Research Catalog

Title

Carol Lynn papers, 1896-1959.

Author

Lynn, Carol, 1893-1987.

Supplementary Content

Finding Aid

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

Description

6.4 linear feet (17 boxes)

Summary

The Carol Lynn papers consist of correspondence, photographs, programs, promotional material, scores, and choreographic notes from Lynn's time spent at Denishawn and at Jacob's Pillow.

Subject

• Chalif, Louis H. 1876-1948
• Graham, Martha
• Holm, Hanya, 1893-1992
• Humphrey, Doris, 1895-1958
• Legat, Nikolaĭ Gustavovich, 1869-1937
• Menzeli, Elizabetta
• Mumaw, Barton, 1912-
• Shawn, Ted, 1891-1972
• Serova, Sonia
• St. Denis, Ruth, 1880-1968
• Vestoff, Veronine
• Weidman, Charles
• Denishawn School of Dancing
• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
• Ballet > United States > 20th century
• Choreographers > United States > 20th century
• Dance teachers > United States > 20th century
• Modern dance > United States

Genre/Form

• Clippings.
• Correspondence.
• Notes.
• Photographs.
• Posters.
• Scores.

Terms of Use (note)

• Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Call Number

(S) *MGZMD 209

OCLC

234311753

Author

Lynn, Carol, 1893-1987.

Title

Carol Lynn papers, 1896-1959.

Terms Of Use

Collection is open to the public. Library policy on photocopying will apply. Advance notice may be required.

Location of Other Archival Materials

See also films by Carol Lynn that reside at the Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Biography

Carol Lynn (whose given name was Carol Lynn Fetser) enjoyed a varied career as a dancer and educator, but she was best known for her association with Ted Shawn and Jacob's Pillow. Born in 1893 in New York City, Lynn began childhood dance training at eight, studying folk dancing before the time of wide-spread ballet instruction in the United States. It was during a theatrical performance she attended with her mother when, seeing a dancer on point, Lynn's fascination with ballet began. She was sent to study ballet with the influential Madame Elisabetta Menzeli until the 1920s. Lynn then toured as a professional dancer with a small company that performed in vaudeville until the 1930s. It was at this time that she became more "ballet-conscious" having viewed performances by Colonel de Basil and his Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo in the United States. Lynn began training at the Denishawn School in 1922, where she studied dance with such prominent teachers as Michel Fokine, Mikhail Mordkin, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn. By the 1930s, she became more involved at Jacob's Pillow by supervising the female students and then taking charge of administering the school. She was administrative director along with Ted Shawn of Jacob's Pillow University of Dance and Dance Festival from 1936 to 1960. During the 1950s Lynn filmed dance extensively, notably at Jacob's Pillow. Some of the dancers and companies she filmed include: Anna Pavlova, Barton Mumaw, the companies of José Limón, La Meri, Myra Kinch, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn, among others. Highlights include performances of The Moor's Pavane choreographed by José Limón, La Valse danced by Le Clercq and Nicholas Magallanes, and Firebird: Pas de Deux. These films now reside in The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Following her departure from Jacob's Pillow, Lynn headed the dance program at Baltimore's Peabody Institute of Music in addition to maintaining her own studio until 1952. She died January 20, 1987 at the age of ninety-three.

Indexes

Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Finding Aid

Occupation

Choreographers.

Dance teachers.

Added Author

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival.

Research Call Number

(S) *MGZMD 209