Dawn Lille collection

1932-2002

The Dawn Lille collection, dated from 1932 to 2002, documents her work as an oral historian. The collection holds sound recordings; transcripts of interviews; notes; and printed matter.

This collection has interviews of pioneering African-American dancers and several dancers of Hispanic descent. The interviews focus on their family background; training as a dancer; the challenges that they faced as minorities; mentors; and experiences with dance companies. Interviewees include Consuela Gandara; Betty Nichols, the first African-American student at the School of American Ballet; Nat Horne; Walter Nicks, a choreographer, modern dancer and teacher; and Barbara Wright, a member of the New York Negro Ballet. Other interviews include one with Eugene Von Grona, the founder of the short-lived American Negro Ballet Company. Transcripts were generated from several of these interviews. Lille conducted most of the interviews.

May O'Donnell's career as a choreographer and dancer was also documented by interviews conducted by Lille from 1996 to 1997. The oral histories files hold transcripts generated for part of the year 1996.

Additional information about O'Donnell's career was located in the writing files which holds notes about her dance techniques. The printed matter files hold programs and playbills that feature her career as a dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company; as a solo performer; and the founder and choreographer of the May O'Donnell Dance Company.