Edith Segal papers, Additions

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Description: Edith Segal (1902-1997) was an American choreographer, song writer, and poet. Her work examined issues such as workers' rights and racial equality through a socialist lens. The Edith Segal papers (1915-2014) document her involvement in progressive dance, with the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Federal Theatre Project, and her work as instructor at recreational resorts in New York and New England, particularly Camp Kinderland. The collection consists of teaching files, Camp Kinderland files, Federal Theatre Project files, photographs, and tribute albums.
Names: Segal, Edith, 1902-1997 (Creator)
Dates / Origin: Date Created: 1915 - 2014
Library locations: Jerome Robbins Dance Division; Shelf locator: (S) *MGZMD 355
Topics: Federal Theatre Project (U.S.); New Dance League; Unity House; Camp "Kinderland" (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.); Choreographers; Dancers; Dance -- Political aspects -- New York (State) -- New York; Dance for children; Segal, Edith, 1902-
Genres: Manuscripts; Documents; Correspondence; Scores; Programs; Photographs; Scrapbooks
Notes: Biographical/historical: Edith Segal (1902-1997) was an American choreographer, song writer, and poet. Born to immigrant parents in New York City, Segal began studying dance around 1915 under Blanche Talmud at the Neighborhood Playhouse. She was committed to leftist ideology and her work examined issues such as workers' rights and racial equality alongside the phrase "Art is a Weapon," a slogan she created upon her return from a visit to the Soviet Union around 1930. Some of her early works were in dedication to early communist ideologies associated with Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. In 1929 she formed her first company, The Red Dancers, and in 1930 she created her best known choreographic piece: Black and White. In addition to dancing with her company, Segal taught at several leftist camps and recreational resorts in New York and New England, including Camp Kinderland, the Unity House, Cedar Isle Camp, Camp Nitgedaiget, and Camp Wocolona. In the mid to late 1930s she began teaching at these camps almost exclusively. At this time she was also involved with the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Federal Theatre Project in New York and Detroit. Segal wrote several books of poetry from the 1950s to the 1980s, some of which were illustrated by her husband, Samuel Kamen. Edith Segal died in 1997.; Content: The Edith Segal papers (1915-2014) document Segal's involvement in progressive dance, with the Works Progress Administration's (WPA) Federal Theatre project, and her work as an instructor at recreational resorts in New York and New England, particularly Camp Kinderland. The collection is arranged into 9 sections: Autobiographical Files; Copyright Documentation; Correspondence; Teaching Files; Camp Kinderland Files; Federal Theatre Project Files; Photographs; Programs; and Tribute Albums. Autobiographical Files contain mostly autobiographical manuscript materials and notes on Segal's earliest performances. Of special note is Segal's first dance contract signed by Ivan Tarasoff and Segal, labeled in her hand "first dance contract." Copyright Documentation includes copyright registrations Segal obtained for her poetry and writing including the books Take My Hand : Poems and Songs for Lovers and Rebels and Be My Friend and Other Poems for Young People. Correspondence includes personal correspondence, dance research correspondence with doctoral candidates, and letters from those in the community affected by the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing that took place in September 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. Segal wrote a poem titled "Ballad for Four Children and A President" as a remembrance for those whose lives were lost. Segal also recited this poem at a Bill of Rights Day Dinner the same year. There is one folder of correspondence (Box 11 Folder 6) from other prominent contemporary artists, authors, and activists including Martha Graham, Dr. Spock, Pete Seeger, Eleanor Roosevelt, Langston Hughes, Harry Golden, and Rockwell Kent. Teaching files in the collection are arranged by subject. They hold sheet music, scripts, choreographic notes, song lyrics, and instructions for children's singing and dance. Some of these materials are in Yiddish and Hebrew. Programs for recitals put on by the Workers Dance League and The Red Dancers are also present here. Along with the programs are meeting minutes, choreographic notes, and an organizational report for the Worker's Dance League. Camp Kinderland Files are arranged chronologically by year with some material in Yiddish and Hebrew in addition to English. They hold performance title lists, recital programs, scripts, song lyrics, and notes. The Kinderland Journal and dance reports by season are also included. Additionally, this file contains correspondence and documentation regarding the New York state investigation into leftist activities of performers and artists related to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) investigations. This file includes Segal's subpoena to appear before New York investigative board for questioning. Federal Theatre Project material consists of programs, one announcement for a Lenin Memorial meeting, a report on choreography for the WPA production "One Third of a Nation," and a speech written to announce the production. Material pertaining to the Detroit Federal Theatre consists primarily of programs and announcements, as well as an annual report for the first federal summer in 1937. Photographs in this collection thoroughly document a wide range of Segal's activities. They detail performances, classes, group exercises, candid pictures of Segal with peers, and portraits. Several of the photographs show performances of Segal with her dance troupe, the Red Dancers. Images of Segal teaching at the Camp Kinderland and of student performances there are extensive. Other activities that Segal was involved in that are well represented through the photographs include Segal's time at Unity House, the summer resort of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU); Cedar Isle Camp; Camp Nitgedaiget; Camp Wocolona; and the Lenin Memorial Pageant and Ballet. Photographs from the 1960s and 1970s show Segal teaching in Moscow, London, and at the Moshulu Montefiore Center in the Bronx. Some personal and family photographs are also present. Most of the photographs are annotated and date from 1915 to 1940, though the entire run dates from 1915 to 1991. The programs are from a range of performances including Mordkin Ballet, Anna Pavlova dance performance, Broadway theatre performance of Pipe Dream, and a memorial performance for labor activist Joe Hill. The tribute albums contain letters of admiration, programs, and poems. Segal's scrapbook dedicated to her book, Poems and Songs for Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, primarily contains thank you letters from friends and colleagues to whom she sent the book. The majority of the collection is in English, with some materials in Yiddish and Hebrew.; Acquisition: Donated by Shari Segal Goldberg, 2000 and 2011.
Physical Description: Extent: 4.33 linear feet (11 boxes, 2 oversized folders)
Type of Resource: Text; Still image
Identifiers: NYPL catalog ID (B-number): b20298341; MSS Unit ID: 18760; Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): c50c09f0-420c-0138-bb59-773ff7b6ed71