that borders the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Planning and policy decisions often result from top-down processes that do not adequately represent the experiences and interests of residents, leaving residents without actual agency in the rebuilding of their community. By incorporating the stories and perspectives of various stakeholders—residents, tourists, and business owners—this project provides insight into disaster response at the level of community and addresses concerns about environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability. This dissertation reveals how the study of vernacular architecture in the context of disaster and environmental change can inform our understanding of the built landscape and processes of community rebuilding. At the nexus of folklore studies and vernacular architecture studies, this project employs folklore research methodologies (in-depth fieldwork, participant observation, and ethnographic interviews) to elucidate how people understand, respond to, and characterize their changing environment. Through the lens of vernacular architecture—or, the study of common, everyday buildings—this dissertation examines the built and natural environment of Gatlinburg with attention to the form, use, style, and (re)construction of its residential and commercial structures. I consider the physical, spatial layout of the town, as well as its web of social relationships as they contributed to effective disaster response, evacuation, and rebuilding efforts. Using interviews with community members—from city officials and residents to hospitality wor (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Amy Shuman (Advisor); Gabriella Modan (Committee Member); Dorothy Noyes (Committee Member) Subjects: Architecture; Folklore

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Ohio University, 2017, Theater

In our society, the topic of abuse has consistently made headlines—either for the severity of the abuse, the media shaming the of perpetrator, or in order to blame the victim. In an effort to confront this constant issue in our society, theater artists have portrayed acts of domestic abuse and violence onstage. These performances allow audiences to sympathize and empathize with victims while witnessing heinous acts on stage. This semester for my thesis project, I directed and produced the second production of Toni Kochensparger's play Milkwhite. Milkwhite had a total of three performances, February 26—28 in Putnam Hall's Create__space at Ohio University, and an audience talkback with the playwright after the final performance. This written portion of my thesis consists of case studies of four plays—Sarah Kane's Blasted, Harold Pinter's The Collection, Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire, and Kochensparger's Milkwhite. Each case study analyses the types of abuse in the play, and the affect the abuse has on both abuser and victim. Additionally, the written portion contains a methods and reflection section about my production of Milkwhite. This research informed my directorial process this winter while directing Milkwhite. I believe that by researching other examples of abuse in dramatic literature, I can learn how to best use themes of abuse to tell Kochensparger's story.

Committee: Matthew Cornish Dr. (Advisor); Erik Ramsey (Committee Member) Subjects: Art Criticism; Fine Arts; Performing Arts; Theater; Theater History; Theater Studies

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1983, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Education

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1976, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 1975, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects: History

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2016, History

Jewish involvement in civil rights for African Americans has often been shrouded in myth. Typical tropes declare that Jews built an alliance with African Americans based on a sense of common oppression but that Southern Jews stayed quiet concerning civil rights issues fearing antisemitic repercussion. This dissertation uses archival research and builds on past scholarly work to overturn these tropes and reveal the complex situation of Jews in the South who promoted higher education for African Americans. Jews interested in civil rights between 1910 and 1965 did not formally build an alliance with African Americans, and those who lived in the South were not quiet; however, they operated in different and unorganized ways compared to their coreligionists in the North. Southern college campuses provided a unique site for Jews to take part in the struggle for enabling African Americans to pursue higher education. By its very nature, the college campus fostered a liberal atmosphere but was surrounded by a landscape riddled with antisemitic, antiforeigner, and anti-Communist sentiments. Jews who chose to take part in this struggle in the South simultaneously questioned their own identity as both nonwhite and nonblack and also American (insider) and foreigner (outsider). This constant negotiation hindered their ability to make inroads, thus Jewish contributions in the South were neither obviously nor immediately successful.

Committee: Robin Judd (Advisor); Steven Conn (Committee Member); Matthew Goldish (Committee Member); Isaac Weiner (Committee Member) Subjects: Adult Education; African American Studies; African Americans; American History; American Studies; Black History; Black Studies; Education History; Ethnic Studies; Higher Education; History; Judaic Studies; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Modern History; School Administration; Secondary Education; Teacher Education; Teaching

MCP, University of Cincinnati, 2008, Design, Architecture, Art and Planning : Community Planning

In 1998, the state of Tennessee passed the Growth Policy Act seeking to minimize urban sprawl. The legislation required municipalities to delineate urban growth boundaries as part of mandated countywide growth policy plans, yet provides a wide degree of discretion to local governments. This research provides an assessment of the state's growth management policy and its local implementation in the small city of Tullahoma, Tennessee. Through analysis of the state's regulatory, institutional, and consistency provisions, weaknesses in the Growth Policy Act are identified that compromise its ability to effectively manage growth. An audit of Tullahoma's planning documents and an analysis of local development patterns reveal practices incongruous with the state's intent to minimize urban sprawl. The research identifies concerns that must be addressed to strengthen state and local growth management in Tennessee, and details a process by which municipalities can evaluate local planning practices for alignment with growth management principles.

Committee: Kiril Stanilov PhD (Committee Chair); Carla Chifos PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Urban Planning

Master of Fine Arts, The Ohio State University, 2010, Theatre

Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams is being produced by The Ohio State University Theatre Department in the autumn quarter, 2009. The production will be in the Thurber Theatre and directed by faculty member Jimmy Bohr. As the scenic designer, I will provide the atmosphere and environment of the play as well as the physical requirements determined by the action described in the script. This document records my involvement in the production process. Briefly, Bohr's concept for this production is focused on the love story that happens between Alma and John. The story is set in a small fictitious town in Mississippi named Glorious Hill, just before World War I. It is a time when the last of Victorian social propriety was becoming extinct and the world was about to change forever. This love story is a bittersweet description of that loss of innocence. The director is focused on the “Poetic Realism” of Williams' writing. Aesthetically, it is important to the director that the heat of the Deep South is represented on stage. I will accomplish this with a canopy of trees, Spanish moss, and other plant life indigenous to Mississippi. The lighting design will also enhance this effect. Another major concern of the director is to have seamless scene shifts. This will be accomplished through the use of three wagons that will move without any visible means. The ever-present angel fountain, named Eternity, needs to be center stage for the entire show. Finally, the American Gothic style needs to be represented in the architecture of the two houses on stage.

Committee: Dan Gray MFA (Committee Chair); Jimmy Bohr MFA (Committee Member); Mark Shanda MFA (Committee Member) Subjects: Theater

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2003, Economics

Extensive historical and contemporary studies establish important links between financial systems and economic development. Despite the importance of this research area and the extent of prior efforts, numerous interesting questions remain about the consequences of alternative regulatory regimes for the health of the financial sector. As a dynamic period of economic and financial evolution, which was accompanied by diverse banking regulations across states, the antebellum era provides a valuable laboratory for study. This dissertation utilizes a rich data set of balance sheets from antebellum banks in four U.S. states, Massachusetts, Ohio, Louisiana and Tennessee, to examine the relative impacts of preventative banking regulation on bank performance. Conceptual models of financial regulation are used to identify the motivations behind each state's regulation and how it changed over time. Next, a duration model is employed to model the odds of bank failure and to determine the impact that regulation had on the ability of a bank to remain in operation. Finally, the estimates from the duration model are used to perform a counterfactual that assesses the impact on the odds of bank failure when imposing one state's regulation on another state, ceteris paribus. The results indicate that states did enact regulation that was superior to alternate contemporaneous banking regulation, with respect to the ability to maintain the banking system. This is especially evident in Tennessee where the counterfactual indicates that the odds of bank failure would have increased from 6.3% to 67.3% under Ohio regulation. The results are even more striking when the counterfactual is performed by subintervals of the antebellum period. During the turbulent subperiod of 1856-1860, the estimated odds of a Tennessee bank failing are 13%. However, this would have increased to 83.6% had Tennessee been under Ohio law. Although some results indicate that alternative laws would have lowered the odds (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Richard Steckel (Advisor) Subjects:

Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, 2011, Geological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

The Flynn Creek impact structure in north-central Tennessee was formed by an extraterrestrial impact ~382 Ma in a shallow sea. Roddy (1979) first suggested that the crater may have formed from an oblique impact citing the asymmetric structure of the central uplift; however, due to the burial of the crater, much of the usual evidence used for determining obliquity is inaccessible. The purpose of this study was to determine if the structural geology of the crater rim can be used to determine obliquity and angle of impact. By utilizing the areas of greatest deformation, coupled with post impact topography, and also strike orientation of the rim strata, it was found that the Flynn Creek crater was formed by an oblique impact following a trajectory from the present day northwest to the southeast, probably at a shallow (5°) angle.

Committee: Keith Milam PhD (Advisor); Gregory Springer PhD (Committee Member); Douglas Green PhD (Committee Member); Richard Nance PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Geology

BA, Oberlin College, 2006, History

The origins of America's national park movement lay in the intellectual and political milieu of the 19th century, when American artists, writers and politicians, conscious of a relatively short national history, longed for tangible symbols of a unique national identity. Historian Louis Warren argues, for example, that: "Whereas the English, French, and Italian peoples could point to ancient ruins, cathedrals that were hundreds of years old, and traditions of arts and letters that went back almost to the dawn of Christianity, American culture was, by comparison, very new. Many found the material to fill this gap in America's monumental landscapes, the huge mountains and the craggy peaks which dominated parts of the country, particularly in the West." Exactly, what ought to be done on a national scale to ensure the perpetuation of such landscapes remained debatable. The conservation movement, with its call for rational management of public lands, and the first national parks, Yellowstone and Yosemite, arose contemporaneously. The national park system grew rapidly; there were five national parks by the end of the 19th century and seventeen by the end of the second decade of the 20th century. My thesis traces the way in which the relationship between competing and intermixed spatial factors (public, private and sacred), expressed through the agency of individuals and groups, influenced the creation of two specific national parks in two distinct historical eras. I adopt a case study approach in my thesis so that I can examine the changing emphases and proportions of these factors historically. Tracing the histories of the creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in 1934 and the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area (CVNRA) (now Cuyahoga Valley National Park) in 1974, I show how changing justifications for park creation and development reflect a shift from an emphasis on generalized Romantic views of nature, regional development and recreation primar (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Gary Kornblith (Advisor) Subjects: American History; Conservation; Environmental Management; Land Use Planning

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2004, Environmental Sciences

I participated in two different internships. During my first internship, I conducted forest pest management research for the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. I researched the growth response of eastern hemlocks, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr, to populations of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), Adelgis tsugae Annand (Homoptera: Adelgidae). HWA density was compared to radial growth and new shoot growth of infested eastern hemlocks. Linear regression analyses showed statistically significant negative relationships between HWA density measurements and the difference in basal area increment from the previous year (2001) and the sampled year (2002), and between HWA density measurements and numbers of new shoots sampled. My second internship was in the Resource Stewardship division of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, Tennessee. I participated in watershed project management and planning meetings, conducted web-based research on watershed water quality and urban growth management techniques, and helped develop a management tracking tool.

Committee: Gene Willeke (Advisor) Subjects:

Master of Environmental Science, Miami University, 2003, Environmental Sciences

The purpose of this report is to describe my responsibilities and participation in projects during my six-month internship, June 3, 2002 to December 3, 2002, with the Tennessee Valley Authority. For the first ten weeks, I interned with TVA through the sponsoring internship organization Joint Institute of Energy and the Environment / Southern Appalachian Man and Biosphere Program (JIEE/SAMAB) which focused on environmental decision-making. I hosted a seminar as well as participated in each intern's seminar. Following the ten week internship, I interned directly through TVA to finish the remainder of the six months. My responsibilities at TVA included producing a Valley-wide overview of TVA's watershed water quality activities in the Tennessee Valley Basin, exploring and evaluating potential benchmarks to compare water quality in the Tennessee Valley region to another region, and assisting in the watershed water quality planning process. I was exposed to various activities and issues associated with project/middle management.

Committee: Jerry Green (Advisor) Subjects:

MS, Kent State University, 2007, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Earth Sciences

The bivalves and mollusks of the Late Cretaceous Coon Creek Formation in Tennessee are well preserved and exhibit biotic interactions with a variety of organisms. Almost 60% of the bivalves collected in the field show some form of interaction; many show multiple forms of biotic activity. These interactions provide information on how the bivalves lived, and if they were alive at the time the other organisms were interacting with them. Bivalves were used as substrates by several organisms, including sponges, bryozoans, other bivalves, worms, microbial fungi, and foraminifera. Predation of the bivalves by gastropods is also noted. Location of burrows, impressions, and drill holes provides information on the orientation of the living bivalves. Interactions that are seen on the interior of the valves indicates that the bivalve was dead at the time the other organism began living on it.

Committee: Rodney Feldmann (Advisor) Subjects: Geology; Paleontology