Scope and arrangement
The José Limón Papers mainly document the personal life of the Limóns during the 1930s and 1940s and the professional life of the Limóns from the 1940s until 1972. The Pauline Lawrence Limón Collection [(S) *MGZMD 15] is intrinsically linked with the José Limón Papers, and, as a whole, either collection can only be used effectively in conjunction with the other. In addition, the Doris Humphrey Collection [(S) *MGZMC-Res. 3] includes letters written by José Limón and by Pauline Lawrence, as well as other material pertaining to them.|||Personal letters in the José Limón Papers can be found from 1927 through 1972, but their length and the quantity of letters from certain correspondents decrease, for the most part, after the 1940s. A few correspondence series have been separated from the general yearly correspondence lists. These include all letters between José and Pauline Limón and letters written to Pauline Lawrence from Doris Humphrey, Humphrey Fry, Paul Love, Helen Mary Robinson, and Charles Humphrey Woodford. The majority of personal correspondence for José or Pauline Limón has been arranged by year, and each correspondent has been listed alphabetically by name.|||The professional correspondence, which spans forty years (1933 to 1972), has been sorted entirely by date with no index to or listing or correspondents. This series includes bills, contracts, and copies of letters sent by the Limóns, in addition to letters sent to them. Miscellaneous correspondence series have been identified in the “Series Description” and include letters from the Limóns' foster child, items related to property jointly owned by Charles Weidman and José Limón in the 1930s, and invitations to the White House.|||The remaining material in the manuscript collection breaks down into writings, professional material, legal documents and memorabilia, and financial records. Writings in the José Limón Papers include a hand-written, unpublished autobiography that chronicles Limón's life through 1942. Addresses, essays, and lectures written by Limón, by Doris Humphrey, and by others can also be found. In “Miscellaneous,” section VIII of the “Series Description,” are the daily calendars and diaries of the Limóns. They are particularly useful not only for dating events, but because José Limón often recorded in them his reactions to daily experiences—such as a performance by Charles Weidman or the difficulties of managing some of the company members or the ordeal of surgery for removal of cancerous tissue and organs. Frequently these entries are written in Spanish.|||Professional material in the José Limón Papers (other than the correspondence) consists of choreographic and production notes for works by José Limón and by Doris Humphrey, baggage inventories, costuming notes, press articles, program drafts, and tour/performance schedules. Most of this material pertains to José Limón and Company; there is only slight representation of the Humphrey-Weidman Company and José Limón's solo efforts before World War II.|||Legal documents and memorabilia include José Limón's high school diploma and yearbook, his four diplomas for honorary Ph.D.'s, awards, the Limóns' marriage license, passports, and visas. The last section of the collection contains financial records from 1948 to 1969. The material consists of cancelled checks, bank statements, paycheck stubs, and hotel bills. Any apparent gaps or missing items can undoubtedly be found in the financial sections of the Pauline Lawrence Limón Collection.|||Certain non-manuscript materials received with the original gift have been removed from the José Limón Papers. All newspaper and magazine articles, programs, posters, photographs, three-dimensional objects, and sheet music have been dispersed throughout the Dance Collection or given to the Music Division. A separation list, located at the end of the folder list, indicates the nature and disposition of these items.|||The following abbreviations are used throughout the folder list:
- JL - José Limón
- PLL - Pauline Lawrence Limón
- Misc - Miscellaneous
- n.d.- no date
The José Limón papers are arranged in nine series:
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Personal letters in the José Limón Papers can be found from 1927 through 1972, but their length and the quantity of letters from certain correspondents decrease, for the most part, after the 1940s. A few correspondence series have been separated from the general yearly correspondence lists. These include all letters between José and Pauline Limón and letters written to Pauline Lawrence from Doris Humphrey, Humphrey Fry, Paul Love, Helen Mary Robinson, and Charles Humphrey Woodford. The majority of personal correspondence for José or Pauline Limón has been arranged by year, and each correspondent has been listed alphabetically by name.
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Material includes diplomas and awards, the Limóns' marriage license, passports and visas, and José Limón's high school yearbook
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Articles written by people other than José Limón but found in his papers, including some written by Doris Humphrey
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1942-1970),
Material includes José Limón's and Pauline Lawrence Limón's daily calendars and diaries (1942-1970), addresses and calling cards, medical bills, and correspondence from the Limóns' accountants
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1948-1969
Material includes cancelled checks, bank statements, paycheck stubs, and hotel bills