Guide to the Clarence McGehee Collection on Ruth St. Denis
MS.P.025
Processed by Laura Clark Brown; machine-readable finding aid created by Gabriela A.
Montoya
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
(cc) 1998
The UCI Libraries
P.O. Box 19557
University of California, Irvine
Irvine 92623-9557
spcoll@uci.edu
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine
Libraries
Title: Clarence McGehee collection on Ruth St. Denis
Creator:
McGehee, Clarence
Identifier/Call Number: MS.P.025
Physical Description:
4.7 Linear Feet
(5 boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1908-1937
Abstract: The collection is comprised of
correspondence, typescripts, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, programs and ephemera
collected by Ruth St. Denis' publicist, Clarence McGehee. Most materials, including a
scrapbook of newspaper clippings, pertain to Ruth St. Denis and the Denishawn Dancers. Other
materials pertain to contemporaries of Ruth St. Denis in the dance world, including Ted
Shawn, members of Ballet Russe, Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Norma Gould and Trudi Schoop.
Also in the collection are clippings of an anonymous author's newspaper column; McGehee may
be the author. Items date from circa 1908 to 1937.
General Physical Description note: 4.7 linear feet
Language of Material:
English .
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by
the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish,
please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.
Preferred Citation
Clarence McGehee Collection on Ruth St. Denis. MS-P 25. Special Collections and Archives,
The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.
For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information
about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder
descriptions, and box/folder locations.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Valerie Ormont in 1996.
Processing History
Processed by Laura Clark Brown in 1997.
Biography
Clarence McGehee was a writer and publicist for Ruth St. Denis in the first decade of the
twentieth century. He collected materials primarily by and about Ruth St. Denis and also
gathered information on many of her dance contemporaries. McGehee was a resident of Redondo
Beach, California.
In 1911, several papers announced McGehee's engagement to Ruth St. Denis, but they never
married.
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The collection is comprised of correspondence, typescripts, manuscripts, newspaper
clippings, programs and ephemera collected by Ruth St. Denis' publicist, Clarence McGehee.
Most materials, including a scrapbook of newspaper clippings, pertain to Ruth St. Denis and
the Denishawn Dancers. Other materials pertain to contemporaries of Ruth St. Denis in the
dance world, including Ted Shawn, members of Ballet Russe, Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham,
Norma Gould and Trudi Schoop. Also in the collection are clippings of an anonymous author's
newspaper column; McGehee may be the author. Items date from circa 1908 to 1937.
The collection is organized in three series. Series 1 is comprised of correspondence
received by Clarence McGehee and Ruth St. Denis. Series 2 contains writings by unknown
authors and an essay purportedly written by Ruth St. Denis. Series 3, the largest series,
consists of printed items, including a scrapbook of clippings on Ruth St. Denis, loose
newspaper and magazine clippings, programs, playbills and flyers.
Series 3 is arranged in five subject subseries. The first three subseries overlap in
subject; the materials illustrate the careers of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn and document
activities of their school, Denishawn, and the Denishawn Dancers. Subseries 3.4 represents
other major dancers, choreographers and companies of the era; the materials also include
information on relevant topics of world dance, including Native American and Latin American
dance. McGehee's collection contains numerous playbills from dance performances held in Los
Angeles area theatres. Most performances were by nationally or internationally renowned
companies such as Ballet Theatre and Ballet Russe. The final subseries contains materials
unrelated to dance, including articles and business cards collected by McGehee.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Dance -- United States -- History -- Sources
Modern dance -- United States -- History -- Sources
Dance -- Archives
Choreographers.
Dancers.
Dance cards
Scrapbooks
Dancers -- History -- Sources
St. Denis, Ruth -- Archives
Shawn, Ted
Duncan, Isadora -- Archives
Denishawn School of Dancing -- Archives
Correspondence Series 1.
1911-1924
Physical Description: 0.8 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Letters received by the collector Clarence McGehee and letters received by Ruth St.
Denis. Many letters to St. Denis appear to be fan mail, while correspondence to McGehee
is personal. Most letters to McGehee mention Ruth St. Denis. The series is arranged into
two groups by the recipients, and with each group listed alphabetically by senders'
surnames. Items date from circa 1911 to 1924.
box 1, folder 1
Letters received by Clarence McGehee
(1911, 1914, 1924)
General note
Letters sent from the following individuals:
- Jay (?)
- Kingsley, Grace
- Milhenney, Eddy(?)
- Soloducko, Henry
- Yamada, Hana
box 1, folder 2
Letters received by Ruth St. Denis
(1911 and undated)
General note
Letters sent from the following individuals:
- Buckley, Olive(?)
- Davis, Maria
- Dietz, Jr., F.W.(?)
- Fairchild, Camilla
- Grant, Lillian S.
- Hirsch, Frank A.
- Hullinger, Litta Lynn(?)
- Kreider, Emma K.
- Mayer, Charles
- Miller, Marion Mills
- Ryan, Herbert H.
- Schuster, Richard
- Siskels, M.B.
- Soho, Maroula
- Stiles(?)
- Tamfer, Edwina Dean(?)
- Ward, J.(?)
Writings, and undated Series 2.
ca. 1909
Physical Description: 0.4 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Typescript and manuscript writings relating to dance and art. One typescript titled
"The 'Ways' of Life" was supposedly written by Ruth St. Denis. Authorship of the other
items is unknown. Most items are undated, but the St. Denis piece is from circa
1909.
box 1, folder 3
"Art and Meaning"
(ca. 1909)
box 1, folder 4
"Cambodian Dancing Girls"
box 1, folder 4
"The Dancing Girls of Java"
box 1, folder 5
"The 'Ways' of Life," by Ruth St. Denis
Printed material Series 3.
ca. 1908-1937
Physical Description: 3.5 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
A scrapbook of clippings, loose newspaper and magazine clippings, programs, playbills,
flyers and ephemera related to Ruth St. Denis, Denishawn and other dance and non-dance
topics. Materials are arranged in five subseries by subject matter. Items date from
circa 1908 to 1937.
The series has been organized in 5 subseries:
- Subseries 3.1. Ruth St. Denis material, ca. 1908-1937. 0.7 linear ft.
- Subseries 3.2. Ted Shawn material, ca. 1908-1937. 0.7 linear ft.
- Subseries 3.3. Denishawn material, 1916-1925. 0.7 linear ft.
- Subseries 3.4. Other dance personalities and topics material, undated. 0.7
linear ft.
- Subseries 3.5. Non-dance material, ca. 1909-1911. 0.7 linear ft.
Ruth St. Denis material Subseries 3.1.
ca. 1908-1937
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, loose clippings, pamphlets, brochures and ephemera
reflect the dance career of St. Denis and the publicity surrounding her marriage to
Ted Shawn.
box 1, folder 6-9
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 5OS, folder 1
Oversized newspaper clippings
box 1, folder 10-12
Programs and playbills (these items also represent Ted Shawn and the
Denishawn Dancers, )
ca. 1911-1937
box 1, folder 13
Ruth St. Denis and Her Indian Dances,
pamphlet
(ca. 1908)
box 1, folder 14
Ruth St. Denis, Pioneer and Prophet, brochure
for monograph by Ted Shawn
(ca. 1920)
box 1, folder 15
"Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn & Their Denishawn Dancers," brochure for
transcontinental American tour
(1926)
box 1, folder 16
Miriam, Sister of Moses, brochure for
ballet
undated
box 1, folder 17
Ephemera, including announcements and invitations to events
box 4OS
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings
circa 1911
box 4OS, folder 1-2
Loose clippings from scrapbook
Ted Shawn material Subseries 3.2.
circa 1908-1937
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Newspaper clippings and ephemera illustrate the dance career of Ted Shawn and his
company of Men Dancers.
box 1, folder 18-19
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 5OS, folder 1
Oversized newspaper clippings
box 1, folder 20
Ephemera, including announcements and advertisements
Denishawn material Subseries 3.3.
1916-1925
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Newspaper clippings, programs, playbills, brochures and four issues of
Denishawn Magazine documenting the School of Dance and Related
Arts, as well as performances by the Denishawn Dancers.
box 1, folder 21-22
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 1, folder 23
"Denishawn, The Ruth St. Denis School of Dancing," 2 brochures
(1916-1917)
box 1, folder 24
The Denishawn Magazine: A Quarterly Review Devoted to
the Art of the Dance,
Volume 1: Numbers 1-4
(1925)
Other dance personalities and topics material, undated Subseries 3.4.
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Arranged alphabetically by surnames of individuals and by topics, these materials
provide a glimpse at Ruth St. Denis' dance contemporaries and relevant dance topics of
the day. Items include newspaper clippings, programs, playbills, flyers and
advertisements.
box 2, folder 1
Newspaper clippings and photograph
box 2, folder 4
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 6
La Argentina, newspaper clippings and
brochure
box 2, folder 7
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 8
Balanchine, George, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 9-10
Ballet Caravan and Ballet Theatre
box 2, folder 9
Newspaper and magazine clippings and flyers
box 2, folder 11-12
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
box 2, folder 11
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 12
Flyers, brochures and a program
box 2, folder 13
Newspaper and magazine clippings, broadsides and flyers
box 2, folder 15-16
Bolm, Adolph, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 17
Brice, Fanny, newspaper clipping and
program
box 2, folder 18
Cocteau, Jean, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 19
Dance in Art and Poetry, newspaper and magazine clippings and
exhibit catalog
box 2, folder 20
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 21
de Merode, Cleo, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 22
de Mille, Agnes, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 23
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 26-27
Newspaper clippings and ephemera
box 2, folder 29
Dunham, Katherine, program
box 2, folder 31
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 33
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 35
Gest, Morris, newspaper, magazine clippings, and
program
box 2, folder 36
Gould, Norma, brochures and programs
box 2, folder 37
Newspaper and magazine clippings, flyer and program
box 2, folder 38
Guerrero, Rosario and Antonio, programs
box 2, folder 39
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 2, folder 40
Hoffman, Gertrude, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 41
Horton, Lester, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 42
Humphrey, Doris, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 2, folder 43
Japanese dance, postcards and brochure
box 3, folder 1
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 2
Kinch, Myra, flyer and playbill
box 3, folder 3
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 5
Latin American dance, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 6
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 7
Marraci, Carma Lita, program and flyer
box 3, folder 8
Massine, Leonide, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 9
Mills College, "Creative Arts" brochure
box 3, folder 10-11
Miscellaneous dance topics
box 3, folder 10
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 11
Playbills, flyers and brochures
box 3, folder 12
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 13
Native Americans (of Mexico) dance
box 3, folder 13
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 14
Nijinsky, Kyra, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 15
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 16
Oukrainsky, Serge, flyers and playbill
box 3, folder 17
Pavley-Oukrainskey Ballet, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 18
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 5OS, folder 7
Oversized clippings and program
box 3, folder 20
Newspaper and magazine clippings
box 3, folder 21-23
Newspaper and magazine clippings and playbills
box 3, folder 24
St. Ritus Banda, magazine clipping and
brochure
box 3, folder 25
Schoop, Trudi, flyers, broadsides and
program
box 3, folder 26
Shan Kar, Uday, newspaper, magazine clippings, and
program
box 3, folder 27
Newspaper and magazine clippings, brochures and photograph
box 3, folder 28
Stowitts, Hubert, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 29
Swedish ballet, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 30
Toumanova, Tamara, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 31
Vanda Hoff, Ora, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 32
Volinine, Alexander, newspaper and magazine
clippings
box 3, folder 33
Wigman, Mary, magazine clipping and
brochure
Non-dance material Subseries 3.5.
ca. 1909-1911
Physical Description: 0.7 Linear
Feet
Scope and Contents note
Newspaper clippings from the
Los Angeles Times and
magazine articles from
West Coast Magazine may be
material written by Clarence McGehee. Many articles deal with Chinese Americans on the
West Coast. Items date from circa. 1909 to 1911.
box 5OS, folder 9
Newspaper columns by a "Special Contributor" in the
Los Angeles Times
(ca. 1909-1911)
box 3, folder 35
Magazine articles from
West Coast
Magazine