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Creator
Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964
Call number
*MGZKA 14-6754
Physical description
2.1 linear feet (5 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Carl Van Vechten Slides, *MGZKA 14-6754. Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.
Portions of this collection have been digitized and are available online.

The Carl Van Vechten Slides collection contains approximately 2,800 color slides of dancers (primarily ballet) photographed by Carl Van Vechten in his studio, from 1940 to 1964.

Biographical/historical information

Author, critic and photographer Carl Van Vechten (1880-1964) was born to a wealthy family in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He moved to New York City in 1906 and worked as a music critic for The New York Times and later became its first modern dance critic. Van Vechten also photographed many African-American artists and performers, as well as ethnic dancers. He died in his sleep in New York City at age 84.

Scope and arrangement

The Carl Van Vechten Slides collection contains approximately 2,800 mounted color slides, mostly of dancers (primarily ballet), photographed by Carl Van Vechten in his studio, from 1940 to 1964. Some modern, African-American, ethnic dancers, and choreographers are also included. Dancers are usually dressed in costumes from ballets or other dances, but costumes were sometimes improvised or devised by Van Vechten. There are also some frontispieces, such as posters, still life objects and outdoor scenes.

A few performers and choreographers in the collection include Agnes de Mille, Anton Dolin, Katherine Dunham, Martha Graham, Nora Kaye, Hugh Laing, Avon Long, Alicia Markova, Pearl Primus, Ni Gusti Raka, Bill Robinson, Donald Saddler, Paul Taylor, and Carmen Vasquez. Costume designer Barbara Karinska, impresario Lincoln Kirstein and lighting designer Jean Rosenthal are also among Van Vechten's subjects.

Slides of Violette Verdy were photographed by Saul Mauriber, Van Vechten's assistant.

Arrangement

Alphabetically by name or title.

Administrative information

Processing information

Compiled by Camille Croce Dee, 2015

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

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Dance Division at dance@nypl.org.