Josephine Schwarz Papers
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MS-218, Josephine Schwarz Papers Collection Number: MS-218 Title: Josephine Schwarz Papers Dates: 1876-2004 Creator: Schwarz, Josephine, 1908-2004 Summary/Abstract: The Josephine Schwarz Papers consist of a collection of the personal correspondence, photographs, writings, and memorabilia of Josephine and, to a lesser extent, the personal papers of her sister Hermene Schwarz. The collection encompasses a wide range of topics, including the Schwarz School of Dance, the Dayton Ballet, correspondence concerning dance and ballet- related issues, personal correspondence with family, friends, and students, her journals, diaries, and scrapbooks, ballet and family photographs, and memorabilia. Quantity/Physical Description: 28 linear feet Language(s): English, German Repository: Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435-0001, (937) 775-2092 Restrictions on Access: There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection, however, please note due to preservation concerns, original audio and video materials cannot be played in the reading room. Patrons may have access to reference copies. Items without reference copies can be digitized at the request of a patron for the cost of creating a digital copy. Please provide us at least two weeks advance notice if you would like to request an audio or video reference copy. Call (937) 775-2092 or e-mail us at [email protected]. Use of digitized content is subject to conditions governing use. Restrictions on Use: Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder. Existence and Location of Copies: A digital copy is available of a VHS tape in box 43, file 14 titled “Ballets Filmed by Charles W. Snyder” (ask at reference desk for ms218_e0001). In addition, a digital copy of a VHS tape in box 43, file 20 titled “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” with Gretchen Albrecht – Singing, Acting, Dancing is available (ask at reference desk for ms218_e0002). Preferred Citation: [Description of item, Date, Box #, Folder #], MS-218, Josephine Schwarz Papers, Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. Acquisition: This collection was donated to the Wright State University Special Collections and Archives in 1991 by Josephine Schwarz. Separated Material: Photos were separated from their albums for preservation purposes. Oversized materials are stored in a separate location. Revisions: Additions were made by Christa Streib. The collection was reorganized and further additions were made by John Armstrong, May 2001, June 2004 and March 2005. The finding aid was reformatted and additions were made by Victoria Penno, December 2013. Related Material: MS-48, Dayton Ballet Company MS-193, Schwarz Jane Reece Collection Processed by: Dorothy Smith and Lisa Priolisi, December 1991 Arrangement: This collection is divided into eleven series and eight subseries: Series I: Schwarz School of Dance, 1923-1995 Series II: Dayton Civic Ballet, 1930-2004 Series III: Correspondence, 1862-2004 Subseries IIIA: Dayton Ballet and Schwarz School Correspondence, 1920-1989 Subseries IIIB: Personal Correspondence from Students and Friends, 1927-2002 Subseries IIIC: Family Correspondence, 1862-2004 Subseries IIID: General Correspondence, 1991-2003 Series IV: Personal and Family Papers, 1876-2004 Series V: Published and Unpublished Materials, 1920-1999 Series VI: NEA Dance Advisory Panel, 1975-1981 Series VII: Hermene Schwarz Papers, 1921-1987 Series VIII: Scrapbooks, 1920-1994 Series IX: Journals and Diaries, 1916-2004 Series X: Audio and Visual Materials, 1876-2004 Subseries XA: Photographs, 1876-2004 Subseries XB: Cassette and Reel-to-Reel Tapes, 1953-1993 Subseries XC: 16MM Film and Video Tape, 1948-1998 Subseries XD: Phonograph Records, 1950-1959 Series XI: Memorabilia, 1880-2004 2 Biographical/Historical Note: Josephine Schwarz was born in Dayton, Ohio, on April 8, 1908, the fourth of five children to Joseph and Hannah Schwarz. Her eldest sister Hermene was born in 1902, followed by Milton in 1903, Babette in 1906, but she later died in 1909 from meningitis, and Gustave, Gus, in 1915. Hannah Schwarz took her daughters to see Anna Pavlova dance at Memorial Hall in Dayton, Ohio, when they were very young. Josephine, Miss Jo, as her friends, students, and colleagues have affectionately known her throughout her life, began her dance career in the Botts Dance Academy, a local school of dance. Her mother enrolled her in dance class to regain her strength after being bedridden with a severe case of the mumps. When her skill and desire outgrew her local teacher, she studied in Cincinnati, Ohio each Saturday. This proved to be expensive so Miss Jo opened a school of dance in her living room at the age of 14. Her sister Hermene played the piano. There were ten students and the lessons cost 10 cents each. This was how Jo earned the money for her own lessons. Hermene’s interest in learning how to dance grew and after high school she worked in a doctor’s office earning money for both Jo and her to go to Chicago. The sisters spent three summers in Chicago, studying and performing with Russian dancer Adolph Bolm, from the Russian Imperial Ballet, at the Bolm School of Dance. They became members of the Ravinia Opera Ballet Company. Both Miss Jo and Hermene traveled to Europe in the 1930’s to study at the Hellerau-Laxenberg School in Vienna, Austria. They also studied with modern dance pioneer Mary Wigman. Miss Jo performed in the Burg Theater in Vienna and also toured with Bolm’s “Ballet Intime” while in Europe. Josephine and Hermene founded the Schwarz School of Dance in Dayton in 1927. Hermene was the accompanist for the classes when the school began, but soon became teacher, designer of costumes, scenery builder, wardrobe manager, and official photographer. The Schwarz School was one of the first to combine modern dance and ballet training for all students. Miss Jo continued to pursue a performance career and studied with George Balanchine at the new School of American Ballet in New York City in 1934. She studied at the school for three years under Balanchine, as well as with modern dancers Charles Weidmann and Doris Humphrey. She performed professionally on Broadway with the Humphrey-Weidmann Theater Company and was a solo dancer with the Broadway show, “Life Begins at 8:40.” Bother Hermene and Miss Jo presented many concerts in various cities. Hermene continued to run the Schwarz School in Miss Jo’s absence. Miss Jo’s performance career ended in 1937 with a disabling knee injury. Miss Jo returned to Dayton and rejoined her sister Hermene at the Schwarz School of Dance. The sisters expanded the school and established the Experimental Group for Young Dancers. The group included dancers of various ages, backgrounds, and experience. Most were trained in the Schwarz School. Its purpose was to provide the school’s more advanced dancers an opportunity to gain performance experience by presenting concerts to local organizations. They performed ballets in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. Miss Jo gave lectures and demonstration programs for groups in Dayton. Hermene was also director in charge of group 3 activities for the Dayton Recreation Bureau. She organized the first ballet classes at the Linden Center. Hermene took a leave of absence from the school in 1943 and became the first girl in Dayton to serve as a Red Cross occupational therapist in England and France during World War II. After three weeks of training in Washington, D.C., she spent 3 ½ years overseas mostly working in hospitals with wounded servicemen. Hermene received two citations, one from President Roosevelt for her service in the Normandy invasion, and the other from the captain of the ship which brought her back to America, for her help with the wounded. Following the war, Hermene continued her Red Cross service work at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C., lecturing and doing therapy work. While Hermene was serving in Europe, Miss Jo was performing with her group for the Service Club and Base Hospital. During this time, the Experimental Group for Young Dancers performed for two opera seasons with Metropolitan Opera stars at Memorial Hall and with the Symphony Pop Concerts. The group also performed with the Frigidaire shows from 1945 to 1950. Miss Jo also taught classes at the Harmon Avenue School. By 1952, Hermene was back in Dayton and in full swing in her roles as dancer, teacher, costume designer, and photographer for the Schwarz School of Dance. The Experimental Group for Young Dancers expanded and evolved into the Dayton Civic Ballet, a nationally known regional dance company. It was the second regional dance company to be established in the United States. Josephine and Hermene continued to run the Schwarz School of Dance until 1984, when it became the Dayton Ballet Dance Center under the Dayton Ballet Association. This merged with the Jon Rodriguez School of Ballet in 1988 and became known as the Dayton Ballet School. The Schwarz School of Dance reached the community through municipal shows, local television productions, benefits, Brown Bag Ballets for workers and shoppers in downtown Dayton, and thousands of school programs. Many of Miss Jo’s students went on to becoming outstanding performers in the world’s major ballet and modern dance companies. Jeraldyne Blunden, and Schwarz School of Dance alumna, founded the internationally acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and credited Miss Jo with opening up dance to African Americans in the 1940’s. Miss Jo was also responsible for beginning the annual Regional Dance America Performance/Choreographic Conferences that bring together ballet directors and their students to discuss and collaborate on choreography for their companies. Josephine was an active member of the dance community on a national level. She served as a member of the Dance Advisory Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in 1978 and 1979 and worked tirelessly to obtain funding for regional dance companies from the NEA.