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Academic Departments. Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department Records

Finding Aid & Inventory

WFU's Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department was an academic department, circa 1940s-1990s, that directed the curriculum for theater production, speech courses, and media communication. This collection contains correspondence and subject files, scrapbooks from the Anthony Aston Society, correspondence, financial documents, photographs, faculty materials related to Julian Burroughs, speech communication professor and former WFDD station manager.

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Biographical and Historical Note

The Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department was an academic department at Wake Forest University that directed the curriculum for theater production, speech courses, and media communication. The department existed from circa 1940s-1990s. The department was involved in the creation of courses, major requirements, and other production materials. Originally having a Radio-TV-Film concentration, the department later developed into having a liberal arts emphasis. This department played a large role towards current organizations and departments at Wake Forest, such as the Anthony Aston Society, Communications department, and Theater department.

This collection also includes materials regarding Julian Burroughs, a professor of speech communication from 1958 until his retirement in 1994. Burroughs served in the US Army from 1946-1948. He later acted as WFDD's station manager from 1958 to 1981. Burroughs taught courses in public speaking, acting, directing, writing for radio and television, and radio-TV-film production.

Collection Overview

This collection contains correspondence, subject files, financial documents, photographs, and materials related to theatrical productions. Items by and about Julian Burroughs are also included. Twenty-two scrapbooks, wrapped in paper, document the Anthony Aston Society.

Collection Inventory

  • Correspondence and subject files
    • Addresses and reprints, miscellaneous, North Carolina box 1 folder 1
    • Alpha Psi Omega. Theta Omega Cast  (1949-1950) box 1 folder 2
    • American Forensic Association  (1952) box 1 folder 3
    • American Forensic Association  (1954-1955) box 1 folder 4
    • American Forensic Association  (1960-1963) box 1 folder 5-6
    • American Forensic Association Convention. Cleveland, Ohio (1962 December) box 1 folder 7
    • American Forensic Association Convention. Denver, Colorado  (1963 August) box 1 folder 8
    • American Forensic Association Convention. Chicago, Illinois (1964 December) box 1 folder 9
    • Annual Reports. Debate activities and speech program  (1940-1967) box 1 folder 10
    • Applications for positions  (1955-1959) box 1 folder 11
    • Atlantic Coast Conference Debate Tournament  (1959-1959) box 1 folder 12
    • Audio-visual "Story of Wake Forest"  (undated) box 1 folder 13
    • Cambridge Debating Tour  (1961-1962) box 1 folder 14
    • Capitol Hill Debate Tournament  (1959-1959) box 1 folder 15
    • Cherry Blossom Debate Tournament box 1 folder 16
    • Columbia University. Graduate notes (Shirley)  (1948-1948) box 1 folder 17
    • Commencement Medals, Orders  (1953-1955) box 1 folder 18
    • Debate absences  (1961) box 1 folder 19
    • Debate absences  (1970-1972) box 1 folder 20-21
    • Debate ballots, blank (undated) box 1 folder 22
    • "Debate at Wake Forest" brochure  (1968-1969) box 1 folder 23
    • Debate certificates  (1955-1972) box 1 folder 24
    • Debate clippings and press releases  (1953-1954) box 1 folder 25
    • Debate clippings and press releases  (1958-1977) box 1 folder 26-43
    • Debate clippings and press releases (undated) box 1 folder 44
    • Debate correspondence  (1957-1959) box 1 folder 45-46
    • Debate correspondence  (1973) box 1 folder 47
    • Debate expenditures  (1958-1962) box 1 folder 48
    • Debate invitations  (1954-1955) box 1 folder 49
    • Debate photographs  (1950-1970) box 1 folder 50
    • Debate photographs, unidentified (undated) box 1 folder 51
    • Debate records, individual  (1947-1950) box 1 folder 52-53
    • Debate records, individual  (1958-1966) box 1 folder 54-58
    • Debate records, team (1953-1954) box 1 folder 59
    • Debate records, team (1960-1961) box 1 folder 60
    • Debate records, team (1969-1970, undated) box 1 folder 61
    • Debate rules for direct clash debating  (1950-1951) box 1 folder 62
    • Debate schedules (1952-1953) box 1 folder 63
    • Debate schedules  (1958-1960) box 1 folder 64-65
    • Debate schedules (1963-1964) box 1 folder 66
    • Debate schedules (1967-1970) box 1 folder 67
    • Debate season summary  (1977-1981) box 1 folder 68-71
    • Debate tournament results (1971-1972) box 1 folder 72
    • Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha Regionals. Emory University  (1965) box 1 folder 73
    • Dixie Classic Debate Tournament
      •   (1956) box 1 folder 74
      •   (1958) box 1 folder 75
      •   (1961-1970) box 1 folder 76-85
      •   (1972-1974) box 1 folder 86-88
      • Twenty-fifth Anniversary Tournament  (1980-1980) box 1 folder 89
    • English #55 voice and diction lesson sheets box 1 folder 90
    • Faculty Campaign Committee, Development Fund  (1959) box 1 folder 91
    • Faculty meetings  (1953-1954) box 1 folder 92
    • Faculty self-evaluation project  (1955) box 1 folder 93
    • Florida Invitational Tournament (1951) box 1 folder 94
    • Forensic Workshop Program, Greenville, South Carolina (1953) box 1 folder 95
    • Forensic Workshop (1959) box 1 folder 96
    • Glasgow University Debate Team (1953) box 1 folder 97
    • Grand National Forensic Tournament  (1946-1946) box 1 folder 98
    • Grand National Forensic Tournament (1948) box 1 folder 99
    • High School Debate Tournament (undated) box 1 folder 100
    • High School Debate Workshop
      • Correspondence (1959) box 1 folder 101
      • Correspondence  (1972-1973) box 1 folder 102-103
      • Correspondence  (1975-1977) box 1 folder 104-106
      • Correspondence (1981) box 1 folder 107
      • Photographs (undated) box 1 folder 108
    • High school speech curriculum, reprints (1968) box 1 folder 109
    • High School Speech Festival
      •   (1964-1966) box 1 folder 110-112
      • Correspondence (1967) box 1 folder 113
      • Records (1967) box 1 folder 114
      •   (1971-1973) box 1 folder 115-117
    • High School Speech Institute
      •   (1960-1962) box 2 folder 118-120
      • Clippings (1963) box 2 folder 121
      • Complaints (1963) box 2 folder 122
      • Correspondence (1963) box 2 folder 123
      • Faculty Correspondence (1963) box 2 folder 124
      • Records (1963) box 2 folder 125
      • Receipts and requests for information (1963) box 2 folder 126
      • Teaching materials, brochures (1963) box 2 folder 127
      • Clippings and Photographs (1964) box 2 folder 128
      • Entries and records (1964) box 2 folder 129
      • Requests for applications and information (1964) box 2 folder 130
      •   (1965-1970) box 2 folder 131-136
      • Directory  (1970) box 2 folder 137
    • Institute of International Education (1958-1959) box 2 folder 138
    • Institute of International Education, Applications (undated) box 2 folder 139
    • International Centennial Debate. York University, Toronto, Canada (1967) box 2 folder 140
    • International Debate Fund (1961-1964) box 2 folder 141
    • International Discussion and Debate
      • Program (undated) box 2 folder 142
      • Committee (1956-1957) box 2 folder 143-146
      • Committee correspondence (1960-1964) box 2 folder 147
    • Irish Debating Tour (1962) box 2 folder 148
    • Japanese Debate Team (1963) box 2 folder 149
    • Marshall-Wythe Debate Tournament certificates, William and Mary (1961) box 2 folder 150
    • Memorandums Bursar (1957, undated) box 2 folder 151
    • Memorandums President (1958-1959) box 2 folder 152
    • Memorandums Registrar (1958-1959) box 2 folder 153
    • National Debate Tournament district application forms (1981) box 2 folder 154
    • National Debate Tournament applications (1973) box 2 folder 155
    • National Debate Tournament nominations (1972) box 2 folder 156
    • National Invitational Tournament, West Point, New York
      •   (1947-1948) box 2 folder 157-158
      •   (1950-1956) box 2 folder 159-165
      • (1958) box 2 folder 166
      • Debate Activities (1949-1950) box 2 folder 167
    • New Zealand Debate Team (1960-1961) box 2 folder 168
    • North Carolina Speech Association (undated) box 2 folder 169
    • North Carolina Speech Association News Bulletin (1954) box 2 folder 170
    • Oxford Debating Team Tours (1960-1962) box 2 folder 171
    • Pi Kappa Delta honorary forensic society)
      • Beta Chapter, Wake Forest College (1947-1950) box 2 folder 172
      • Intercollegiate Tournament (1947) box 2 folder 173
      • Intercollegiate Tournament (1949) box 2 folder 174
      • Intercollegiate Tournament (1952) box 2 folder 175
      • Regional Tournament, Georgetown College, Kentucky (undated) box 2 folder 176
      • Regional Tournament, WFC (1958) box 2 folder 177
      • Southeast Province, manuscript by F. R. Shirley (undated) box 2 folder 178
    • Radio Speech audition evaluations  (1947) box 2 folder 179
    • Radio Station WFDD. Annual report (1958-1959) box 2 folder 180
    • Reader's Digest National Speech Tournament, WFU (June, 1972) box 2 folder 181
    • "Rebuttal 1969" Debate box 2 folder 182
    • "Road Runners,"  The Student  (May, 1954) box 2 folder 183
    • Roll books, Clyde McElroy (undated) box 2 folder 184
    • Roll books F. R. Shirley (1949-1953, undated) box 2 folder 185
    • Scottish Universities Debate Team (1957-1958, 1962) box 2 folder 186
    • Senior orations  (1943-1947) box 2 folder 187
    • Senior orations  (1948-1957) box 2 folder 188-196
    • Senior orations (1959) box 2 folder 197
    • Shirley, Franklin R.
      • Biographical data box 2 folder 198
      • Correspondence (1950-1958) box 2 folder 199-200
      • Correspondence, A-Z (1961-1962) box 2 folder 201-203
      • Correspondence from alumni debaters (1961-1967) box 2 folder 204
    • South Atlantic Forensic Tournament  (1947-1948) box 3 folder 205-206
    • South Atlantic Forensic Tournament (1951) box 3 folder 207
    • South Atlantic Forensic Tournament  (1953-1954) box 3 folder 208-209
    • Southern Speech Association  (1948-1966) box 3 folder 210-212
    • Southern Speech Association Judges' Ballots (undated) box 3 folder 213
    • Southern Speech Association, News and Notes (Shirley)  (1954-1954) box 3 folder 214
    • Speech Association of America: International Discussion and Debate Committee  (1958-1959) box 3 folder 215-216
    • Speech Association of America: Convention, Cleveland, Ohio  (1962-1962) box 3 folder 217
    • Speech Department Course Curricula  (1959) box 3 folder 218
    • Speech Department Course Descriptions (undated) box 3 folder 219
    • Speech Department textbook orders and inventories  (1957-1958) box 3 folder 220
    • Speech #14. Speech Composition and Delivery (undated) box 3 folder 221
    • Speech #55. Voice and Diction. Lesson sheets (undated) box 3 folder 222
    • Speech #510. Basis of Speech (undated) box 3 folder 223
    • State Decoration (1949-1950) box 3 folder 224
    • Tar Heel Invitational Tournament, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill  (1965-1965) box 3 folder 225
    • Trinity College Debate Team (1962) box 3 folder 226
    • United Kingdom Tour of American Debate Team (1963) box 3 folder 227
    • University of Florida Invitational Debate Tournament (1953) box 3 folder 228
    • University of London Debate Team Tour (1962) box 3 folder 229
    • University of Miami Intercollegiate Debate Tournament (1954) box 3 folder 230
    • University of Notre Dame Invitational Debate Tournament (1954) box 3 folder 231
    • University of Vermont Invitational Debate Tournament (1948) box 3 folder 232
    • University of Virginia Invitational Forensic Tournament (1950) box 3 folder 233
    • WFU Alumni News clippings  (1970) box 3 folder 234
    • WFU Debate Union (1970-1971) box 3 folder 235
    • WFU Forensic Workshop (undated) box 3 folder 236
    • WFU Novice Debate Tournament
      • Ballots  (1958-1959) box 3 folder 237-238
      •   (1963-1969) box 3 folder 239-245
      •   (1971-1973) box 3 folder 246-248
    • West Point Debating Society ballots (1950) box 3 folder 249
    • West Point Elimination Tournament, Wake Forest College (1958) box 3 folder 250
    • Western Electric Class. "Communicating Ideas," (F. R. Shirley) (1958) box 3 folder 251
    • Program Files  (1945-1984) box 3 folder 252-288
    • Program Files  (1985-1988) box 4 folder 289-292
    • Dickens Day box 4 folder 293
    • Lab productions (1948/49, 1962/63, 1964/65, 1967/68-1982/83, 1985/86.) box 4 folder 294-313
    • Theater awards  (1974-1980) box 4 folder 314
    • Door plates box 4 folder 315
    • Theater Proposals for Fine Arts Symposium  (1982) box 4 folder 316
    • Theater history notes box 4 folder 317
    • Theater history notes and remarks box 4 folder 318
    • Old Gold and Black. Reviews, photocopies  (1956-1966) box 4 folder 319-328
  • Scrapbooks. Anthony Aston Society
    • (1962-1963) box O folder 329
    • (1966-1967) box O folder 330
    • (1967-1968) box O folder 331
    •   (1968-1970) box O folder 332
    • (1971-1972) box O folder 333
    • (1972-1973) box O folder 334
    • (1973-1974) box O folder 335
    • The Importance of Being Ernest  (1974) box O folder 336
    • (1974-1975) box O folder 337
    • (1975-1976) box O folder 338
    • (2 scrapbooks)  (1976-1977) box O folder 339-340
    • (2 scrapbooks)  (1977-1978) box O folder 341-342
    • (1978-1979) box O folder 343
    • (1979-1980) box O folder 344
    • dedicated to Edwin G. Wilson (1980-1981) box O folder 345
    • (1981-1982) box O folder 346
    • (1982-1983) box O folder 347
    • (1983-1984) box O folder 348
    • (1984-1985) box O folder 349
    • (1987-1988) box O folder 350
  • Correspondence
    • A  (1947-1982) box 4 folder 351
    • B  (1946-1954) box 4 folder 352
    • C - E (1946-1954) box 4 folder 353
    • Easley, J. Allen (John Allen), 1893-1992  (1954) box 4 folder 354
    • F (1946-1958) box 4 folder 355
    • G  (1948) box 4 folder 356
    • H  (1948-1957) box 4 folder 357
    • J - L (1947-1954) box 4 folder 358
    • M  (1947-1958) box 4 folder 359
    • O - P (1947-1958) box 4 folder 360
    • W  (1956) box 4 folder 361
  • Faculty materials: Julian Burroughs
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 1, JCB Copy (VHS videotape)  (1969-1978) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 1, Master (VHS videotape)  (1969-1978) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 2, JCB Copy (VHS videotape)  (1982-1985) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 2, Master (VHS videotape)  (1982-1985) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 3, JCB Copy (VHS videotape)  (1986-1991) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 3, Master (VHS videotape)  (1986-1991) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 4, JCB Copy (VHS videotape)  (1992-1994) box 7
    • "A Collection of Student Films" Volume 4, Master (VHS videotape)  (1992-1994) box 7
    • "A Dream Near Reality" script (undated) box 6 folder 23
    • "A + D film exposed" #2, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • "A + D film exposed " #7, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Alumni correspondence  (1984-1993) box 6 folder 53
    • "Alumni film exposed " #1, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • "Alumni film exposed" #3, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Alumni talk transcripts  (1961-1962) box 6 folder 43
    • Big Band video script (undated) box 6 folder 15
    • "Bridging the Gap" script (undated) box 6 folder 9
    • Burroughs and Corwin correspondence  (1985) box 6 folder 59
    • Burroughs Public Broadcasting essay (undated) box 6 folder 63
    • Carswell Hall building plans (undated) box 6 folder 65
    • "CD Night" #12 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Champion Industries Video materials  (1993) box 6 folder 18
    • Dance script  (1982) box 6 folder 16
    • Department of Speech materials  (1956-1971) box 6 folder 5
    • Downtown Church Center video materials  (1992) box 6 folder 17
    • Dramatic Arts Programs surveys (undated) box 6 folder 38
    • "Dr. Burroughs processed" #13, 16 mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Dr. Franklin Shirley materials  (1983) box 6 folder 8
    • "Dr. Franklin Shirley's Retirement Dinner at Graylyn" VHS videotape  (1984) box 7
    • Equipment grants materials  (1977-1979) box 6 folder 22
    • Film course syllabi  (1986-1993) box 6 folder 50
    • Film history course essays  (1993) box 6 folder 45
    • Film history II course papers  (1994) box 6 folder 44
    • Film Library Committee materials  (1971-1972) box 6 folder 25
    • Film production notes (undated) box 6 folder 47
    • "Find Yourself - - at Salem" script (undated) box 6 folder 10
    • Flight Attendant communication papers  (1987) box 6 folder 42
    • Fine Arts Complex Commission materials  (1967-1972) box 6 folder 26
    • Fine Arts Symposium brief  (1972) box 6 folder 27
    • "For the Love of Learning" materials  (1971) box 6 folder 11
    • "For the Love of Learning" color film reel  (1994) box 7
    • History of Motion Pictures outlines (undated) box 6 folder 46
    • "Helping Your Child Learn to Read" film reel  (1994) box 7
    • Julian Burroughs, "A Perfect Nine" materials (undated) box 6 folder 64
    • Julian Burroughs, "An Original Television Play" script draft (undated) box 6 folder 66
    • Julian Burroughs and television production materials  (1969-1989) box 6 folder 4
    • Julian Burroughs biographical materials  (2008) box 6 folder 61
    • Julian Burroughs certificates and other materials  (1988-2004) box 6 folder 29
    • Julian Burroughs correspondence  (1994-1996) box 6 folder 54
    • Julian Burroughs materials  (1991-1993) box 6 folder 49
    • Julian Burroughs military and personal materials  (2000) box 6 folder 1
    • Julian Burroughs military records  (2000) box 6 folder 33
    • Julian Burroughs personal materials  (1985-1991) box 6 folder 52
    • Julian Burroughs play programs  (1960-1965) box 6 folder 51
    • Julian Burroughs play scripts (undated) box 6 folder 55
    • Julian Burroughs speech certification article  (1963) box 6 folder 36
    • Julian Burroughs TV and Film materials  (1961) box 6 folder 35
    • Management Science America materials  (1985) box 6 folder 13
    • New York class trip photographs (undated) box 6 folder 2
    • New York Radio-TV-Film seminar papers  (1983) box 6 folder 57
    • "Old Campus Scenes" #1 film reel (undated) box 7 carton 1
    • "Old Campus Scenes" #3 film reel (undated) box 7 carton 1
    • "Once Upon a Clock" materials  (1956) box 6 folder 56
    • "One Body, One Spirit" (VHS video tape) (undated) box 7
    • Radio-Television criticism texts  (1961) box 6 folder 24
    • Radio-TV Criticism text (undated) box 6 folder 37
    • Radio-TV-Film inventory  (1994) box 6 folder 31
    • Radio-TV-Film Majors handbook  (1988-1989) box 6 folder 48
    • Radio-TV-Film program materials  (1959) box 6 folder 30
    • Readers Theatre photographs (undated) box 6 folder 6
    • Speech Department correspondence  (1986-1994) box 6 folder 28
    • "Speech Dept, Wake Forest University exposed" 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Summer Speech Institute photos (undated) box 6 folder 60
    • Television criticism articles  (1962) box 6 folder 41
    • Television production report  (1970) box 6 folder 3
    • Television anthology essay  (1987) box 6 folder 40
    • Tennis video materials  (1988) box 6 folder 14
    • TV class photographs (undated) box 6 folder 34
    • Video education materials  (1972-1973) box 6 folder 12
    • "Wake Forest Faculty in World War II" booklet (undated) box 6 folder 62
    • "Wake Forest exposed" #4, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • "Wake Forest exposed" #5,16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • "Wake Forest exposed" #6, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • "Wake Forest exposed and processed" #14, 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • Washington Radio-TV-Film Seminar papers  (1989) box 6 folder 58
    • WFDD correspondence  (2003-2005) box 6 folder 32
    • WFDD materials  (1991) box 6 folder 19
    • WFDD production photographs (undated) box 6 folder 7
    • WFU alumni in Radio-TV materials (undated) box 6 folder 20
    • "WFU Commencement Scenes" film reel (undated) box 7 carton 1
    • WFU Radio-Television-Film program (undated) box 6 folder 21
    • WFU Ralph Nader film reel (undated) box 7
    • "X Plus 2" materials  (1971) box 6 folder 39
    • #8 Exposed 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • #9 Exposed 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • #10 Exposed 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • #11 Exposed 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • #15 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
    • #16 16mm film reel (undated) box 7
  • Financial documents
    • Financial account book  (1944-1948) box 4 folder 362
    • Financial account book  (1952-1960) box 4 folder 363
    • Receipts (1947-1958) box 4 folder 364
    • Reports  (1945-1948) box 4 folder 365
  • General files
    • Alpha Psi Omega membership questionnaire (1958 April 25) box 4 folder 366
    • Constitution (1953) box 4 folder 367
    • Minutes (1946-1956) box 4 folder 368
    • News release (undated) box 4 folder 369
    • Newspaper clippings  (1948-1966) box 4 folder 370
    • Newspaper clippings  (1976-1982) box 4 folder 371-373
    • Newspaper clippings (undated) box 4 folder 374
    • Programs  (1946-1985) box 5 folder 375-376
    • Programs (undated) box 5 folder 377
    • Contract. WFC of Little Theater and Barter Theater of Virginia (1947 November 19) box 5 folder 378
    • Theatrical productions materials
      • Productions card files  (1881-1960) box 5 folder 390
      • Productions card files  (1961-1984) box 5 folder 391
      • Tickets, Awards Banquet (1957) box 5 folder 392
      • Tickets, Season (1959-1960) box 5 folder 393
      • Programs (1990-1991) box 5 folder 394
    • Thomas, William J., Barter Theater of Virginia Started On A Stringbean (undated) box 5 folder 379
  • Pictorial materials
    • Another Part of the Forrest (1956) box 5 folder 380
    • Costume Drawings (undated) box 5 folder 381
    • Costuming (undated) box 5 folder 382
    • Discontented Sons of Willy Loman (portrayed by Jim De Vos and Harold Wilkinson, Howler, p. 27). box 5 folder 383
    • Merchant of Venice (1956) box 5 folder 384
    • Play Scenes (undated) box 5 folder 385
    • Set Preparations (undated) box 5 folder 386
    • Time out for Ginger (1955) box 5 folder 387
    • Tryouts (undated) box 5 folder 388
    • Waler, Tom (undated) box 5 folder 389

Summary Information

Repository
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
Title
Academic Departments. Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department Records
ID
RG16.27
Date [inclusive]
1945-2008
Quantity
7 record cartons, 22 scrapbook volumes
Extent
30.1  Linear Feet

Administrative Information

Publication Information
Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, 2021 November
Revision Description
Revised by Justin Cabiltes, 2022 January
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for use. 
Copyright Notice
Copyright for materials resides with the creators of the items in question or their descendants, unless otherwise designated. Users of this collection are responsible for using the materials in conformance with U.S. copyright law. 
Preferred Citation
Academic Departments. Speech Communication and Theatre Arts Department Records (R16.27), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. 

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