Scope and arrangement
Virginia Myers was a child dancer who began performing publicly at the age of four. The Virginia Myers papers date from 1906 to 1934, with the majority of materials dating from 1912 to 1923. The collection includes photographs; clippings; programs; flyers; press releases; contracts with the Edison film company and theaters where Myers performed; diary entries and other personal writings; artwork by both Virginia and Jerome Myers; letters from prominent members of New York society; and an account of Myers' career, written by her parents.
Photographs depict Myers in dance poses and with her parents, husband, and child; they also include film stills from Dream Dances. Letters are mostly addressed to Ethel Myers and contain reactions to Virginia's performances and responses to invitations to see her perform. Several of the letters include poems. Among the writers are Ridgely Torrence, Ivah Wills Coburn, Mary Fanton Roberts, Percy MacKaye, Alice Lewisohn, and Jessie Tarbox Beals. There is one short note from Ruth St. Denis, and a note from Mabel Pollen saying that she would like to bring Sylvia Pankhurst to see Virginia dance.
Artwork by Jerome Myers includes an original print and sketch, and photographs of portraits he painted of his daughter.
Some clippings, flyers, and photographs are gathered into a scrapbook, which is fragile.
The collection also contains some research notes made by Myers' son, Barry Downes.