Research Catalog

Joe Nash black dance photograph collection

Title: Joe Nash black dance photograph collection [graphic].
Author: Nash, Joe, 1919-2005
Publication: 1931-1989.

Available Online

NYPL Digital Collections

Details

Additional Authors

Found In

p1bc Nash, Joe. Black dance collection, 1939-1990 (CstRLIN)NYPW090000017-A

Subject

Genre/Form

Portrait photographs – 1930-1989.
Group portraits – 1930-1989.
Publicity photographs – 1930-1989.
Postcards.
Gelatin silver prints – 1930-1989.
Dye coupler prints.
Photomechanical prints – 1930-1989.
Halftone photomechanical prints – 1930-1989.
Engravings.
Autographs – 1930-1989.
Inscriptions – 1930-1989.

Note

Title devised by cataloger.
Many photographs have photographer's handstamp on verso; some items have photographer's name or photography studio name printed on recto; some items have dance company or dance festival handstamp on verso.
Many photographs have handwritten descriptive information on verso; some items bear captions; some items bear autographs or handwritten inscriptions on recto.
Some photographs are either mounted or matted; some items are either cropped or have cropping marks; some items are duplicates.
Collection contains work by Marbeth, Martha Swope, John Lindquist, Mansa K. Mussa, Fred Fehl, Kenn Duncan, Jack Mitchell, Bruno of Hollywood, Jack Vartoogian and others.

Terms of Use (note)

Some items are restricted; permission of photographer is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

Joe Nash is a black dance historian, dance educator, former dancer and administrator. Born in New York City, he began dancing in 1940 with the National Youth Administration. Following his service in the Army during World War II, he studied ballet and modern dance in the dance division of the American Theatre Wing. His first professional appearance was with the Charles Wiedman Dance Group, and his subsequent dance career included several Broadway shows, concert performances, and television appearances. More recently, Nash has moved into art administration with such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Foundation, and is founder/director of the Multiethnic Christian Education Resources Center of the National Council of Churches.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

Finding aid

Linking Entry (note)

Forms part of the Joe Nash Black Dance Collection, 1939-1990.

Local note

SC MG 224

Call Number

Sc Photo Joe Nash Black Dance Collection

OCLC

NYPG97-F569

Author

Nash, Joe, 1919-2005.

Title

Joe Nash black dance photograph collection [graphic].

Imprint

1931-1989.

Description

1200 items (3.8 lin. ft., 14 boxes)

947 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

72 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 18 x 13 cm. and smaller.

46 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 36 x 28 cm. and smaller.

17 photographic prints : silver gelatin, b&w ; 36 x 44 cm. and smaller.

22 photographic prints : col. ; 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

9 photographic prints : col. ; 42 x 50 cm. and smaller.

29 photomechanical prints : b&w ; 26 x 21 cm. and smaller.

13 photomechanical prints : b&w ; 43 x 28 cm. and smaller.

24 photomechanical prints : col. ; 33 x 25 cm. and smaller.

14 photomechanical prints : col. ; 28 x 38 cm. and smaller.

3 engravings : hand-col. ; 26 x 21 cm.

1 transparency : col. ; 21 x 26 cm.

2 photocopies : b&w ; 28 x 22 cm. and smaller.

1 watercolor : col. ; 25 x 15 cm.

Organized into three series: I. Dancers; II. Dance Companies; III. Dance Styles.

Summary

The Joe Nash Black Dance Photograph Collection was compiled by Nash, historian and researcher of black dance history, to document and acknowledge the contributions of black dancers, choreographers and dance companies from the 1930s to the 1980s. In his capacity as researcher, he also compiled published, unpublished and printed materials, and artwork about black dance and dancers, as well as lectured and coordinated exhibitions. The photograph collection consists of studio and candid portraits, views of rehearsals, and views of performances. Some of the dance styles depicted include ballet, modern, African and African interpretive, and theatrical dance. Views of indigenous dancers are limited; images of dancers or dance styles prior to the formation of dance companies appear in the Dancers series.

The Dancers series, representing African-American dancers and choreographers, consists of individual and group studio portraits, candid portraits, and views of performances. Portraits of Joe Nash are included in this series, depicting aspects of his professional career from the mid-1940s to the early 1980s. Part of his dance career shown includes scenes from stage productions of "Finian's Rainbow" in London (1947), "Inside U.S.A." (1949), "Flahooley" (ca. 1951), and "Jacob's Pillar" (1955). Notable among the other dancers depicted in the Dancers series are Alvin Ailey, Al Bledger, Delores Brown, Theodore Duncan, Ward Fleming, Syvilla Fort, Pearl Primus, Glory Van Scott, Liz Williamson and Sara Yarborough. The collection also includes a number of studio portraits, some inscribed, from Nash's friends and acquaintances in dance, the theatre, and the music business.

The Dance Companies series represents mostly African-American dance companies, many based in New York City. The collection consists of individual and group studio portraits of dancers and choreographers, views of dress rehearsals or "staged" studio performance photos, possibly for publicity purposes, and views of performances. Companies include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (1970s-1980s), the American Negro Ballet Company, the Asadata Dafora Dancers (1930s), the Chuck Davis Dance Company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem (mainly from the 1980s), Katherine Dunham and Company, La Rocque Bey Dance Company, the Louis Johnson Dance Theatre, the Philadelphia Dance Company (Philadanco) and Sounds in Motion. The Dance Theatre of Harlem makes up a significant portion of this series, and includes scenes from the productions of "Concerto Barocco" (1988), "Le Corsaire" (1989), "Forces of Rhythm," "Haiku" and "Rhythmetron." Also depicted are views and contact sheets of rehearsals and performances from the Dancemobile, a Harlem Cultural Council project, from 1967-1968 that include performances by the Eleo Pomare Dance Company. Individuals such as Ismay Andrews, Katherine Dunham, Louis Johnson, Rod Rogers, and Carmencita Romero figure prominantly in their dance company images. Images of British, African and Caribbean dance companies are limited.

The Dance Styles series represents a number of historical, theatrical and international dance styles that depict individual dancers, groups of dancers, and dance companies, either American or from other countries. The series consists of individual and group studio portraits, candid photos, photomechanical and photographic reproductions of paintings and engravings, and photomechanicals of photographic images. The collection includes a group of mostly color photomechanical images, including postcards, depicting African tribal and ritual dances in places such as Mali, Zaire and Ghana. Also included are a limited number of color lithographs depicting the habits worn by Moors and North Africans from the 16th and 18th centuries, and views of the 1988 West Indian Day Parade in Brooklyn, New York.

Terms Of Use

Some items are restricted; permission of photographer is required for duplication.

Biography

Joe Nash is a black dance historian, dance educator, former dancer and administrator. Born in New York City, he began dancing in 1940 with the National Youth Administration. Following his service in the Army during World War II, he studied ballet and modern dance in the dance division of the American Theatre Wing. His first professional appearance was with the Charles Wiedman Dance Group, and his subsequent dance career included several Broadway shows, concert performances, and television appearances. More recently, Nash has moved into art administration with such organizations as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Foundation, and is founder/director of the Multiethnic Christian Education Resources Center of the National Council of Churches.

Indexes

Finding aid: folder level control.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Joe Nash Black Dance Collection, 1939-1990.

Local Note

SC MG 224

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Local Subject

African American choreographers.

Added Author

Marbeth. Photographer

Swope, Martha. Photographer

Lindquist, John. Photographer

Mussa, Mansa K. Photographer

Fehl, Fred. Photographer

Duncan, Kenn. Photographer

Mitchell, Jack. Photographer

Mathison, Julian. Photographer

Kriegsmann, James J. Photographer

Seymour, Maurice. Photographer

Vartoogian, Jack. Photographer

Crickman, Anthony. Photographer

Greenfield, Lois. Photographer

Harris, Doug. Photographer

Bernard, Bruno.

Found In:

p1bc Nash, Joe. Black dance collection, 1939-1990 (CstRLIN)NYPW090000017-A

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Joe Nash Black Dance Collection

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