Louise Branch papers

1921-1949 [bulk 1937-1938]

The Louise Branch papers primarily consist of material related to Dance International. All files dating from 1937 to 1938 concern the exhibition, documenting the International Dance Committee, chaired by Branch, and its work planning the festival, selecting the artwork and films to be shown, organizing the lectures and dance performances, and promoting the event.

Much of the collection is correspondence to and from Branch as well as other Dance International organizers-namely, C.M. Girard, Malvina Hoffman, Anne Morgan, Patricia Parmelee, and R.C. Schumacher. There are also several publicity files consisting of press releases and lists of newspapers, magazines, and radio shows that covered the exhibition. Other materials include committee meeting minutes, contracts, guest lists, schedules, budgets, and typescripts of speeches given at the festival.

Information about the exhibition's dance performances can be found in the Center Theater and Rainbow Room files, the latter of which also includes a binder of reservation lists and seating charts. The exhibition catalogue contains a comprehensive list of the artwork on display, while a more detailed list of the works by American artists, including prices, can be found in the "Art-American" file.

Material concerning United Specialists, Inc., including film treatments and scripts, can be found in the correspondence files dating from the 1940s, the Baruch Committee, and Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs files. The Eastman Kodak file consists of invoices for film and photography equipment. Also included in the 1940s correspondence files are some personal letters and documents related to Branch's attempt to travel to Europe during the end of World War II.

Additionally present in the collection are two typed letters by British novelist John Galsworthy, whose correspondence with Frank Harris was published by the English Bookshop in 1933 as Autobiographical Letters of John Galsworthy.