Scope and arrangement
The Jerry Ames papers (1945-2009) document his career as a dancer and teacher, and consist of correspondence, photographs, scores, scrapbooks, and personal materials. His work on the Book of Tap is minimally represented in the collection by a small amount of correspondence and news clippings.
The correspondence spans 1945 to 2000. Ames' popularity as both a dancer and instructor is demonstrated with recurring requests to perform at theaters and festivals, as well as letters from former students. There is one file of correspondence with noted tap dancer Eleanor Powell, who wrote the introduction for The Book of Tap. Ames and Powell corresponded until her death in 1982, after which Ames continued to receive letters from her daughter Eleanor Debus. The programs represent his performances at national and international theaters and festivals as well as his appearances in productions like Tap Happening and The Hoofers. Programs from the 1990s and later are generally for events honoring Ames rather than dance performances. Also present with the programs is a souvenir program and match book for the Copacabana nightclub in 1948; both contain a photograph of Ames and a companion. The photographs consist of publicity shots of Ames throughout his career, photographs of the Jerry Ames Tap Dance Company, and photographs of Ames teaching. The scores consist of holograph scores of "Manhattan Night Life" and "The Old Soft Shoe," and unidentified song lyrics. There are four scrapbooks in the collection which are composed of news clippings, photographs, programs, and tickets. The fourth scrapbook contained loose material that has been filed separately. There is one subject file on Ames' dance teacher and noted tap dancer Paul Draper that contains news clippings and programs.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by format and subject.