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Creator
Chase, Lucia, 1897-1986
Call number
(S) *MGZMD 51
Physical description
7 document boxes 285 folders
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Lucia Chase Papers, (S)*MGZMD 51, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

The Lucia Chase papers span the years ca. 1899 to 1982 and are divided into two main series: personal correspondence, diaries, financial records, and miscellany; and business correspondence, company and financial records, and miscellany.

Biographical/historical information

Lucia Hosmer Chase Ewing was born March 24, 1897 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Irving Hall Chase, President of Waterbury Clock Company, and Elizabeth Hosmer Kellogg Chase. Lucia was the middle child of five sisters: Marjorie, Eleanor (Mrs. Charles P. Taft), Elizabeth I. (Mrs. John Griffith Davies), and Dorothy (Mrs. Edward Carmody).

Lucia was educated at St. Margaret's School and Bryn Mawr College. She then moved to New York City to study theatre at the Theatre Guild School, and ballet with Mikhail Mordkin.

On December 28, 1926 she married Thomas Ewing, Jr., heir to the Alexander Smith & Sons Carpet Company fortune. They had two sons: Thomas III, and Alexander Cochran. Thomas, Jr. died of pneumonia in 1933; Thomas III died in a boating accident near Block Island, Rhode Island in 1963.

After her husband's death Lucia resumed her studies with Mordkin, making her dancing debut with his company in 1937. She rose to the rank of principal dancer and remained as such when the company became the Ballet Theatre in 1940.

Along with Oliver Smith, Lucia Chase was named co-director of Ballet Theatre (renamed American Ballet Theatre in 1957) in 1945, a position she held until 1980. She continued to perform well into the 1970s and was also one of the company's major financial supporters from its beginning as the Mordkin Ballet until her death on January 9, 1986.

Scope and arrangement

The Lucia Chase papers span the years ca. 1899 to 1982 and are divided into two main series: personal correspondence, diaries, financial records, and miscellany; and business correspondence, company and financial records, and miscellany.

The Lucia Chase papers are arranged in three series:

  • I. Personal

    The personal correspondence series comprises 359 items and consists mainly of letters between Lucia and members of her immediate family. The largest number of these include Lucia's letters to her mother, Elizabeth Hosmer Kellogg Chase, and letters to Lucia from her father, Irving Hall Chase, two of her sisters, Dorothy “Dee” Carmody, and Elizabeth “E. I.” or “Lizette” Davies, and both of her sons, Thomas III and Alexander “Sandy.”

    This series also contains eleven diaries written by Lucia between the years 1914 and 1968. Six of these are of a personal nature, and the other five are journals kept while on various tours with the Ballet Theatre.

    There are an additional eighty letters requesting personal favors or extending invitations to various benefits, parties, etc.

  • II. Business

    Lucia Chase's personal financial papers contain detailed information on her many investments as well as more minor household bills and receipts.

    The business correspondence constitutes the largest subseries (ca. 600 items). It is arranged alphabetically and includes letters to Lucia from Irina Baronova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Agnes de Mille, Anton Dolin, Cynthia Gregory, Doris Humphrey, Michael Kidd, Lincoln Kirstein, Hugh Laing, José Limón, Oliver Smith, Antony Tudor, and E. Virginia Williams among others. The correspondence from Charles Payne, a member of the company's Board of Directors, and Peter Lawrence, an executive manager of the company during the 1940s, is quite extensive.

    In addition, this series includes ninety items of business correspondence not written by or to Lucia Chase, as well as documents relating to various aspects of the operation of the Ballet Theatre Foundation, miscellaneous promotional and production information, scenarios, itineraries, and financial records. The latter document both Lucia Chase's part in supporting the company, as well as more general company payrolls, proposals, budgets, and statements.

  • III. Miscellany
    7 folders

    The papers also contain two ledger/address books from the Mordkin Ballet School (1934-1936) and a 1936 program autographed by Mikhail Mordkin.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Gift. Estate of Lucia Chase. Received: 1986.

Processing information

Processed by Amy Taylor Alpers.

Separated material

The following items were received with the original gift but have been separated from the manuscript collection. The current location of these items (as of June 30, 1989) is indicated.

  • 1 scrapbook - John Kriza: In Memoriam - Location: *MGZEB 88-746
  • 2 scrapbooks - U.S. and Canadian tour: Mordkin Ballet Company (material relating to the career of Chase) - Location: *MGZRS 88-745 (2 vols.)
  • 4 stage and 2 costume designs by Eugene Berman - Location: *MGZGB Ber E U 1-6
  • 1 book - Sovremennyi Baletby Valerian Ivchenko - Location: *MGT-Res. 88-742
  • 3 cartons of clippings - Location: *MGZRA (Basement) 88-774
  • ca. 900 photographs (see attached description) - Location: *MGZEA (in process)
  • 3 reels of audiotape - Location: in process
  • 15 reels of film - Location: in process
  • 16 cartons of costumes (see attached inventory) - Location: stored in basement
  • 2 souvenir programs - “April in Paris Ball” - Location: *MGZB++89-5554
  • 1 etching by Troy Kinney - Location: *MGZFB (in process)
  • 1 book - Studies from the Russian Balletby E. O. Hoppe (autographed to Chase by Adolph Bolm, 1940) - Location: *MGT+
  • 4 posters - Location: in process

Notable photographers represented by the collection include Maurice Seymour and Delar. There are a large number of studio shots, mainly of Lucia Chase, which are particularly useful for documenting the costumes. There are also ca. 50 oversized photographs, some of which are matted, including 4 signed by George Maillard Kesslere, and 3 by Dwight Godwin. In addition, there are 5 framed and inscribed photographs, plus numerous formal, informal, and performance snapshots.

  • Russian costume--gold humoresque: sequined headpiece with veil and ribbons gold dress with sequins green and purple dress with gold braid rose and purple dress with gold braid
  • costumes--yellow gypsy old-fashioned blue and silver blue velvet gown with beading yellow silk sash pastel blue and pink bodiced gown with silver lace and flower buds and pantaloons
  • costume--pink bodice lace skirt, hat, parasol, and music: pastel chiffon layered, pieced skirt music(?) pink and lace dress with flowers parasol--pink ruffled bra with silver and lame and pink net
  • Mazurka Aurora B Rhapsody: yellow and orange chiffon dress with sequins fushia with gold “oriental” dress
  • Bird costume: gold headpiece with yellow and turquoise feathers gold with net (yellow and blue) skirt gold bra
  • S. B. white chiffon Arinsky--gold train: fushia and white chiffon costume with beading and gold train
  • Embroidery: Fushia and black embroidered skirt seven assorted embroidered accessories (girdle-belts, pantaloons, hats)
  • unlabelled: Black velvet hat with metallic beads and sequins yellow satin gloves red, white, and blue banner memento “doileys” painted red and white striped gloves and scarf aqua painted memento scarf three pairs pointe shoes
  • silver wig: just... with jewelled crown and necklace
  • Russian fantasy costume: peach jewelled dress with hat and bows
  • unlabelled: fushia and gold pillbox flower garland yellow bow
  • unlabelled: kimono with obi and accessories approx. twenty misc. performance hats, shoes, wraps, belts, girdles
  • unlabelled: one dress with black chiffon skirt, gold fleur de lis applique, rust velvet bodier and blue and gold striped sleeves
  • 1 tiara
  • 1 beaded necklace
  • 1 pair black leotards
  • three pairs pink points shoes

Using the collection

Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor