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Rickard (Joseph) Papers
mssHM 68942-69272
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Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Joseph Rickard papers
Creator:
Rickard, Joseph, -1994
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 68942-69272
Physical Description:
21.75 Linear Feet
(2,513 pieces in 34 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1934-2003
Abstract: This collection contains the papers of
dance studio founder and choreographer Joseph Rickard (1918-1994), and includes manuscripts,
printed material, ephemera, music scores, production files, and photographs related to the
First Negro Classical Ballet and Negro Classical Ballet, which Rickard founded, and local
ballets in San Gabriel, California. The papers are especially strong as a visual record with
a large number of photographs, publicity material, costume sketches, and printed
posters.
Language of Material: English.
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
RESTRICTED: Boxes 19-32. Audiovisual material that is uncataloged is not available for
paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
[Identification of item]. Joseph Rickard papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino,
California.
The collection was acquired, beginning in 1994 and continuing until 2019, from various
sources:
Collection of correspondence, documents, programs, clippings, photos, sheet music, tape
recordings, set designs relating to the First Negro Classical Ballet (FNCB), Negro Classic
Ballet (NCB), and other local ballet companies, 1947-1992; acquired from Joseph Rickard,
July 13, 1994 (accession number 1715).
A group of 42 reel-to-reel tapes and 2 super 8 mm films, ca. 1955-1975; acquired from
Gretchen Berlew, July 25, 1995 (accession number 1762).
A group of personal papers, documents, checks, bills, photographs, reel-to-reel tapes, ca.
1960 - ca. 1968; acquired from Gretchen Berlew, Oct. 17, 1995 (accession number 1764).
A collection of manuscripts, correspondence, documents, ballet notes, costume notes and
sketches, clippings, photos, ephemera relating to the FNCB, the NCB, and other local ballet
companies, 1947-1993; acquired from Gretchen Berlew, Dec. 5, 1995 (accession number 1773).
A group of correspondence, photos, clippings and ephemera, 1961-1990; acquired from
Gretchen Berlew, Feb. 21, 2000 (accession number 2052).
A group of 26 cassette tapes and 8 video tapes, 1961-1990; acquired from Gretchen Berlew
and Thomas Wagner, June 23, 2003 (accession number 2220).
A group of correspondence, photos, ephemera, ca. 1950-1996; acquired from Thomas Wagner,
Nov. 7, 2005 (accession number 2346).
A group of programs and other printed material, also eight printed books (Boxes 33-34);
acquired from Thomas Wagner, April 2019 (accession number CSmH_2019_138).
1. It was decided, for easier paging and usage, to semi-catalog the collection; each folder
has been given an individual HM call number rather than a box and folder number. When citing
or quoting from the collection, please use the assigned HM folder number rather than the box
number.
2. The photographs represent an important part of the collection; these are arranged by
ballet company (i.e. FNCB, Southern California Ballet, etc.), and then, where possible,
chronologically. The majority of the photographs are unidentified and undated but an attempt
was made to group together all of the photos from the same ballet company. The photos for
the San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet and Southern California Ballet are grouped together as,
apparently, some of the same dancers performed in both companies.
3. Joseph Rickard was in the habit of stapling or clipping together material in his ballet
files; these metal fastenings have been removed for conservation but the groups of material
have been kept together. These groupings of material have been either clipped together with
a plastic clip or placed in an envelope inside the folder; it is requested that researchers
do not disassemble or mix-up these unique groupings of material. Also, where possible,
Rickard's original file titles have been retained.
4. The Joseph Rickard papers were initially cataloged in 2011; the printed materials and
books were added to the collection in 2019 (Boxes 33-34), accession CSmH_2019_138.
Joseph Rickard (1918-1994) was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, September 17, 1918. He moved to
Los Angeles in the 1930s to study ballet with Bronislava and Irina Nijinska but his real
gifts lay in teaching (especially adults) and choreography. In 1946, he overheard an
African-American woman being turned away from a dance studio where she sought lessons for
her daughter; Rickard, from that moment, became determined to start his own dance studio
where he could train African-American dancers in classical ballet.
In 1947, the First Negro Classical Ballet (FNCB) debuted in Los Angeles to great acclaim
and performed together for the next ten years. About 1968, Rickard founded the Negro Classic
Ballet (NCB) after the demise of the FNCB and, at the same time, and for the next 30 years,
organized and taught in other integrated local ballet companies, including the Southern
California Ballet and the San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet. On August 24, 1994, Joseph
Rickard died of heart failure as the result of several bouts of pneumonia in Glendale,
California.
The papers consist of correspondence, manuscripts, documents, ephemera, audiovisual
material, and printed material related to the First Negro Classical Ballet (FNCB), Negro
Classic Ballet (NCB), and local San Gabriel Valley ballet companies; the papers also include
sheet music and original music scores, ballet production files and photographs for the FNCB
and NCB. The papers are especially strong as a visual record with a large number of
photographs, publicity material, costume sketches, and printed posters. The collection also
contains Joseph Rickard's working notes on the process of creating a ballet, including the
elements of choreography, lighting, musical score, and costumes; within this material is
also the talented work of the costume design of Nancy Coppola, the set design of Robert
Usher and the original music scores by the African-American arranger and composer, Claudius
Wilson. The collection is unsurpassed as a record of the first African- American classical
ballet company.
The papers consist of the following series:
1. Correspondence (Box 1) is arranged alphabetically by author. This series includes
personal letters and letters related to the First Negro Classical Ballet, Negro Classic
Ballet and other local ballet companies. This series also includes letters by Hal De Becker,
Diana Levy, Bronislava Nijinska, Irina Nijinska, Claudius Wilson and letters to Kareem
Abdul-Jabbar and Peter Jennings.
2. Manuscripts and Documents (Box 2) are arranged alphabetically by author and title. The
manuscripts include short stories, film treatments, autograph notes and a memoir by Joseph
Rickard as well as a "List of Ballets - First Performances" of Bronislava Nijinska; this
series also includes financial documents for the NCB.
3. FNCB and NCB manuscript and printed material (Box 3) is arranged by subject and format.
This series includes autograph notes, costume sketches by Nancy Coppola, fabric swatches,
printed programs, articles and clippings.
4. FNCB and NCB Ballet Scores and Sheet Music (Boxes 4-6) is arranged alphabetically by
title. This series includes printed sheet music used by Claudius Wilson for ballet classes,
as well as original, autograph musical scores for some of his most famous compositions for
FNCB, including: "Cinderella," and "Pas des Jitterbugs" from the ballet "Raisin' Cane."
5. FNCB and NCB Photographs (Box 7) are arranged chronologically and then sub arranged
alphabetically by dancer or ballet. This series includes photographs of most of the more
prominent members of the FNCB and NCB, including: Graham Johnson, Bernice Harrison, Claudius
Wilson, Yvonne Miller, Theodore Crum, Diana Levy, Joseph Rickard, Sidney Hurston and Karen
Hodges. Also included are publicity photos and scenes from various ballets and dance
recitals.
6. NCB Scrapbook and Oversize FNCB and NCB Printed Material (Box 8) is arranged by subject
and format. Included in this series is a scrapbook of material relating to the NCB, a FNCB
publicity poster and ballet set designs by Robert Usher.
7. San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet and Southern California Ballet Companies Manuscript and
Printed Material (Box 9) is arranged by subject and format. This series includes autograph
notes, printed programs, publicity material and clippings relating to the local companies
where Rickard taught; also included is printed material relating to Maidie Du Fresne Dance
Arts (Bakersfield, California).
8. Ballet Production Files (Boxes 10 - 14) are arranged alphabetically by subject and
title. These files consist of Rickard's day-to-day notes on ballet ideas, choreography,
performance possibilities, in addition to his files on specific ballets, such as: "A
Christmas Carol," "La Mer," and "Pagliacci."
9. Articles and clippings about Ballet (Box 15) are arranged by subject. Included in this
series is material on Bronislava and Irina Nijinska, Waslaw Nijinsky, and Joseph
Rickard.
10. Southern California Ballet, San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet and Misc. Ballet
Photographs (Boxes 16 - 18) are arranged chronologically and then sub arranged by dancer or
ballet. The photographs are divided into two groups: So. Calif. Ballet and San Gabriel V. C.
Ballet; then followed by miscellaneous photos of other dancers and performers, including
Marian Anderson, Bronislava and Irina Nijinska and Joseph Rickard.
11. Audiovisual materials (Boxes 19-32). Includes reel-to-reel tapes, super 8 mm films,
cassette tapes, video tapes. Please note: the audiovisual material does not include any
material relating to the First Negro Classical Ballet.
12. Printed materials and ephemera (Boxes 33-34). Includes printed programs, magazine,
printed pamphlets and books.
Existence and Location of Copies
Selected audiovisual items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions
are available in the
Internet
Archive.
Organized in the following series:
- Correspondence (Box 1)
- Manuscripts and Documents (Box 2)
- First Negro Classical Ballet (FNCB) and Negro Classic Ballet (NCB) Manuscript and Printed Material (Box 3)
- FNCB and NCB Ballet Scores and Sheet Music (Boxes 4-6)
- FNCB and NCB Photographs (Box 7)
- NCB Scrapbook and Oversize FNCB and NCB Printed Material (Box 8)
- San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet and Southern California Ballet Companies Manuscript and Printed Material (Box 9)
- Ballet Production Files (Boxes 10-14)
- Articles and Clippings about Ballet (Box 15)
- Southern California Ballet, San Gabriel Valley Civic Ballet and Misc. Ballet Photographs (Boxes 16-18)
- Audio-visual materials (uncataloged) (Boxes 19-32)
- Printed materials and ephemera (Boxes 33-34)
Folders arranged alphabetically and chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Ballet russes.
First Negro Classical Ballet.
Ballet -- Costume -- United States
Ballet dancing -- United States
Ballet -- Stage-setting and scenery -- United States
Ballet -- Study and teaching -- United States
Ballets -- United States -- Piano scores.
Books -- United States -- 20th century
Drawings -- United States -- 20th century
Ephemera -- United States -- 20th century
Interviews -- United States -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- United States -- 20th century
Photographs -- United States -- 20th century
Programs (documents) -- United States -- 20th century