The Dramatic Society was first formally established during the 1870-71 academic year, however theatrical productions at Santa Clara date back to the school's earliest days. Student performances were considered integral to the Jesuit tradition of "Eloquentia Perfecta" and were promoted to encourage students to develop public speaking skills. Primarily religious and historical in nature, a major dramatic production was staged each year so a large number of the student body could participate. In addition, before athletic competition came to predominate extracurricular student life, these dramatic productions provided much needed entertainment for the students and faculty. Performances included "The Mission Play of Santa Clara", "The Light Eternal" by Marin V. Merle '06, "The Passion Play of Santa Clara" and "The Weaver of Tarsus" by Clay M. Green, 1869. Courses in dramatics were first taught at Santa Clara in 1956 when the Department of Speech and Drama was established. A major leading to a degree in drama was established in 1964.

Santa Clara University was founded in 1851 by the Society of Jesus as Santa Clara College and is California’s oldest operating institution of higher learning. It was established on the grounds of Mission Santa Clara de Asìs, the eighth of the original 21 California missions. The college originally operated as a preparatory school and did not offer courses of collegiate rank until 1853. The institution became known as the University of Santa Clara in 1912, when the schools of engineering and law were added. For 110 years, Santa Clara University was an all-male school. In 1961, women were accepted as undergraduates and Santa Clara University became the first coeducational Catholic university in California. The number of students and faculty tripled over the next decade and the university began the largest building program in school history with eight residence halls, a student union, and an athletic stadium. In the early 1970s, the Board of Trustees voted to limit the size of the undergraduate population, an action that was intended to preserve the character and ensure the quality of the university for generations to come. In 1985, the university adopted Santa Clara University as its official name. Bibliography: Santa Clara University. “About SCU – History.” www.scu.edu/about/history.cfm (Accessed Nov. 23, 2010) McKevitt, Gerald, S.J. The University of Santa Clara: A History, 1851-1977. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1979.