Guide to the Gertrude Dole Letters

Amanda Graham

Sacramento Room, Sacramento Public Library

828 I Street

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: (916) 264-2976

Fax: (916) 264-2884

Email: sacroom@saclibrary.org

URL: http://www.saclibrary.org

Guide to the Gertrude Dole Letters

Collection number: MC 31

Sacramento Public Library

Sacramento Room

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Amanda Graham
Date Completed:: 2014
Encoded by:: Amanda Graham

Descriptive Summary

Title: Gertrude Dole letters

Dates: 1939

Collection number: MC 31

Creator: Dole, Gertrude

Collection Size: .1 linear ft. (1 folder)

Repository: Sacramento Public Library. Sacramento Room

Sacramento, California 95814

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.

Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please contact the Sacramento Room.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

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.

Biography

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.

Scope and Content Note

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.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Dole, Gertrude