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]> PUBLIC "-//The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts//TEXT (US::NN::dan::(S) *MGZMD 72::Mura Dehn Papers on Afro-American Social Dance, ca. 1869-1987)//EN" "DANdehn.xml" Guide to the Mura Dehn Papers on Afro-American Social Dance, ca. 1869-1987 Processed by Sally Bomer, with Mary Jane

Machine-readable finding aid created 2003 . Revised 2004 . Description is in English. October 16, 2006 EAD v1.0 finding aid converted to EAD 2002 using UC Berkeley's eadv1to2002.pl perl script. Guide to the Mura Dehn Papers on Afro-American Social Dance, ca. 1869-1987 (S) *MGZMD 72 Jerome Robbins Dance Division The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts 40 Lincoln Center Plaza New York, NY 10023-7498 Jerome Robbins Dance Division. New York Public Library. 40 Lincoln Center Plaza New York, NY 10023-7498 (212) 870-1657 dance@nypl.org http://nypl.org/research/lpa/dan/dan.html Processed by: Sally Bomer, with Mary Jane Date Completed: May 1991 Encoded by: Apex Data Services; revised by Dan Santamaria Date Completed: September 26, 2003; revised 2004 Encoding funded by the generous support of the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Descriptive Summary Mura Dehn Papers on Afro-American Social Dance, ca. 1869-1987. (S) *MGZMD 72 Dehn, Mura 24 document boxes (2,533 items in 327 folders The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Jerome Robbins Dance Division

New York, New York

English Administrative Information Source

Gift. Estate of Mura Dehn. Received: August 1987.

Access

The collection is open to research.

Restrictions on Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Library for the Performing Arts.

Preferred Citation

Mura Dehn Papers on Afro-American Social Dance, ca. 1869-1987., (S) *MGZMD 72, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Subjects Personal Names Organizations Subjects Places Document Types Occupations Titles <?xm-replace_text {Title entry}?> Biographical History

Mura Dehn, born in 1902 in Odessa, Russia, is most widely known for her study and documentation of Afro-American social dances in the United States, epitomized by her film “The Spirit Moves”.

While studying and performing modern dance in Europe in the 1920's, she was exposed to jazz dance and moved to New York in 1930 to pursue her interest. In New York, she performed, taught and choreographed (often with her partner, Roger Pryor Dodge) and eventually formed a company with James Berry to promote jazz dancing. The Traditional Jazz Dance Company (or Jazz Dance Theatre) toured widely in the United States, and in 1969 was sponsored by the State Department on a tour of Africa. Throughout her career, she wrote and spoke on the development of Afro-American social dance and in her later years was working on a film of breakdancers to supplement “The Spirit Moves”.

She was married to the painter Adolf Dehn in 1926 (divorced in 1931), and later to Herman Thomas (“Dutch”), a retired Merchant Marine captain, who died in 1982. Mura Dehn died in New York in February, 1987.

Scope and Content Note

The Mura Dehn Collection documents Mura Dehn's professional life as dancer, choreographer, scholar and filmmaker, and to a lesser degree, her personal life through notebooks, poetry and correspondence. Most important are the research notes and drafts of her many scholarly writings on the development of Afro-American social dance in this country.

In the first series, notes and articles directly related to chapters of an unpublished manuscript (“The Spirit Moves”, Dance Collection classmark (S) *MGZMB-Res. 87-205), are separated from other writings on Afro-American dance which are arranged in historic chronological order. Many items in this sub-series though may easily relate to “The Spirit Moves” manuscript or other uncompleted manuscripts. Another division of this subseries relates to James Berry, whose close personal and professional relationship with Mura Dehn is documented repeatedly throughout the Collection.

Series II and Series III both contain personal writings, possibly the most interesting of which are the many poems written by Mura Dehn. The many notebooks of Series III combine research notes with personal writings in a haphazard manner, and are largely undated and unsortable by topic.

The correspondence of Series IV includes letters documenting the acclaim given to her film “The Spirit Moves”, and many letters from her brother, Boris Tsiperovich. Her father, David Tsiperovich is represented in the fifth series by family documents dating to his career as an engineer in Russia, c.1869.

Of the remaining series, notable elements include scenarios for dances (Series VI), proposals for a film on Israeli dancing (Series VII), an article by Roger Pryor Dodge on jazz dance (Series XII), and the strangely compelling writings of an unidentified person describing dreams and insanity (Series XII).

Separated from the Collection are many clippings, programs and photographs documenting Mura Dehn's career and that of her company, the Traditional Jazz Dance Company.

Organization I. Scholarly Writings A. Annoted copies of drafts of chapters from The Spirit Moves B. Articles and research notes on Afro-American dance C. Other articles and research notes II. Personal Writings III. Notebooks IV. Correspondence A. Outgoing Business B. Incoming Business C. Outgoing Personal D. Incoming Personal E. Outgoing Holiday Cards F. Incoming Holiday Cards G. Other Correspondence H. Addresses, Business Cards I. Empty Envelopes V. Biographical Materials A. Family Documents B. Vitae C. Interview Transcripts D. Draft of Will VI. Choreography and Teaching Material A. Dance Scenarios B. Course and Lecture/Demonstration Descriptions C. Lecture Notes D. Performance Notes VII. Proposals VIII. Company Business IX. Press and Promotional Materials X. Material related to the The Spirit Moves XI. Grant Applications XII. Writings by Others XIII. Artwork XIV. Memorabilia XV. Miscellany XVI. Clippings XVII. Programs XVIII. A. Xeroxes of Photographs B. Mura Dehn - Personal C. Mura Dehn - Professional Container List and Series Descriptions I. Scholarly Writings

A. Annotated copies and drafts of chapters from The Spirit Moves 150 items, 34 folders 1. [Introduction] 1 1 “The ABC or the Fundamentals of Jazz Dance” 4 Items 1 2 “Folklore in the Making” 6 Items 2. [Ch.I - Dances of the Ballroom] 1 3 “Ragtime and Jazz Time” 2 Items 1 4 “Black Awareness Through Dance” 5 Items 1 5 “Jazz Dance” 3 Items 1 6 “The Bebop Era” 5 Items 1 7 “Bebop Becomes a World Influence” 4 Items 1 8 “Mambo” 3 Items 1 9 “Rock 'n Roll” 6 Items “Eyewitness Accounts” “Interview with Miss Lou Parks” “The Dance Halls” “Black-American Folk Dance in Africa” 1 10 “The Seventies - A Bronx Junior High” 5 Items “The Seventies - The Parks” “Interview with Willy Ray” “A Bird's Eye View - Television” “Summing Up” 3. [Ch.II - Working with Jazzmen] 1 11 “First Concert at Cooper Union with Savoy Dancers” 5 Items 1 12-13 “Harlequins in New York” 3 Items 1 14-15 “Reminiscence of James Berry” 8 Items 4. [Ch.III - Jazz Profound] 1 16 “Forward to a Series of Interviews with James Berry” 7 Items 1 17 “Ragtime Era - The Cakewalk and Strut” 8 Items 1 18 “Reminiscence and Miscellaneous,” “A Ministrel Company” 7 Items 1 19 “Basic Negro Comedy” 3 Items 1 20 “Charleston,” “Speak Easys,” “Clubs, Harlem Clubs, Jig Saw,” “Snake Hips Tucker” 11 Items 1 21 “Jazz Profound” 9 Items 1 22 “Jazz Profound” in Dance Scope 1 Items 5. [Ch.IV - Artists of the Theatre] 1 23 “Interview with Mr. Chappy Chapell” 3 Items 1 24 “Interview with Miss Lillian Brown” 8 Items 2 25 “Johnny Hudgins - 1969” 3 Items 2 26 “Buck & Bubbles and Their Act” by Chuck Green 3 Items 2 27 “The Professionals - Samy Chuck Green” 3 Items 2 28 “Baby Laurence,” “Pepsi Bethel” 2 Items 6. [Ch.V - Journey Through the South] 2 29 “Foreword” 5 Items 2 30 “Leola Townsend and an Evening at Chef's” 2 Items 2 31 “Cubin” 4 Items 2 32 “Elisa Baker” 1 Items 2 33 “Reverend Guilbert” 3 Items 7. [Ch.VI - Black Church, Holy Dance and Theatre] 2 34 “1950-1960's,” “Interview with James Millican,” Elder Davis,” “The Theatre Sacrale” 8 Items B. Articles and research notes on Afro-American dance 510 items, 98 folders 1. Minstrel shows 2 35 “Although the minstrel show is...” 1 Items 2 36-37 “American Minstrel Show - Black Face Minstrelsy and Its Heritage” 10 Items 2 38-39 “American Minstrel Show - Historical Survey” 4 Items 2 40-41 “Minstrel Show and the Afro-American Folklore” 3 Items 2 42 “Minstrelsy and Afro-American Folklore” 2 Items 2 43-44 Miscellaneous notes and drafts 27 Items 2. Comedy 2 45 “The Legacy of Antique Popular Comedy” 1 Items 2 46 “The Legacy of Antique Theater” 1 Items 2 47-48 “Origin and History of Popular Comedy” 7 Items 3 49 “Structure and Methods of Antique Popular Comedy and its Legacy as Reflected by the American Entertainment of the 20th Century” 1 Items 3 50-51 Source material for comedy articles 10 Items 3 52-54 Miscellaneous notes and drafts 47 Items 3. Colonial and Antebellum South 3 55 Bamboula, Calinda and Congo Square Dance 7 Items 3 56 New Orleans Lent Carnivals 10 Items 3 57 Pat dances 13 Items 3 58-59 Plantation,. secular and square dances; devil tunes 18 Items 3 60 Rhythm 10 Items 3 61 Ring Shout 3 Items 3 62 “Social Dancing in 18th and Early 19th Centuries” 4 Items 3 63 Voodoos and Snake Worship 8 Items 4. Pre-World War I Social Dance 3 64-65 Cakewalk 7 Items 3 66 Charleston 8 Items 3 67 “Coon Era,” Animal dances 8 Items 3 68 Quadrilles 6 Items 3 69 Ragtime 14 Items 3 70 “Social Dances Before World War I” 4 Items 5. Jazz 3 71 “A Few Words About Dancing,” “A Few Words About Jazz Dancing” 4 Items 3 72 “The Alphabet of Jazz,” “Choreography and Jazz,” “Emergence of Jazz” 5 Items 3 73 “Harikiri of Jazz,” “Is Jazz Choreographic?” “Jazz: A Folk Dance” 3 Items 3 74 “Jazz Dancing, Unique Product of the U.S.A.” 1 Items 3 75-76 “Jazz - Music and Dance” 7 Items 4 77 “More Respect for the Clown” 1 Items 4 78 Roger Pryor Dodge 4 Items 4 79 Snake Hips Tucker 4 Items 6. Post World War II Social Dances 4 80 “Bop Time” 3 Items 4 81 “Back to Africa” (Bop and Mambo) 1 Items 4 82 “The Dual Aspect of the Rock Era” 2 Items 4 83 Interview with Buster Brown about James Brown 6 Items 4 84 Interview with Edward Bishop (Rock'n Roll) 1 Items 4 85 “Rock and Roll” 1 Items 4 86 “Rock and Roll is growing...” 5 Items 4 87-88 “Rock and Roll 1960-65-70” 4 Items 4 89-90 “Rock and Roll, The Herd Dance” 4 Items 4 91-92 Miscellaneous drafts and notes 58 Items 7. Social Dance of the South 4 93 “Black Dance - A Chronicle of Daily Living” 3 Items 4 94 “Children's Games of the 30's” 2 Items 4 95 “Miss Viola Chapman of St. Helena Island” 2 Items 4 96 “Night Life in Georgia” 3 Items 4 97 “The Story of the Levee' by James Boddie 6 Items 4 98 “Tallahassee Market Woman” 6 Items 8. “Holy” Dance 4 99 “The Afro-American Church,” “The Church of Triumph” 3 Items 4 100 “Georgia Peach” 1 Items 4 101 “The Gospel Singers” 8 Items 4 102-104 “Interview with Georgia Peach” 13 Items 4 105 “Introduction au `Gospel Singing' ” 1 Items 4 106 “Sanctified Churches” 1 Items 9. Oral Histories 4 107 Pepsi Bethel 1 Items 4 108 The Gibson Family 3 Items 4 109 Lee Whipper 4 Items 4 110 Miscellaneous 5 Items 10. James Berry 5 111 “A propos d'un film...James Berry” 1 Items 5 112 “Anannias - My Brother” 5 Items 5 113 “Be-for-Real” 4 Items 5 114 “Childhood - Life with the Family” 4 Items

(includes “Diamond Rhinestone”)

5 115 “Last Interview” 3 Items 5 116 Obituaries 2 Items 5 117-118 “Pay Day” 5 Items 5 119 Miscellaneous 7 Items 11. General Articles and Miscellaneous 5 120-121 “Black Awareness Through Folk Art” 5 Items 5 122 “Conclusions” 6 Items 5 123 “From the Horses Mouth” 4 Items 5 124 “Jazz Dance,” “James Brown at Madison Square Garden” 1 Items 5 125-126 “Jazz Dancing: Folklore in the Making” 6 Items 5 127 “Negro Dance and Puritanism” 1 Items 5 128 “The Spirit of Quadrille...” 4 Items 5 129 “Steps Mentioned by Daddy Rice” 3 Items 5 130-132 Miscellaneous 39 Items C. Other Articles and Research Notes 13 items, 6 folders 5 133 “Dance and Mexico” 1 Items 5 134 “In Honour of Russian Ballet Teachers” 2 Items 5 135 “Mary Bruce Tap School” 1 Items 5 136 “Mr. Fine and Mr. David” 5 Items 5 137 “Mr. Indrosugondo, Artistic Director of Indonesian Pavilion, World's Fair” 1 Items 5 138 Songs of Afro-American Dance 3 Items II. Personal Writings 126 items, 8 folders 5 139 Diary Notes 2 Items 5 140-144 Poetry 102 Items 5 145 Reminders, misc. notes 21 Items 5 146 Notes re Benjamin Benno estate 1 Items III. Notebooks 132 items, 11 boxes 5 147 Loose notebook pages 6 Items 6-16 Notebooks 126 Items IV. Correspondence A. Outgoing Business 73 items, 9 folders 17 148 1968-1970 4 Items 17 149 1971-1972 9 Items 17 150 1973-1974 4 Items 17 151 1976 9 Items 17 152 1978 5 Items 17 153 1979-1980 6 Items 17 154 1981 13 Items 17 155 1982-1983 8 Items 17 156 1984 n.d. 15 Items B. Incoming Business 147 items, 19 folders 17 157 1953-1954 7 Items 17 158 1960-1968 9 Items 17 159-160 1969 16 Items 17 161 1970 8 Items 17 162-163 1971 13 Items 17 164 1972-1974 8 Items 17 165 1975-1976 6 Items 17 166 1977 8 Items 17 167 1979 5 Items 18 168 1980-1981 6 Items 18 169-171 1982 29 Items 18 172-174 1983 27 Items 18 175 1984-1987 5 Items C. Outgoing Personal 3 items, 1 folder 18 176 1985 n.d. 3 Items D. Incoming Personal 83 items, 13 folders 18 177 1935 1 Items 18 178 1950 1 Items 18 179 1957, 1959, 1961 4 Items 18 180 1966-1967 4 Items 18 181-183 1968 20 Items 18 184-185 1969 21 Items 18 186 1974-1979 5 Items 18 187 1980-1983 10 Items 18 188 1985-1987 8 Items 18 189 n.d. 9 Items E. Outgoing Holiday Cards 4 items, 1 folder 19 190 1963, 1981, n.d. 4 Items F. Incoming Holiday Cards 99 Items, 8 folders 19 191-192 1974, 1979 16 Items 19 193 1981-1982 11 Items 19 194 1984, 1986 9 Items 19 195-198 n.d. 63 Items G. Other Correspondence 4 Items 19 199 Correspondence including letter re Roger Pryor Dodge, postcard to Boris Tsiperovitch H. Addresses, Business Cards 34 items, 5 folders 19 200 Address Books 3 Items 19 201 Miscellaneous addresses 18 Items 19 202-203 Mailing list 2 Items 19 204 Business cards 11 Items I. Empty Envelopes 27 Items, 2 folders 19 205 1954-1984 14 Items 19 206 n.d. 13 Items V. Biographical Materials A. Family Documents 29 items,6 folders 19 207 c. 1869-1891 2 Items 19 208 c. 1903-1917 4 Items 19 209 1920-1924 4 Items 19 210 1925-1936 5 Items 19 211 c. 1942-1952 12 Items 19 212 n.d. 2 Items B. Vitae 33 Items 20 213-215 Vitae (3 folders) C. Interview transcripts 4 items, 2 folders 20 216 by Maria Kandilakis 1 Items 20 217 by Karen Wickre, and unknown 3 Items D. Draft of will 2 Items 20 218 Drafts of Will VI. Choreography and Teaching Materials A. Dance Scenarios 22 items, 9 folder 20 219 “An Angel Goldrush” 1 Items

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20 220 “Between Two Crosses” 1 Items

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20 221 “Family Circle” 3 Items

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20 222-223 “The Flood” 5 Items

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20 224 “The Postman” 1 Items

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20 225-226 “The Third Fourth of July” 6 Items

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20 227 Untitled [in Russian], and list 5 Items

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20 228-229 B. Course and lecture/demonstration descriptions 21 Items 20 230-231 C. Lecture notes [most re film The Spirit Moves] 12 Items 20 232-233 D. Performance notes 20 Items VII. Proposals 20 234 A. Companies 10 Items 20 235-236 B. Films 9 Items 20 237-241 C. Manuscripts 24 Items VIII. Company Business 20 242 A. Board reports 5 Items 20 243 B. Budgets and payroll 7 Items 21 244-246 C. Contracts 25 Items 21 247-249 D. Miscellaneous (includes touring information) 15 Items IX. Press and Promotional Materials 21 250-252 A. Company 36 Items 21 253-254 B. The Spirit Moves (film) 19 Items 21 255-256 C. General re Mura Dehn 23 Items 21 257 D. Miscellaneous 7 Items X. Materials related to The Spirit Moves (film) 21 258 A. Budgets 5 Items 21 259 B. Descriptions/outlines 9 Items 21 260 C. Miscellaneous 7 Items 21 261-262 XI. Grant Applications 18 Items XII. Writings by others 21 263 Boddie, James. “The History of the 1894 E.A.B.” 1 Items 21 264 Dodge, Roger Pryor. “A Statement on Panorama of Jazz” 3 Items 21 265 Ethnic Folkways Library Newsletters 2 Items 21 266-269 International Folk Music Council, Conference Papers, 1971 15 Items 21 270-271 International Society for Jazz Research 11 Items 22 272 Kandilakis, Maria. “Jazz Dance” 1 Items 22 273 Thomas, Dutch. Journal of Trip to Spain 1 Items 22 274-282 Unidentified writer 84 Items

(includes “The Technique of Self-Observation,” “The Cure,” “An Embarrassing Incident,” “Dreams,” “Memory of Insanity by Recovered Patients”)

XIII. Artwork 22 283-285 Drawings by Mura Dehn 17 Items 22 286 Assorted items 6 Items

(includes photograph of drawing of Mura Dehn, signed by Reginald Marsh; photograph of drawing of jazz dancers, unsigned; abstract etching, signature unidentified; ink blot painting, signed “E.L.”; reproduction of Italian Renaissance painting)

22 287 Assorted items 45 Items

(includes 39 small linoleum block prints of still lifes, signed by Benjamin Benno, 1935; 2 small linoleum block prints, unsigned; 4 postcards of Benjamin Benno painting)

22 288 Small stone relief, partial head 1 Items XIV. Memorabilia 22 289 Adolf Dehn obituary and 2 gallery brochures 6 Items Immigration and naturalization forms (blank) French magazine with provocative photos of Mura Dehn as “Mura Dehir” 22 290 2 gallery brochures and article re painting of Mura Dehn by Guy Pene du Bois 6 Items Xerox of “Medaille de la Ville de Nantes” and certificate from Nantes Festival Certificate from Los Angeles International Film Exposition XV. Miscellany 22 291 Resume of artist Sari Dienes 3 Items Outline of “Perspectives of Acting” Booklet, Mississippi Folk Voices, by William Ferris 22 292 Letters from school children to authors of The Lost Zoo 1 Items 23 293 Audio cassette tape labeled “Louis Speaks” 1 Items 23 294 Audio reel-to-reel tape labeled “Bouchard” 1 Items 23 295 Audio reel-to-reel tape labeled “Mrs. Parks” 1 Items 23 296 XVI. Clippings 5 Items XVII. Programs A. Mura Dehn 23 297 1922-1924 9 Items 23 298 1926-1936 9 Items 23 299 1938-1981, n.d. 9 Items B. Mura Dehn Companies 23 300 1961-1973, n.d. 13 Items C. Companies, not Mura Dehn 23 301 1922-1923 2 Items 23 302 1966-1982, n.d. 13 Items XVIII. Photographs 23 303-305 A. Xeroxes of Photographs [some identified by Dehn] 64 Items B. Mura Dehn - Personal 23 306-309 Family photographs [includes father, mother, brother, Mura Dehn] 88 Items 24 310 Mura Dehn, family and friends 41 Items C. Professional 24 311 Dehn - non-dancing 6 Items 24 312 Dehn - teaching 3 students 25 Items 24 313 American Jazz Dance Theatre in Africa 21 Items 24 314 Terra cotta sculptures by Dehn 21 Items 24 315 Ethnic and folk dance 14 Items 24 316 Dancers in action [blurred, reverse prints] 16 Items 24 317 Lindy, charleston, mambo 7 Items 24 318 Sonny Allen & The Rockets 4 Items 24 319 Israel, 1952 20 Items 24 320-322 Dancers and Musicians 81 Items 24 323 Autographed photograph of flowers [Klaus K.] 1 Items 24 324 Miscellaneous 32 Items 24 325-326 Contact sheets 52 Items 24 327 Negatives 8 Items Separated Material

The following items were received with the original gift but have been separated from the manuscript collection. The current location of these items (as of May 30, 1991) is indicated.

Color poster for Jazz Dance Theater, in French - Location: in uncataloged poster collection B/w poster for Jazz Dance Theater, possibly Aramaic - Location: in uncataloged poster collection Two scrapbooks - Location: *MGZRS 91-9612, vols. 1,2 YM-YWHA Course Bulletin, 1951-52 - Location: *MGZB Reel-to-reel audio cassette, Mura Dehn interviewing two musicians - Location: in process Programs - Location: *MGZB (in process) Clippings - Location: *MGZR (in process) Photographs - Location: *MGZE/MGZEA (in process)

The following items have been given to the Music Division:

Jazz Record, February, 1947, no.52, “A Few Words About Dancing”, Mura Dehn (xeroxed article in Mura Dehn Collection) Jazz Monthly, May, 1956, vol.2, no.3, “Tallahassee Market Woman”, Mura Dehn (xeroxed article in Mura Dehn Collection) Jazz Hot, Octobre 1952, no.70, “Introduction au `Gospel Singing' ”, Mura Dehn (xeroxed article in Mura Dehn Collection) Jazz Hot, Novembre 1978, 44e annee, no 355, “Harlem Jazz Dance”, Mura Dehn with James Berry (xeroxed article in Mura Dehn Collection)

The following items have been given to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture:

Large box of duplicate items

The following items are duplicates of items already in the Dance Collection:

von Delius, Rudolf, Mary Wigman. Dresden, Carl Reissner, 1925. Duplicate of *MGYB (Wigman) The Record Changer, vol.14, no.3, “Jazz: Its Rise and Decline,” Roger Pryor Dodge. Duplicate in *MGZR (Dodge) Dance Scope, Fall/Winter, 1976/77, vol.11, no.1, four copies, “Jazz Profound” by James Berry. Duplicate in *ZAN-*MD10 Dance Scope