Newcomb College Dance Program Papers
2007-29

Summary Information

Repository
Newcomb Archives
Title
Newcomb College Dance Program Papers
ID
2007-29
Date [bulk]
Bulk, 1950
Date [inclusive]
Between 1896 and 1985
Extent
1.0 Cubic feet 1 Grey Documents box and 1 Scrapbook box
Language
English

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Biographical/Historical note

From "Under the Oaks" Spring 1986:

Dance has been a part of Newcomb since its earliest years. May Day extravaganzas were presented for seniors each year by the junior class. In the 1920s Newcomb dancers patterned themselves after the self-expressionist style of Isadora Duncan. In 1940, Frances Bush (N’26) returned to Newcomb to teach ballet after a professional dancing career in New York and Chicago. Newcomb became the first southern college to offer classical ballet, and for the first time dance courses filled the physical education requirement.

Frances Bush taught ballet, modern, ballroom, and folk dance until she retired in 1971. The May Day dances were phased out in 1960. Bush formed the flourishing Newcomb Dance Club which performed in the New Orleans community, including in many Mardi Gras balls, during the 1940s and 50s.

Minette Starts (N’50), a ballet student of Frances Bush’s, began teaching at Newcomb in 1966. She earned her MFA degree in 1969 from the University of North Carolina. Starts then returned to Newcomb to stay and teach from 1969 to her retirement in 1985. In 1984 the Newcomb Dance Company was formed.

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Scope and Contents note

1896-1985

The collection dates from 1896 with Clara Baer’s “Progressive Lessons in Physical Education.” It includes photocopied pages of the scrapbook of Florence Smith (1919-1971, the original is located in the scrapbook collection) and miscellaneous clippings from the period 1918-1985. However the bulk of material about the Dance Program dates from the 1950s. The two scrapbooks from this period include posters, flyers, programs, clippings, letters, and photographs from the 1950s to the 1980s. Scrapbooks have been disassembled due to crumbing paper, and pages have been photocopied. Originals are interleaved with archival paper.

The collection's strength lies in its information about both dance and physical education at Newcomb. The clippings give abundant information about the program and the gym itself; for example it notes the renovations of 1930, which included six new showers, a new diving board, and other improvements. Photographs have remained in the collection, although other photographs of Newcomb Dance can also be found in the Photographic Collection.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Newcomb Archives

Newcomb Center for Research on Women
Seltzer-Gerard Reading Room
62 Newcomb Place
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118
504 865 5762
vorhoff@tulane.edu

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Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

  • Newcomb College. Dance Program.

Personal Name(s)

  • Baer, Clara Gregory
  • Bush, Frances
  • Starts, Minnette

Subject(s)

  • Dance

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Collection Inventory

 NAB-070 Dance Program: List of Folders 

General note

Acc. # 89-0160

Inventory to Collection

Faculty of Physical Education Department

Progressive Lessons in Physical Education- copy 1

Progressive Lessons in Physical Education- copy 2

Information copied from Bulletin 1903 (includes basketball team photo and names)

Constitution of the Newcomb Dance Club

Clippings (1919-1929)- from scrapbook of F. Smith

Clippings (1930s) – from scrapbook of F. Smith

Clippings (1940s) – from scrapbook of F. Smith

Clippings (1950s) – from scrapbook of F. Smith

Clipping binding cover

Miscellaneous materials included with clippings

Note from Mildred Christian re dance courses

Photo 1946

Tulanian 1953- includes article on physical education at Newcomb

Clipping 1979

Program- Minette Start after Frances Bush

Photo 1974 and Program 1974

Program 197?

Barracuda 1974

Program 197?

Program, Dance Club, 197?

Program, 1981

Program 1982

Program 1985

Scrapbook cover- photocopies (#1)

Photocopies from scrapbook #1

Photos- Minette Starts from Scrapbook #1

Miscellaneous from Scrapbook #1

Scrapbook #1- actual pages (in 17 folders)

Clippings from scrapbook #1

Scrapbook #2- copies (in 19 folders)

Degas painting dance

Gym suits advertisement

Clippings- miscellaneous

Miscellaneous Files Between 1973 and 1986 

General note

Recorded 6/27

21 items

Posters, flyers, programs, clippings, miscellaneous correspondence, 1 photograph

Also includes the Dance Club's constitution

Posters which are oversized are stored in tubes

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 NABF 002 Scrapbook Box 

General note

Acc. # 89-0161. Contains actual pages from Scrapbook #2 and one poster.

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