Dole, Gertrude letters, 1939

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Summary

Title:
Gertrude Dole letters
Dates:
1939
Creators:
Dole, Gertrude
Abstract:
One bound volume of 26 indexed letters handwritten by San Francisco educator Gertrude "Gerda" Dole (nee Kittleman) to her fiance Rodney Dole, over the summer of 1939 while she was a dancer at Eagle Theater in Roaring Camp for the Centennial Celebration in Sacramento, Calif.
Extent:
.1 linear ft. (1 folder)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gertrude Dole letters, MC 31, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This bound volume contains 26 letters handwritten by Gerda Dole to her betrothed Rodney Dole over the summer of 1939 while she was a dancer at Eagle Theater in Roaring Camp for Sacramento's Centennial Celebration. Her letters concern her long-distance relationship with Rodney, her stay at the Regis Hotel, fellow Eagle Theater performers, dance rehearsals and performances, Independence Day celebrations, a visit to the Crocker Art Gallery, and Gerda's career aspirations. Eagle Theater staff mentioned include producer Nina Frellson, Robert "Bob" Frellson, Ethel Walters, "Fat" O. K. Pool, Consuelo Gonzalez and Betty Brown.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Oakland to Erwin and Josephine Kittelman on June 15, 1912, Gertrude "Gerda" Kittelman Dole grew up in the San Francisco area and showed an interest in dance at a young age. She studied acrobatics, tap and modern dance, later traveling with vaudeville companies, performing across the country. Gerda attended San Francisco State Teachers College and UC Berkeley, receiving her A.B. in Education in 1935. While she claimed as her permanent residence the family home at 1325 Pine Street in Berkeley, Calif., Gerda travelled frequently for professional dancing opportunities. She danced for Franchon and Marco, and then in the summer of 1939, she worked as a dancer for Mrs. Frellson's troupe at the Eagle Theater in Roaring Camp for Sacramento's Centennial Celebration. Gerda later married Rodney Dole, an artist whom she met while attending UC Berkeley. She taught Physical Education at San Francisco public schools for many years, including Commerce High School and Lowell High School. Following Rodney's sudden death in October 1946 at 41, Gerda married his brother, Olcott Ramsay Dole, and raised three daughters in Oakland, Calif. She later taught PE, typing and science at Fremont High School and Castlemont High School in the city. Olcott died in 1973 and Gerda Dole passed away on August 1, 2010, at the age of 98.

Physical location:
For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the Sacramento Room.
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Names:
Dole, Gertrude

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Amanda Graham
Date Prepared:
Copyright 2014
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Amanda Graham. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: March 20, 2014.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Use of the described materials may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Sacramento Public Library 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 by the reader.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Gertrude Dole letters, MC 31, Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
828 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 264-2976
sacroom@saclibrary.org
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