Finding aid for the Nina Hard papers 6056
Alysa Beckner
USC Libraries Special Collections
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles, California 90089-0189
213-740-5900
specol@usc.edu
Language of Material:
German
Contributing Institution:
USC Libraries Special Collections
Title: Nina Hard papers
creator:
Hard, Nina
Identifier/Call Number: 6056
Physical Description:
1.68 Linear Feet
4 boxes
Date (inclusive): circa 1870s-1970s, undated
Abstract: This collection documents the life of Nina Hard, a German dancer, who at one time worked with German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.
The collection consists almost primarily of personal photographs, with some documents such as letters and legal documents.
Physical Description: Some of the materials are brittle and aging.
Biographical / Historical
Nina (Engelhardt) Hard was born in 1900 in Brazil and moved to Germany with her family at a young age. On the ocean voyage
to Germany she became enchangted with the ship's orchestra and decided to become a cellist. She moved to Berlin to pursue
the study of music, but while there she discovered dance, eventually becoming a well-known dancer performing in Berlin, Munich,
and Zurich. She became very popular with both the audience and the press. She married twice; her second husband was Magnus
Henning a composer, writer and director (notable for his work with German actress Erika Mann and Die Pfeffermühle). During
the late 1930s, Hard moved with her family to Ehrwald in the Tyrol. In 1939, she moved back to Brazil with her children,
and in 1947 she moved to California. However, in 1952 she moved back to Germany.
Content Description
The Nina Hard papers include correspondence, photographs, postcards and drawings. The correspondence mostly includes letters
from friends and family of Nina Hard. The collection also includes numerous articles written about Nina and legal documentx,
such as her birth certificate and marriage licence(s).
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Box/folder no. or item name], Nina Hard papers, Collection no. 6056, Special Collections, USC Libraries, University of Southern
California
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Dancers -- Germany -- 20th century -- Archival resources
Clippings
Drawings
Letters
Photographs
Programs (documents)
Hard, Nina
Hard, Nina -- Archives
Documents and Correspondence
Scope and Contents
Legal Documents and correspondence for and between Nina, her mother, Renee, and Anna. Newspaper clippings and Programs of
Nina's performances. Nina's drawings.
Box 1, Folder 1
Notebooks
Physical Description: 1.1 notebooks.3 Notebooks - containing Nina's work and dance performances
Box 1, Folder 2
Renee - Experience Reports
Physical Description: 1.2 notebooks."Log of the Ship of Hope"
- Five year progress report,
Meals for Millions Foundation
Box 1, Folder 3
Christmas Card from Mami to Nina (?)
1969-12-15
Physical Description: 1.3 postcard.Christmas Card "Peace and Goodwill to All"Christmas card with Christmas tree and angels flying around it
Box 1, Folder 4
Clippings: Kirchner
1980-06-13
1983-07-10
Physical Description: 1.4 FilesVarious newspaperclippings from Nina's performances.
Various criticContains 1 Folder
Box 1, Folder 7
Letter from Mami
1968-11-11
Box 1, Folder 5
Programs
1920-11-28
1920-12-28
1919-11-30
1919-01-31
Physical Description: 1.5 FilesVarious programs from Nina's performances
Describes each dance and performance2 folders
Box 1, Folder 6
Nina Artwork
1916-1935
Physical Description: 1.6 FilesContains artwork from Nina (Sketches and Notes)
Photographs of Nina as an Artist
Box 1, Folder 12
Baptism Certificate - Engelhardt, A. M. (Legal Documents)
1905-02-12
Box 1, Folder 8
Anna
1967-01-23-1967-02-26
Physical Description: 1.8 FilesContains various descriptions of photos (Dance photos of Anna (?))
Story of Anna/Similar to a diary entry
Box 1, Folder 13
Postcards - Several addressed to Renee
1955-02-15
1945-08-19
Box 1, Folder 15
Unknown-Santiago (Legal Documents)
1939
Box 1, Folder 18
Short story "Der Klang der stimme des Leichenbeschauers"
"Taufenkennende Mama" (Baptism Certificate from Mama)
Box 1, Folder 10
Divorce - Engelhardt v. Furster (Legal Documents)
1928-02-24
1925-10-24
Box 1, Folder 19
Introducing Speech to Exhibit in Zurich and "Abrechnung Ausstellung Nina Hard"
1970
Box 1, Folder 20
Letters between Nina and Frau Kummer
1970-08-05-1970-08-07
Box 1, Folder 11
Marriage Certificate - Henning and Engelhardt (Legal Documents)
1928
Box 1, Folder 14
Easter card from Renee
Physical Description: 1.14 postcard.Drawn Easter Card
Box 1, Folder 16
Nina-Articles (Newspaper Clippings)
1919-11-30
1921-01-04
1924-12-12
1945-12-07
Physical Description: 1.16 FilesContains "Kritiken Schweitz" (Swiss critics), "Artes Plasticas", "Kritiken Deutschland" (German critics), "Taenze Nina Hard"
(Newspaper and Tickets)
Box 1, Folder 17
Letters to Anna (Short Story)
Physical Description: 1.17 FilesShort story in style of a diary entryPages
Box 1, Folder 21
Georg Trakl and Poem "What Do I Do?"
Physical Description: 1.21 FilesTwo papers Titled "Georg Trakle"
Box 1, Folder 9
Misc. Legal Documents
1934-03-26
Physical Description: 1.9 Files"Geburts- und Taufschein"
Renee Henning: Birth and Baptism Certificate
Box 2, Folder 1-5
Photos of Nina
1971-09
Physical Description: 2.1-2.5 photographFolder 2.1: "Ascona Filme", "Renee Ojai", "Filme...", "Rickie", "Mary", "Astrid", "Erste (Bali) bilder in Brasilien gemalt",
"Ehrwald 321"
Folder 2.2: "Renee", "Alfons...Renee" (original inscription), "Mury Landschaft - Haus", "Didii" (inscription on original envelope)
Folder 2.3: "Elefanten", "Films Rennee California. Keine Glamoure shots", "Mann", "Friedel", "Christel", "Alfons"
Folder 2.4: "Ascona", "Renee", "Christel"
Folder 2.5: "Filme... Ruinen", "Maddine Monica Flonan", "Narcisa und Narcisa - Heni mit Baby", "Olivia, Patricia und Anneteren"
Box 2, Folder 9
Various Photos
Physical Description: 2.9 photographs"Maskenkram Ehrwald", "Malereien Magnus", "Ehrwald"
Box 3, Folder 1
Photo with writing - Mediterranean holiday, Karla Engelhardt and Huebtschmann
1947-05-18-1948
Physical Description: 3.1 photographs"Mediterranean scenic holiday", "Karla (some labeled)", "Engelhardt Huebtschmann"
Box 4, Folder 1
No Nina - Renee and others, Nina and Company
Box 4, Folder 2
Photos and Newspaper clippings Shiffer (Paula)
Box 4, Folder 3
Renee and others
1921
1946
1950
1950-07
Box 3, Folder 2
Unmarked Photos - Cats and Dogs, Alfonz Baby
bulk
Physical Description: 3.2 photographsAlfonz baby (1)
Dogs and Cats (1940-1950) (2)
Unknown woman screen-test shots (4)
Box 4, Folder 4
Grandparents, Father, Mother, Brother, Sister (Family Photos and Actor)
bulk
Physical Description: 4.4 photographsIncludes: "Unknown photographs (Rio Grande Brazil circa 1870s-1920s)", "Engelhard Huebschmann (1927/28)"
Box 4, Folder 5
Robby, Actor Photos
Physical Description: 4.5 photographsIncludes newspaper clippings of Robby's actor photos
Box 4, Folder 14
Nina and Kids - Photos Robby and Renee
Box 4, Folder 6
Nina and unknown Gentleman
Physical Description: 4.6 photographsSmall photos (snapshots), Family photos (?)
Box 4, Folder 15
Photos of Nina and Renee at Exhibit
Box 4, Folder 7
Photos of collages
Physical Description: 4.7 photographsIncluding: "Home in Moor" as it once looked. Black and white, also blond short haired woman (?)
Box 4, Folder 16
Photographs (Nina)
1929-03
Box 4, Folder 8 and 9
Nina to Kirchner (Photographs)
Physical Description: 4.8-4.9 photographsNina Hard, Asel Linden (?), others
Blond labled woman 1950s
Kirchner, Hard and others (?)
2 women and a uniform
Box 4, Folder 10
Nina - Nature Boy (Black and White repros.)
Physical Description: 4.10 photographsThis little Natureboy: Reproduction - set for Mary "One of our dearest in this world"
-Nina
Box 4, Folder 11
Double Nina
Christmas Card - Renee
1967-12-25
1969
Physical Description: 4.11 photographsPhotos and Christmas Cards
Box 4, Folder 12
"Tanzbilder" Dancepics and Newspapers - Nina Dance Costumes
Physical Description: 4.12 photographsNina Hard portrait photos
Nina Hard dance photographs - various costumes
Photographs or 2 women
Box 4, Folder 13
Children Pictures
"Alfons and Renee (Also with Me)"
Nina and Children
Physical Description: 4.13 photographsIncludes Nina Hard and Children
Box 4, Folder 17
Small Photographs `
1932
Physical Description: 4.17 photographs"Alles Moegliche + Mami als fast (?) Indianerin"
