SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND ARCHIVES Doris Humphrey Collection, 1915-2008, Part II An Inventory (In Process) Creator: Nicolas, Minos G. Title: Doris Humphrey Collection, 1915-2008, Part II Dates: 1915-2008 Abstract: Notes, correspondence, sheet music, videos, photographs, and other materials related to Minos G. Nicolas’s work in modern dance, particularly in restaging works by Doris Humphrey and other modern dance pioneers. Extent: 17.6 linear feet Language: Predominantly English, with some documents in German and Greek. Repository: Goucher College Special Collections and Archives Call #: MS 0043 Biographical Sketch A modern dance director, choreographer, and performer, Minos (“Mino”) George Nicolas was born on October 22, 1955. He is especially well-known for his work in restaging the dances of Doris Humphrey (1895-1958). A graduate of Towson State University, Nicolas earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology but took several dance classes at Towson and Goucher as well. Through this, he developed a strong interest in modern dance. In 1975, he founded the American Dance Heritage Company, which focused on staging early twentieth-century works by modern dance pioneers such as Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, and Doris Humphrey. He also choreographed original works and won the 1976 New York Creative Choreographers Competition. Throughout his career, Nicolas has focused on modern dance repertory with roles in numerous dance companies. Most notably, he directed the Philadelphia Dance Theatre (later called the American Repertory Dance Theatre) in the late 1980s and the Doris Humphrey Repertory Company in the mid-1990s. With the latter, he was actively involved in the 1995 Doris Humphrey Centennial Celebration. Nicolas’s expertise with staging the works of Doris Humphrey is internationally renowned, and he has served as a guest artist or visiting professor at colleges and universities throughout the world. The process he uses to reconstruct her dances involves not only the dance notation (when available), but also early film footage and consultations with those who danced with or under the direction of Doris Humphrey. This has at times been controversial, as he has not always MS 0043, Page 1 precisely followed the original dance notation or the dancers’ memories. His research, however, has enabled the restaging of several dances previously considered “lost.” In addition to dances by Doris Humphrey, Nicolas has restaged works by Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Isadora Duncan, José Limón, Eleanor King, and others. Nicolas currently serves as one of the artistic directors for the Doris Humphrey Foundation for Dance, which has been located at Goucher College since 2008. Scope and Contents The Collection is arranged in seven series. Series I, Personal Records, is divided into two subseries. Subseries A includes materials related to Nicolas’s education and other mixed documents. Subseries B consists of notes and drafts for a book on Doris Humphrey’s works. Series II, Professional Records, is divided into five subseries. Subseries A, Correspondence and Letters of Agreement, is arranged by correspondent or subject and then chronologically. Subseries B, Choreography Notes and Instructions, includes handwritten notes and diagrams, photocopies of articles and book excerpts, and photographs. It is divided into two parts. Part 1 consists of Doris Humphrey’s choreographed works, arranged alphabetically. Part 2 consists of other choreographers’ works, arranged alphabetically by last name and then by title. Subseries C-E contain materials related to specific dance performances and events, arranged chronologically by dance company or venue. Materials include lighting design and other production notes (C), programs (D), and clippings (E). Series III, Background and Research Materials, consists of articles, book excerpts, conference proceedings, finding aids, and webpages on choreographers and dancers (A), music and composers (B), and other people (C). Each subseries is arranged alphabetically by last name, with items on pieces of music filed under the composer’s name. Series IV, Historical Ephemera and Clippings, is divided into two subseries. Subseries A contains programs from dance performances, dating from 1915 to 1965. Subseries B contains clippings of dance performance reviews and other related articles, as well as full issues of dance magazines, dating from 1924 to 1950. Both subseries are arranged chronologically. Series V, Music, contains both recordings and sheet music. Subseries A, Recordings, is divided into audiotapes and CDs and then alphabetically by the alpha-numeric code found on the cases. Subseries B, Sheet Music, and C, Oversized Sheet Music, are each divided into two parts and arranged alphabetically. In both subseries, Part 1 contains pieces for Humphrey’s dances and Part 2 contains pieces for other choreographers’ dances. Series VI, Videos, consists of 3/4 videotapes, VHS tapes, and DVDs. It is arranged in four subseries. Subseries A consists of published videos and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subseries B, Performances of Humphrey’s Works, Mixed, is arranged first by size and then chronologically. These videos present multiple Humphrey works or works by Humphrey and other choreographers. Videos of individual pieces choreographed by Doris Humphrey are MS 0043, Page 2 arranged alphabetically in Subseries C. Subseries D, Other Choreographers’ Works and Related Materials, is arranged alphabetically by choreographer, with unknown works at the end. Series VII, Mixed Materials, is divided into three subseries. Subseries A, Images, consists of drawings and photographs, mainly of dancers. Subseries B, Mixed Oversized Documents, includes scrapbook pages, large programs, and documents related to teaching dance and is arranged chronologically. Subseries C contains a costume from the Ballet Russe. Organization of the Collection Series I. Personal Records Subseries A. Mixed Materials Subseries B. Notes for a Book on Doris Humphrey’s Works Series II. Professional Records Subseries A. Correspondence and Letters of Agreement Subseries B. Choreography Notes and Instructions Part 1. Doris Humphrey’s Works Part 2. Other Choreographers’ Works Subseries C. Lighting Design and Other Production Notes Subseries D. Programs Subseries E. Clippings Series III. Background and Research Materials Subseries A. Choreographers and Dancers Subseries B. Music and Composers Subseries C. Other Series IV. Historical Ephemera and Clippings Subseries A. Programs Subseries B. Clippings and Magazines Series V. Music Subseries A. Recordings Subseries B. Sheet Music Part 1. For Doris Humphrey’s Works Part 2. For Other Choreographers’ Works Subseries C. Oversized Sheet Music Part 1. For Doris Humphrey’s Works Part 2. For Other Choreographers’ Works Series VI. Videos Subseries A. Published Subseries B. Performances of Humphrey’s Works, Mixed Subseries C. Performances of Humphrey’s Works, Individual Pieces Subseries D. Other Choreographers’ Works and Related Materials Series VII. Mixed Materials Subseries A. Images Subseries B. Mixed Oversized Documents Subseries C. Costume MS 0043, Page 3 Restrictions Open for research. Index Terms People Humphrey, Doris Woodford, Charles Humphrey Nicolas, Minos G. King, Eleanor Morgan, Barbara Killman, Renate Louis, Murray Sherman, Jane Sokolow, Anna Bettis, Valerie Shawn, Ted St. Denis, Ruth Wigman, Mary Limón, José Graham, Martha Holm, Hanya Weidman, Charles Duncan, Isadora Rand, Sally Organizations American Dance Heritage (Baltimore) American Contemporary Dance Company Washington Dance Theatre Philadelphia Dance Theatre Mino Nicolas Dance Gallery Momenta! Doris Humphrey Repertory Dance Company Subjects Modern Dance History Modern Dance Reconstructions Document Types Correspondence Notes Drawings Pamphlets Clippings MS 0043, Page 4 Magazine Issues Lighting plots Photographs Sheet Music Music Recordings (audiocassette, CD) Videos (3/4, VHS, DVD) Related Material Doris Humphrey Collection, 1915-2008, Part I, (MS 0042), Special Collections & Archives, Goucher College Doris Humphrey Collection, 1811-1952, Dance Collection, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Doris Humphrey Letters, 1898-1941, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Doris Humphrey Papers, 1925-1958, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Administrative Information Acquisition Minos G. Nicolas, 2008.015-017, 2009.024, 2010.001. The Collection was donated in 2008 with the establishment of the Doris Humphrey Foundation for Dance at Goucher College. Donors Charles H. Woodford and Minos G. Nicolas both contributed archival materials to establish a Doris Humphrey Collection at Goucher College. While it is being processed, Mr. Nicolas’ collection is currently named the Doris Humphrey Collection, Part II. • An additional donation was made in 2012 and has not yet been processed. Processor Krista Gray, 2011 Preferred Citation Doris Humphrey Collection, 1915-2008, Part II, (MS 0043), Special Collections & Archives, Goucher College MS 0043, Page 5 Container List Series I. Personal Records Subseries A. Mixed Materials Container 1 Folder 1: Choreography courses, 1970s and 1980s. Syllabi, readings, and notes. Folder 2: Towson State University transcript for Minas [sic] George Nicolas, issued October 1980. Folder 3: Notebook with notes for various events/dances. Folder 4: Program for the Testimonial Banquet in Honor of U.S. Senator Paul Sarabanes Sponsored by the Lord