Ruth St. Denis Papers and Addenda: Finding Aid mssStDenis

Finding aid prepared by Brooke M. Black, November 7, 2011, updated September 21, 2013.

The Huntington Library

2013

1151 Oxford Road

San Marino, California 91108

Business Number: (626) 405-2191

reference@huntington.org

URL: http://www.huntington.org

Note

Finding aid last updated on July 19, 2022, by Maggie Hughes.

Contributing Institution: The Huntington Library

Title: Ruth St. Denis papers and addenda

Creator: St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968

Identifier/Call Number: mssStDenis

Physical Description: 18 Linear Feet (22 boxes, 42 binders and 2 oversize items)

Date (inclusive): 1904-2007

Date (bulk): 1930-1970

Abstract: This collection contains the papers of Ruth St. Denis (1879-1968) an American modern dancer and co-founder of the Denishawn School of Dance, chiefly dating from the 1930s-1970s and consisting of scrapbook binders, photographs, audiovisual materials, correspondence, newsletters, and ephemera. Materials in the collection reflect the work of St. Denis and her husband and dance partner, Ted Shawn, related to dance and dancers. There is also much material about St. Denis' effort to have her studio and school become a non-profit entity and her desire to create an artist colony in Hemet, California.

Language of Material: English.

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Some audiovisual material not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item]. Ruth St. Denis papers and addenda, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection is made up of several separate gifts: Janice Seaman, August, October and December 1993; Robert Lovelace, November 14, 2003; and purchases from Elliott Mittler, January and February 2010, and April 2013 (Addenda). One volume, "Songs of Senescence" by Jane Sherman was a gift from Jane Lehac, November 12, 2003.

Processing Information

1. The majority of the collection came from Janice Seaman. The material given to the Huntington by Robert Lovelace and purchased from Elliott Mittler is incorporated in the collection but noted on their folders.

2. Although many of the binders have dates in their title, almost every binder contains material spanning a different date range. These actual dates are the dates given in parentheses after the binder title. For example, Volume 1 is titled "To 1920" but actually contains material covering the years 1906 to 1976.

3. Due to the number of photographs (both dated and undated), the cataloger put the dated photographs in folder with specific inclusive dates (ex. 1916-1938). For the undated photographs, the cataloger split these up by photograph size (ex. 8 x 10") and dated the folders [before 1968] (the year St. Denis died).

4. The cataloger put the negatives and slides with the original photographs when they could be identified; if they could not be identified, they went into the appropriate "Negatives" or "Slides" folder.

5. The cataloger did not listen to any of the A-V material.

6. The Addenda contains very similar material as the main collection. And was cataloged in a similar fashion.

Biographical / Historical

Ruth St. Denis (born Ruth Dennis) was born in 1879 in New Jersey. She began dancing as a child. Her early training included Delsarte technique, ballet lessons with the Italian ballerina Maria Bonfante, social dance forms and skirt dancing. She began her professional career in New York City in 1892, where she worked as a skirt dancer in a dime museum and in vaudeville houses. In 1898, Ruth was noticed by David Belasco, a well-known and highly successful Broadway producer and director. He hired her to perform with his large company as a featured dancer, and was also responsible for giving her the stage name "St. Denis." Under Belasco's influence, Ruthie Dennis became Ruth St. Denis, toured with his production of "Zaza" around the United States and in Europe, and was exposed to the work of several important European artists, including the Japanese dancer Sado Yacco and the great English actress, Sarah Bernhardt. St. Denis began studying Hindu art and philosophy, and offered a public performance in New York City of her first dance work, Radha, together with such shorter pieces as The Cobra and The Incense. A three-year European tour followed. She was particularly successful in Vienna, Austria, where she added The Nautch and The Yogi to her program. Her later productions, many of which had religious themes, included the long-planned Egypta (1910) and O-mika (1913), a dance drama in a Japanese style.

In 1914 St. Denis married Ted Shawn, her dance partner, and the next year they founded the Denishawn school and company in Los Angeles. During that time, St. Denis's choreographic style broadened to include group numbers occasionally derived from Occidental as well as Oriental sources. Among her choreographic innovations were "music visualization"—a concept that called for movement equivalents to the timbres, dynamics, and structural shapes of music in addition to its rhythmic base—and a related choreographic form that she called "synchoric orchestra." Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn were also instrumental in creating the legendary dance festival, Jacob's Pillow in Becket, Massachusetts. In 1925, St. Denis, Ted Shawn, and the Denishawn Dancers took a year-long dancing tour in the Orient.

St. Denis and Shawn separated, both professionally and personally, in 1931, though they never divorced. St. Denis, who retired briefly from public performance, founded the Society of Spiritual Arts and devoted much of the rest of her life to promoting the use of dance in religion. In 1940, with La Meri, she founded the School of Natya to continue the teaching of South Asian dance. She resumed performing in 1941 with an appearance at Jacob's Pillow Festival, where she continued to appear annually until 1955. Often called the "first lady of American dance," she remained active into the 1960s.

Ruth wrote an autobiography entitled Ruth St. Denis, an Unfinished Life in 1939. She died in Los Angeles in 1968 and was inducted into the National Museum of Dance C. V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 1987 along with her former husband Ted Shawn. Shawn died in 1972.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains the papers of American dancer Ruth St. Denis and includes scrapbook binders, photographs, negatives, and slides, ephemera, audio-visual materials, correspondence, and newsletters. Subjects of the entire collection include: Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, American dance and dancers, dance instruction and notes, exercises and warm-up routines, various dance types (international as well as American), famous dancers from around the globe, Denishawn dancers, the Ruth St. Denis Center, the Ruth St. Denis Foundation, the Ruth St. Denis Theatre Intime, Jacob's Pillow dance festival, American Dance Film Association, Society of Spiritual Arts Church, the various teachers and pupils at St. Denis' dance studio and school, the Orient trip the Denishawn dancers took in 1926, as well as dance productions and events St. Denis put on throughout her career. There is also much material about St. Denis' effort to have her studio and school become a non-profit entity and her desire to create an artist colony in Hemet, California.

More specifically, several dancers show up in the notebooks and photographs, including: Harold Kreutzberg, Peter di Falco, La Meri, Karoun Tootikian, Miriam Schiller, Jean Léon, Gladys Bowen, Antonio Gades, Devi Dja, Doris Humphrey0, Mary Wigman, and Martha Graham.

The series "Binders" includes 42 volumes of material related to Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, the Denishawn dancers, etc. They are like scrapbooks and contain several different formats of materials including photographs, clippings, programs, dance notes, correspondence and financial documents. The material in the binders were left in their original order (as they came to the Huntington Library). It seems that the majority of the material was gathered and put together by Dorothy Lee Trifal, Ruth St. Denis' assistant and the manager of St. Denis' dance studio. The first 19 volumes are organized (and were titled) with dates and date spans. The next 23 volumes are organized alphabetically by their titles (ex. "American Dance Film Association"). Some of the titles are cataloger supplied.

The Photographs, Negatives, and Slides series contains 409 photographs, negatives and slides. Although the majority of the photographs are of Ruth St. Denis in dancing poses, there are several other categories of photographs including: Ted Shawn, dance performances, special events and celebrations, other dancers, the dance studio and students, the film "He is Risen," and Jacob's Pillow. Photographs can also be found in the Miscellaneous series in the material regarding "The Dancing Prophet" as well as the Oversize series.

The Ephemera and Miscellaneous series contains a variety of formats including: programs, publications (magazines as well as printed books), miscellaneous material such as one letter by Forrest Coggan to Dorothy Lee Trifal, and a postcard from Forrest Thornburg to Dorothy Lee Trifal. The majority of this material is correspondence, documents and contracts for the film; some authors include Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Alfred Frantz Stury, Director of the Ruth St. Denis Center, film maker Edmund F. Penney, and Janice Lovoos. The series also contains several printed manuscripts written by St. Denis including "Dialogue for a Temple for Prayer For Artists," "Poems," "The Divine Dance," "Current Biography," and a notebook belonging to St. Denis. There is also a copy of the published book Lotus Light written by Ruth St. Denis in 1932.

Also included is a scrapbook with clippings and photographs of dancers and two published volumes of poetry by Jane Sherman (who was a Denishawn dancer). There is one box dedicated to material related to the film "The Dancing Prophet" about Ruth St. Denis (the film reel is in the A-V series).

The audio-visual material consists of cassette tapes, reel-to-reel/magnetic tapes, albums (records), and one VHS tape. This material consists of interviews with Ruth St. Denis, speeches by St. Denis, her reading from her journals, music, some composed by Clifford Vaughan, and dance performances. There is also a reel of the film "The Dancing Prophet." A lot of what is on the reel-to-reel/magnetic tapes and some of the albums can also be found on the cassette tapes. The majority of the A-V material is undated. It is organized by type/format and then alphabetical by title (if it had one).

The Oversize series contains: Sheet music (some with dance instructions and photographs, which are arranged alphabetically by title), some of which is written by Clifford Vaughan, images of Ruth St. Denis, and two photograph albums with photographs of various dancers and celebrities (most of which are not identified), one of these is also a scrapbook with programs from her various performances. The series also contains oversize photographs of Ruth St. Denis.

The Individually Housed Items include a glass plate negative of Ruth St. Denis ("Devi Ja," 1951), a copy of the two-volume Ruth St. Denis: Pioneer & Prophet: Being a History of Her Cycle of Oriental Dances by Ted Shawn, a poster of Ruth St. Denis, and a banner of Ruth St. Denis.

The Addenda (84 items total) contains correspondence (between Ted Shawn, Dale Lefler, and E. Marie Albery) and newsletters by Ted Shawn (1945-1962) as well as photographs of Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, and other dancers. It also includes several copies of programs from their dance events/shows (including Jacob's Pillow), brochure for St. Denis' dance school. There is a program for a show with Martha Graham, signed by her and a printed book for the dancer Barton Mumaw showing him in various costumes, signed by him. Also included is a galley proof of St. Denis' autobiography "Ruth St. Denis: An Unfinished Life" (1939). Consists of two boxes (one is oversize).

Arrangement

The collection is organized in the following series:

Binders
Photographs, Negatives and Slides
Ephemera and Miscellaneous
Audio-Visual
Oversize
Individually Housed Items
Addenda

General

Former call number: mssSt. Denis papers.

Existence and Location of Copies

Selected A/V items from this collection have been digitized. Digital reproductions are available in the Internet Archive.

Bibliography

Roseman, Janet Lynn. Dance was her religion: the sacred choreography of Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis and Martha Graham . Prescott, Ariz.: Hohm Press, 2004.

Shawn, Ted. Ruth St. Denis: pioneer & prophet; being a history of her cycle of oriental dances . San Francisco: printed for J. Howell by J. H. Nash, 1920.

St. Denis, Ruth. Ruth St. Denis, an unfinished life, an autobiography. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1939.

St. Denis, Ruth. Wisdom comes dancing: selected writings of Ruth St. Denis on dance, spirituality, and the body . Seattle, WA: PeaceWorks, 1997.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Dance -- Philosophy.

Dance -- Religious aspects.

Dance -- Study and teaching -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Sources

Dance teachers -- United States

Dancers -- United States

Modern dance -- History -- 20th century -- Sources

Religious dance.

78 rpm records.

Audiocassettes -- United States.

Clippings -- 20th century

Ephemera -- 20th century

Letters (correspondence) -- United States -- 20th century

Magnetic tapes -- United States.

Manuscripts -- United States -- 20th century

Negatives (photographic) -- United States -- 20th century

Phonograph records -- United States -- 20th century

Photographs -- United States -- 20th century

Programs (documents) -- United States -- 20th century

Sheet music -- United States -- 20th century

Destiné, Jean Léon

di Falco, Peter

Dja, Devi, 1914-

Gades, Antonio, 1936-2004

Graham, Martha

Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958

Kreutzberg, Harold

La Meri, 1898-1988

Mumaw, Barton, 1912-2001

Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972

Wigman, Mary, 1886-1973

Denishawn Dancers

Denishawn Repertory Dancers

Denishawn School of Dancing

Jacob's Pillow

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

Albery, Marie

Coggan, Forrest

Lefler, Dale, 1914-2011

Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972

Sherman, Jane, 1908-2010

Thornburg, Forrest

Vaughan, Clifford, 1893-1987

Binders

Volume 1

"To 1920" (1906-1976).

Volume 2

"1940-1942" (1939-1949).

Volume 3

"1941-1945" (1940-1950).

Volume 4

"1946" (1946-1951).

Volume 5

"1947" (1947).

Volume 6

"1948" (1948-1950).

Volume 7

"1949" (1949).

Volume 8

"1950, Jan.-June" (1950).

Volume 9

"1950, July-Dec." (1950-1976).

Volume 10

"1950-1959 Additional" (1950-1966).

Volume 11

"1951" (1951).

Volume 12

"1955" (1955).

Volume 13

"1956" (1956-1958).

Volume 14

"1957-1958" (1957-1958).

Volume 15

"1957-1962" (1957-1962).

Volume 16

"1963-1968" (1963-1969).

Volume 17

1964" (1960-1964).

Volume 18

"1964-1965" (1964-1965).

Volume 19

"1965" (1963-1968).

Volume 20

"American Dance Film Association" (1947-1964). Volume 21: "Articles about Ted Shawn" (1936-1991).

Volume 22

"Articles by Ted Shawn" (1924-1950). Volume 23: "Dance Notes by Ted Shawn" [before 1972]. Volume 24: "Dance Notes by Ted Shawn" (1939-1951).

Volume 25

"Dance Notes (mostly duplicates)" (1923-1948). Volume 26: "Dances I" (1926-1948).

Volume 27

"Dances II" (1904-1987).

Volume 28

"Denishawn and Dancing Schools" (1915-1989). Volume 29: "Ideas for a 'Colony'" (1951-1963).

Volume 30

"Poetry" (1919-1968).

Volume 31

"Post Miss Ruth: Obituaries + Programs" (1968-1990). Volume 32: "Receptions: 1947-1965" (1927-1965).

Volume 33

"Ruth St. Denis Center" (1962-1966). Volume 34: "Ruth St. Denis Foundation" (1948-1957). Volume 35: "Ruth St. Denis Theatre Intime" (1948-1953).

Volume 36

"Ruth St. Denis Theatre Intime '46" (1947-1981).

Volume 37

"Ruth St. Denis Theatre Intime '48" (1948). Volume 38: "Society for the Spiritual Arts" (1925-1980). Volume 39: "Studio Pupils" (1926-1964).

Volume 40

"Teachers" (1947-1962).

Volume 41

"Ted Shawn" (1918-1988).

Volume 42

"Ted Shawn and Jacob's Pillow" (1921-1991).

Photographs, Negatives, and Slides

Box 1

Photographs: Dance Performances – Ruth St. Denis (alone, 8 x 10")

Box 1, Folder 1

Photographs: Dance Performances (1930-[c.1952]). 11 items.

Box 1, Folder 2

Photographs: "He is Risen" [1950]. 9 items. Includes two negatives.

Box 1, Folder 3

Photographs: Jacob's Pillow [c.1950]. 18 items.

Box 1, Folder 4

Photographs: Miscellaneous [c.1952]. 4 items.

Box 1, Folder 5

Photographs: Other Dancers (1925-1952). 15 items.

Box 1, Folder 6

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone) (1916-1938). 27 items. Includes two negatives.

Box 1, Folder 7

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone) (1940-1948). 11 items.

Box 1, Folder 8

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone) (1950-1957). 25 items. Includes three negatives.

Box 1, Folder 9

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone) (1962-1968). 16 items.

Box 1, Folder 10

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, 8 x 10") [before 1968]. 15 items.

Box 1, Folder 11

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, 8 x 10") [before 1968]. 16 items.

Box 1, Folder 12

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, 8 x 10") [before 1968]. 21 items. Includes one negative.

Box 2

Photographs, Ruth St. Denis (alone, smaller formats) – Ted Shawn, Negatives, and Slides

Box 2, Folder 1

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, smaller formats) [before 1968]. 21 items.

Box 2, Folder 2

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, smaller formats) [before 1968]. 21 items.

Box 2, Folder 3

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (alone, smaller formats) [before 1968]. 22 items.

Box 2, Folder 4

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis – "Birthday Party" (1963, Jan. 20). 14 items.

Box 2, Folder 5

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis – "Blue Poster" (1953-1959). 26 items. Includes clipping about paintings of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn and 20 slides.

Box 2, Folder 6

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis and Others (1912-1964). 47 items. Includes four negatives.

Box 2, Folder 7

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn ([c.1920]-1956). 3 items.

Box 2, Folder 8

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis Dance Studio [c.1950]. 3 items.

Box 2, Folder 9

Photographs: Studio Children [1952]. 12 items. Includes seven negatives.

Box 2, Folder 10

Photographs: Ted Shawn ([c.1920]-1961). 3 items.

Box 2, Folder 11

Negatives: Dance Performances [c.1952]. 16 items.

Box 2, Folder 12

Negatives: Ruth St. Denis (alone) [c.1950]. 19 items.

Box 2, Folder 13

Negatives: Ruth St. Denis and Others [c.1950]. 10 items.

Box 2, Folder 14

Slides: Ruth St. Denis and Others ([c.1950]-1968). 4 items.

Ephemera and Miscellaneous

Box 3

Ephemera

Box 3, Folder 1

Denishawn Repertory Dancers [after 1991]. 8 items.

Box 3, Folder 2

Jacob's Pillow Programs and Newsletters (1949-1954). 13 items.

Box 3, Folder 3

Jacob's Pillow Programs and Newsletters (1955-1958). 18 items.

Box 3, Folder 4

Jacob's Pillow Programs and Newsletters (1959-1961). 6 items.

Box 3, Folder 5

Jacob's Pillow Programs and Newsletters (1962-1966). 8 items.

Box 3, Folder 6

Jacob's Pillow Programs and Newsletters (1967-1973). 11 items.

Box 3, Folder 7

Magazines (1925-1964). 6 items.

Box 3, Folder 8

Miscellaneous Printed Items (1932-1961). 3 items.

Box 3, Folder 9

Miscellaneous Printed Items: Ruth St. Denis (1957-1961). 2 items.

Box 3, Folder 10

Programs: Ruth St. Denis (1927-1967). 16 items.

Box 3, Folder 11

Shawn Fundamental Training Exercises [c.1950]. 1 item. Signed by Ted Shawn.

Box 4

Miscellaneous: Film: "The Dancing Prophet"

Box 4, Folder 1

Contracts and Correspondence (1964-1972). 59 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 2

Excerpts from 'An Unfinished Life' by Ruth St. Denis [after 1939]. 2 item. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 3

Ruth St. Denis (1966-1976). 26 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 4

Ruth St. Denis II (1969-1977). 11 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 5

Ruth St. Denis III (1951-1973). 40 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 6

Ruth St. Denis – Flyers, Brochures, Printed Info, etc. (1973-1977). 32 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 7

Ruth St. Denis – includes clippings (1964-1972). 82 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 4, Folder 8

St. Ives (1965-1975). 39 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 5

Miscellaneous

Box 5, Folder 1

Letter and Postcard ([c.1960]-1993). 2 items.

Box 5, Folder 2

Lotus Light by Ruth St. Denis (published book of poetry) (1932). 1 item.

Box 5, Folder 3

Manuscript (1947, Nov. 30). 1 item. Note: Manuscript is dedicated to Ruth St. Denis.

Box 5, Folder 4

Manuscripts by Ruth St. Denis, 1880-1968 (1933-1959). 6 items.

Box 5, Folder 5

Outline of Ruth St. Denis's hand [before 1968]. 1 item.

Box 5, Folder 6

Scrapbook [1930s]. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010. 1 item.

Box 5, Folder 7

Songs of Senescence and A Bestiary of Poems by Jane Sherman, 1908- 2010 (2003-2007). 2 items. Songs of Senescence, gift of Jane Lehac, 2003.

Audio-Visual

Conditions Governing Access

Some audiovisual material not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.

Box 6

Cassette Tapes: Denishawn – Ruth St. Denis Center

Box 6, Folder 1

"Denishawn Music played by Bob Hawkinson."

Box 6, Folder 2

"Interview: Ruth St. Denis by James Day, Rest Home."

Box 6, Folder 3

"Interview: Ruth St. Denis by James Day, San Francisco" (1964, Sep. 15).

Box 6, Folder 4

"Miss Ruth Tape #1" (1961-1966).

Box 6, Folder 5

"Miss Ruth – Freedom – Jacob's Pillow."

Box 6, Folder 6

"Miss Ruth – Isadora East & West – Her Contribution – Future of Dance – on Ted" (1957, Feb. 11).

Box 6, Folder 7

"Miss Ruth – Poetry – Blue Book" (1953).

Box 6, Folder 8

"Miss Ruth – Poetry – From Notes" (1953, Aug. 24).

Box 6, Folder 9

"Miss Ruth – Rhythmic Choir – Forrest Thorburg talks about Ruth St. Denis – Her poem to him written 1950 – Short poems by Ruth ST. Denis" (1966, July 29).

Box 6, Folder 10

"Miss Ruth – Rhythmic Choir – Ode to Nativity – Poems."

Box 6, Folder 11

"Miss Ruth – Speech on Haromo Moon Maiden 'Noh' – Pittsfield on Parade Miss Ruth and Ted Shawn" (1952, Aug. 26).

Box 6, Folder 12

"Miss Ruth & Mary Wigman" (1958).

Box 6, Folder 13

"Music – Dances – Tagore Poem."

Box 6, Folder 14

"Music – Lazy Nautch – Miss Ruth's Birthday Party '68" (1968).

Box 6, Folder 15

"Ruth St. Denis Center Alfred Stury – Ruth St. Denis, Elyse Robert" [1964].

Box 6, Folder 16

"Ruth St. Denis Center Alfred Stury continued" [1964].

Box 7

Cassette Tapes: Miss Ruth – Journals

Box 7, Folder 1

"Miss Ruth Journals I – Omaha – Anniversary No. 26" [1927].

Box 7, Folder 2

"Miss Ruth Journals II – Omaha – Anniversary No. 26 continued" [1927].

Box 7, Folder 3

"Miss Ruth Journals III."

Box 7, Folder 4

"Miss Ruth Journals End of III."

Box 7, Folder 5

"Miss Ruth Journals IV."

Box 7, Folder 6

"Miss Ruth Journals – Follies Tour – 1927 Reel 4."

Box 7, Folder 7

"Miss Ruth Journals I."

Box 7, Folder 8

"Miss Ruth Journals II."

Box 7, Folder 9

"Miss Ruth Reading from Journals."

Box 7, Folder 10

"Miss Ruth Reading from Journals Cont. Taped at Studio by Dorothy Tifal."

Box 7, Folder 11

"Miss Ruth Reading from Her Journal (from reel-to-reel tape)" (copied 1987, April 9).

Box 8

Albums (Records) 12" (loose)

Box 8, Folder 1

"Blessing of Priest, Ballet Music from 'Lakme' Delibes."

Box 8, Folder 2

"Greek Veil."

Box 8, Folder 3

"Gregorian Chants: Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Immaculate Conception. Choir of the Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre De Solesmes."

Box 8, Folder 4

"Gregorian Chants: Holy Thursday. Choir of the Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Pierre De Solesmes."

Box 8, Folder 5

"Gregorian Chants: Pentecost Corpus Christi. Choir of the Monks of the Abbey of Saint- Pierre De Solesmes."

Box 8, Folder 6

"Hindu Temple; Hindu Nautch – Clifford Vaughan."

Box 8, Folder 7

"Interview: Ruth St. Denis by Peggy Walker Shaw" (1951, Feb. 20).

Box 8, Folder 8

"Interview: Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn by Ted Holmes (Pittsfield on Parade Interview)" (1952, Aug. 26).

Box 8, Folder 9

"March; Gavotte; Schottische; Waltz."

Box 8, Folder 10

"Midnight in the Madhouse 'Cobra'; Javanese."

Box 8, Folder 11

"Miss Ruth Speech on Haromo Moon Maiden Noh; Haromo Noh Music Moon Goodess Performance Only."

Box 8, Folder 12

"Miss Ruth's Voice; Speech."

Box 8, Folder 13

"Omika; Buddhist Ritual."

Box 8, Folder 14

"Passepied."

Box 8, Folder 15

"Polka; Gallop; Tango; Tarantella; Polonaise; Bolero; Barcarolle; Jota."

Box 8, Folder 16

"Rhada."

Box 8, Folder 17

"The Roger Wagner Chorale: Monteverdi, The Magnificat, Respighi, Laud to the Nativity" (1962, Oct.).

Box 8, Folder 18

"Ruth St. Denis 'The First Lady of the American Dance' in a 'Poetic Biography" (1955, Jan.).

Box 8, Folder 19

"Singhalese Mask Dance; White Jade (Chinese Pantomime) – Clifford Vaughan."

Box 8, Folder 20

"Vaghan [sic] Chinese."

Box 8, Folder 21

"White Nautch."

Box 8, Folder 22

"Yogi; Indra."

Box 9

Albums (Records) 12" (in album)

Box 9, Folder 1

Album "Clifford Vaughan" containing three records

a. "Singhalese Mask Dance; White Jade (Chinese Pantomime) – Clifford Vaughan."

b. "Singhalese Anklet Dance; Chinese Theater – Clifford Vaughan."

c. "Denishawn Record: Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn." Note: This record is broken into two pieces.

Box 9, Folder 2

Album containing six records

a. "God Bless America: Kate Smith."

b. Chinese album: "Farm Village Music."

c. Chinese album: "Tango."

d. Chinese album: "Shanghai Philharmonic; Village Children Dance."

e. Japanese album.

f. "Cugat."

Box 10

Albums (Records) 12" (in album)

Box 10, Folder 1

Album containing eight records (blue)

a. "Incense; Shuman Etudes #1."

b. "Dark Dancers of the Mardi Gras by Charles Wakefield Cadman: Transcription for Two Pianos played by Marguerite Bitter and the Composer."

c. "White Jade: Ruth St. Denis Solo – Clifford Vaughan composer."

d. "Belshazzar's Feast."

e. "Flower Seller Nautch; Dolly's."

f. "Interview: Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn by Ted Holmes (Pittsfield on Parade Interview)" (1952, Aug. 26).

g. "Realization, Praise; Wedding Dance" (1950, Dec. 14).

h. "Tagore; Indra's Paradise."

Box 10, Folder 2

Album containing eight records (green)

a. "Ballet Egyptien Suite: Parts 1 & 2."

b. "Waltzes from Rosenkavaliier: Beginning and Conclusion."

c. "Three Incense Poems: Recitation & Music."

d. "Japanese Nocturne; Salome's Dance: concluded."

e. "Salome's Dance: Parts 1 & 2."

f. "Samson and Delilah – Bacchanale: Ballet Music, Act 3)."

g. "White Jade: Practice and Performance" (1978, Oct. 10).

h. "Invocation; Ave Marie."

Box 10, Folder 3

Album containing eight records (brown)

a. "Hear my Prayer: Parts 1 & 2."

b. "Handel's Messiah."

c. "Ecce Quomodo Moritur Justus; Tenebrae Factae Sunt."

d. "Jubilate Deo; Precatus Est Moyses."

e. "The Bell's of St. Mary's; The Lord's Prayer."

f. "Midnight in the Madhouse – 'Cobra'; Javanese."

g. "Tuulikki Master: Tango Flamenco; Finnish Peasant."

h. "Doll Dance."

Box 11

Albums (Records) 16" (loose)

Box 11, Folder 1

"Devi Dja; Javanese; Buddahist" (1938?).

Box 11, Folder 2

"Drum Beats; Flemgueria; Fantasia Argentina; Bamboo Dance; Garba-Hindu Folk Dance; Sevillianas. (1950, June 28)"

Box 11, Folder 3

"[can't read name]; Kinder Polka; Seffo (?); [can't read name]; Bonne's (?) Drum; Javanese."

Box 11, Folder 4

"R. St. Denis Buddhist-Javanese (1946, Aug. 26).

Box 11, Folder 5

"Ruth St. Denis" (1950, Apr. 1?).

Box 11, Folder 6

"Salome's Dance" (1950, Sep. 27).

Box 11, Folder 7

"Tiller's; Black & Gold; Yogi; Cobra; Baraboo; Devi Dja" (1949, June 30).

Box 11, Folder 8

"White Jade; Brahms Waltz; Lazy Nautch; White Nautch; Cadman Nautch; Incense; Voice & Piano Ruth St. Denis."

Box 12

Reel-to-Reel/Magnetic Tapes ¼"- 5" reels

Box 12, Folder 1

"Miss Ruth – Hospital, Toluca Lake" (1966?).

Box 12, Folder 2

"Miss Ruth – Interview with James Day" (1964, Sep. 15). Note: Poor Quality.

Box 12, Folder 3

"Miss Ruth – Interview with James Day" (1964, Sep. 15).

Box 12, Folder 4

"Miss Ruth – Studio/Mt. Tam/Peace."

Box 12, Folder 5

"Miss Ruth Speaks" (1962, July 29).

Box 12, Folder 6

"The Roger Wagner Chorale: Monteverdi, The Magnificat, Respighi, Laud to the Nativity" (1962, Oct.).

Box 12, Folder 7

"Ruth St. Denis – Dinner Party (1961, Aug. 16).

Box 12, Folder 8

"Ruth St. Denis – Speaking 'Freedom,' Music & Voice, Performance Jacob's Pillow."

Box 12, Folder 9

"Sound Reel #16."

Box 12, Folder 10

"Tiger Cage – Midas Prod, Inc."

Box 12, Folder 11

No label – unknown contents.

Box 13

Reel-to-Reel/Magnetic Tapes ¼" – 10" reels

Box 13, Folder 1

"Miss Ruth – Dance Lecture" (1957, Feb. 11).

Box 13, Folder 2

"Miss Ruth – Poems" (1953, Aug. 24).

Box 13, Folder 3

"Ruth St. Denis – T.V. Interview – San Francisco."

Box 13, Folder 4

No label – unknown contents.

Box 14

Reel-to-Reel/Magnetic Tapes ¼" – 10" reels

Box 14, Folder 1

"Dances of Ruth St. Denis."

Box 14, Folder 2

"Denishawn Technique."

Box 14, Folder 3

"Miss Ruth & Mary Wigman: Side 1" (1958).

Box 14, Folder 4

"Miss Ruth & Mary Wigman: Side 2" (1958).

Box 14, Folder 5

"Miss Ruth Reads from her Journals – Omaha – 13th Ted & St. Denis Anniversary" [1927].

Box 14, Folder 6

"Miss Ruth's Brahm & Lazy Nautch."

Box 14, Folder 7

"Ruth St. Denis Reads from her Journals" (1924).

Box 14, Folder 8

Ruth St. Denis Speaking (1927).

Box 14, Folder 9

Ruth St. Denis – Poetry.

Box 14, Folder 10

"Ruth St. Denis Center Alfred Stury 1st Meeting" (1964, Feb. 16).

Box 14, Folder 11

"Reel 3" – unknown contents.

Box 15

Reel-to-Reel/Magnetic Tapes 1/4" – 10 1/2", VHS, and "The Dancing Prophet"

Box 15, Folder 1

No label – unknown contents.

Box 15, Folder 2

No label – unknown contents.

Box 15, Folder 3

VHS: "Denishawn: Dances On." (2002).

Box 15, Folder 4

"The Dancing Prophet:" film reel [c.1964].

Oversize: Sheet Music

Box 16

Oversize: Sheet Music, A – L

Box 16, Folder 1

A – 2 items

a. Anitra's Tanz

b. Arcadia – Greek Solo Dance (with dance instruction)

Box 16, Folder 2

B – 13 items

a. Baby Schubert

b. Balinese (Denishawn)

c. Ballet Egyptien, Carl Fischer

d. Ballet Egyptien, Alexander Luigini

e. Bakawali Nautch

f. Burmese (with photographs and dance instruction)

Box 16, Folder 3

C – 3 items

a. Cobra

Box 16, Folder 4

D – 5 items

a. Dalcroze

b. Danse de La Gipsy

c. Danse Grotesque

d. Dream Shadows

e. Drigo Serenade

Box 16, Folder 5

E – 5 items

a. Egyptia

b. Egyptian

c. Egyptian Dance

d. Elfin Horn

Box 16, Folder 6

F – 3 items

a. 5 poems

b. Flower Arrangement

c. Flower Seller Nautch (Denishawn)

Box 16, Folder 7

G – 22 items

a. Garland Plastique (with photographs and dance instruction)

b. Greek Veil (with photographs and dance instruction)

c. Green Nautch

Box 16, Folder 8

H – 3 items

a. Hindu Dance

b. Hindu Nautch

Box 16, Folder 9

I – 7 items

a. In a Persian Market

b. Incense (with dance instruction)

c. Indian Lament

10. J – 4 items

a. Javanese

b. The Jewels of the Madonna

11. K – 2 items

a. Kuhlau Sonatinas

b. Kwannon

12. L – 8 items

a. Laces and Graces

b. Lady from Bombay (with dance instruction)

c. Lazy Nautch (with dance instruction)

d. Liselotte

Box 17

Oversize: Sheet Music, M – Y

Box 17, Folder 1

M – 18 items

a. Madrasi Nautch (Dancing Girls)

b. Maria, Marì

c. The Minstrel of Kashmira

d. Minuet

e. Modern Nautch

f. Moon of Love (with dance instruction)

g. Moorish Dance

Box 17, Folder 2

N – 3 items

a. Narcissus

b. Natoma

Box 17, Folder 3

O – 8 items

a. Obertass (with dance instruction)

b. Oriental Dances

c. Orientale

d. Où Va la Jeune Indoue

e. Ouled Nailes

Box 17, Folder 4

P – 6 items

a. Passing of Salome

b. Passion Danza

c. A Persian Fantasy

d. Piano-Conductor

e. Poppies (with dance instruction)

Box 17, Folder 5

R – 8 items

a. Realization and Praise (with dance instruction)

b. Red and Gold Sari

c. The Red Man

Box 17, Folder 6

S – 12 items

a. Salammbô

b. Salut L'Amour

c. Scarf Plastique (just dance instruction)

d. Siamese (Denishawn Dancers)

e. Solvejgs Lied

f. Sonata Pathétique (Denishawn Dancers, with dance instruction)

g. Suite Orientale

Box 17, Folder 7

T – 7 items

a. Tagore Poem

b. Tambourine Dance

c. Temple Bells

d. Tunisienne

e. Turkish March

Box 17, Folder 8

V – 3 items

a. Valse Triste

b. Vienna Beauties

c. Violette (with dance instruction)

Box 17, Folder 9

W – 2 items

a. White Jade

b. Wisteria

10. Y – 3 items

a. Yogi (with photograph)

Oversize: Sketch – Photographs

Box 18

Oversize: Sketch – Photographs

Box 18, Folder 1

Sketch: The Prophetess [1930?]. 1 item.

Box 18, Folder 2

Miscellaneous Printed Items: Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn (1957-1976). 6 items.

Box 18, Folder 3

Photograph Album (1909-1925). Note: the photographs have been taken out of album and are in an envelope. 62 items. Gift of Robert Lovelace, November 2003.

Box 18, Folder 4

Photograph Album (1910-[c.1960]). Note: the photographs have been taken out of album and are in an envelope. 103 items. Purchased from Elliott Mittler, 2010.

Box 18, Folder 5

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (1906-1961). 20 items.

Box 18, Folder 6

Photographs: Ruth St. Denis (1947-1955). 12 items. Gift of Robert Lovelace, November 2003.

Box 18, Folder 7

Photographs: Others [c.1950]. 5 items. Gift of Robert Lovelace, November 2003.

Individually Housed Items

Box 19

Individually Housed Items

Glass plate negative: Ruth St. Denis "Devi Ja" (1951). 1 item.

Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972. Ruth St. Denis: Pioneer & Prophet: Being a History of Her Cycle of Oriental Dances (1920). 2 volumes. Note: Signed by both St. Denis and Shawn.

Poster: "Ruth St. Denis" – with image of her posing. 72 x 105 cm.

Box 20

Banner: Ruth St. Denis - "Blue Poster." 104 x 202 cm.

Addenda

Box Addenda 1

Correspondence and Newsletters

Box Addenda 1, Folder 1

Correspondence (1947-1949). 5 items.

Box Addenda 1, Folder 2

Newsletters (1945-1949). 3 items.

Box Addenda 1, Folder 3

Newsletters (1950-1955). 5 items.

Box Addenda 1, Folder 4

Newsletters (1956-1959). 4 items.

Box Addenda 1, Folder 5

Newsletters (1960-1962). 3 items.

Box Addenda 2

Oversize Photographs, Programs, etc.

Box Addenda 2, Folder 1

Photographs (1923-1937). 50 items.

Box Addenda 2, Folder 2

Programs, etc. (1924-1952). 13 items.

Box Addenda 2, Folder 3

Bound Copy (galley proof): "Ruth St. Denis: An Unfinished Life" by Ruth St. Denis (1939). 1 volume.