Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.music/perform.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2013568040
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
Gift; Daniel Nagrin; 2008.
No further accruals are expected.
The Daniel Nagrin Collection was processed and a finding aid created by Elizabeth Aldrich in 2011. Melissa Evans created the inventory of moving images and sound recordings. Sarah Lindblom edited the finding aid in 2013. The finding aid was coded for EAD format by George Kipper in December 2013.
Approximately 1,000 moving images (dating from 1948-2001) and sound recordings from the Daniel Nagrin Collection have been transferred to the Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division. An inventory of this material is available in the Music Division's collection file.
The Jerome Robbins Dance Division of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts holds the Daniel Nagrin Papers, 1920-1996, which contain materials relating to Nagrin's career.
The following collections held by the Library of Congress Music Division contain materials related to Daniel Nagrin and Helen Tamiris: New Dance Group Collection, Muriel Manings and William Korff Collection, the Lester Horton Dance Theater Collection, Sophie Maslow Collection, Larry Warren Collection (for materials related to Anna Sokolow, dance and social protest), Victoria Phillips Collection, and the Federal Theater Project Collection (for materials related to Helen Tamiris).
Materials from the Daniel Nagrin Collection are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
The Daniel Nagrin Collection is open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Daniel Nagrin Collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
The Daniel Nagrin Collection spans the years 1920-2006, with the bulk of the material dating from 1960-2005. The papers are in English and are organized into the following series: Helen Tamiris Materials, Music, Choreographic Notes, Dance Technique Notes, Iconography, Correspondence, Scrapbook, Interviews with Daniel Nagrin, Marketing Materials, Programs, Arizona State University, Production Elements, The Workgroup, Published and Unpublished Writings, Business and Personal Papers, Fundraising, and Subject Files.
Although materials on Helen Tamiris are woven throughout the collection, seven boxes are dedicated specifically to her career, forming the Helen Tamiris Materials series. Helen Tamiris (1905-1966), Nagrin's first wife, was an American dancer, choreographer, teacher, and theater director. She was instrumental in the development and acceptance of modern dance into musical theater. In addition to her work in concert dance, Tamiris choreographed numerous Broadway musicals, including
The Music series consists of holograph and published scores primarily used by Nagrin for his choreographic works. They are arranged in alphabetical order by name of composer. Holograph scores include works by Eugene Lester, Robert Starer, and Genevieve Pitot, as well as original transparencies for a work by Cecil Taylor. This series also holds the published piano score, with lyrics, of Harold Rome's "Fanny," from the Broadway musical of the same name, which was choreographed by Tamiris. The score includes a note to Tamiris, and is signed by Rome. Much of the music includes choreographic notes.
The Choreographic Notes series includes Nagrin's notes for sixteen concert, film, and stage works. It also includes stage directions for dramatic works, and some correspondence and programs. It is arranged alphabetically by name of work. Choreographic notes are also found in the Music and Workgroup series.
The Dance Technique Notes series contains outlines, notes, and choreographic and improvisational exercises for Nagrin's classes. It also includes extensive information on his improvisational company, the Workgroup (see also the Workgroup series).
The Iconography series contains publicity, performance, rehearsal and teaching photographs of Nagrin, Tamiris, and their dances. It includes images of Tamiris and Nagrin, alone and with others, both in performance and in non-performance shots. Photographers include Edward Steichen and Thomas Bouchard. The series also holds contact sheets, negatives, and slides.
The Correspondence series contains letters from numerous luminaries in the dance and theater worlds, including Merce Cunningham, Molissa Fenley, Bill T. Jones, David Dorfman, Barton Mumaw, Richard Bull, Mary Anthony, and Sam Shepard. The folder holding correspondence from the 1990s contains numerous drafts and copies of letters sent by Nagrin to a variety of dance critics in which he expresses profound anger regarding critics' writing on modern dance. Additional correspondence is found in the following series: Dance Technique Notes, Scrapbook, Workgroup, Business and Personal Papers, Fundraising, and Subject Files.
The Scrapbook series consists of one volume containing clippings, correspondence, programs, articles, and reviews spanning 1950-1958. It includes significant material on Helen Tamiris. Items of interest include materials on Nagrin as an actor in
The Interviews with Daniel Nagrin series contains transcripts of interviews, primarily from the 1980s. Subjects include the syntax of performing and acting technique for dance performance.
The Marketing Materials series contains posters, flyers, press releases, periodicals, clippings, and programs relating to Tamiris and Nagrin performances, lectures, and classes. There are also items concerning the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company and Nagrin's improvisational company, the Workgroup. Of particular interest is an article by Tamiris in
The Programs series is one of the largest series in the collection and spans 1941-2005. It contains programs from both Nagrin and Tamiris's careers, as well as from the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company.
The Arizona State University series relates to Nagrin's tenure there as professor of dance from 1982-1992. The materials include course outlines for classes in jazz, choreography, and philosophy; student notes; and items relating to administrative matters.
The Production Elements series includes light cues, prop lists, technical requirements, production schedules and dramaturge notes for Nagrin works
The Workgroup was an improvisational company founded by Nagrin in 1969. It was open to choreographers, intermediate and advanced dancers, musicians, composers, filmmakers, and playwrights. This series includes choreographic notes, class exercises, improvisational notes, publicity materials, correspondence, and essays.
The Published and Unpublished Writings series is divided into three subseries. The Articles and Notes by Daniel Nagrin subseries includes many of Nagrin's serious pieces such as "The Creative Method of Tamiris," "The Curses of Lincoln Kirstein," "Hazards Facing Students of Choreography," and "Thoughts on Present Day Teaching of Technique," and lighter fare, such as his essay (using the name Daniel von Labanagrin) entitled "The Dichotomies Which Mark Out the Limits of Movement and Imply the Possible Points Between." A second subseries consists of Articles by Others. The third subseries, Books Published by Daniel Nagrin, features materials relating to his books,
The Business and Personal Papers series includes a mix of professional and personal materials. There are bylaws and other legal papers relating to the Daniel Nagrin Theatre, Film and Dance Foundation. In addition, the series includes business papers for the Tamiris-Nagrin Dance Company. Other business materials include contracts, touring information, tax forms, board of directors minutes, agendas, and correspondence. The personal papers include Nagrin's military service papers, his calendars and personal notebooks, and extensive biographical information.
The Fundraising series includes extensive files on Nagrin's National Endowment for the Arts applications and awards from 1972-1990. He was an early recipient of the Endowment's Dance Touring Program awards and these materials highlight the early years of the program. The series also contains his applications to the New York State Council on the Arts from 1970-1982. Together these grant applications provide an excellent view of Nagrin's professional career and the health of his dance company. For more detail on Nagrin's touring, see the Subject Files series, under the subseries Geographical Locations.
Nagrin's Subject Files are subdivided into two subseries: General and Geographical Locations. The first contains files on various individuals, organizations, and subjects, arranged in alphabetical order. The second holds materials, including correspondence, programs, reviews, and publicity materials, related to Nagrin's touring throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Mexico. In most cases, Nagrin organized these files alphabetically by name of state, and by city therein, rather than by the name of institution or performance venue.
The Daniel Nagrin Collection is organized in seventeen series:
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2013568040
Transcripts, clippings, correspondence, autobiographical materials, stage directions, choreographic and class notes, writings, conference materials.
Holograph and published scores primarily used by Nagrin for his choreographic works. Many scores include choreographic notes.
Arranged alphabetically by last name of composer, and alphabetically by title of work therein.
Arranged alphabetically by title of work.
Outlines, notes, and choreographic and improvisational exercises for Nagrin's classes.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Publicity, performance, rehearsal and teaching photographs of Nagrin, Tamiris and their dances. Includes contact sheets, negatives, and slides.
Organized into two subseries and arranged alphabetically by title or subject.
Correspondence from numerous luminaries in the dance and theater worlds.
Arranged chronologically by decade.
The scrapbook contains clippings, correspondence, programs, articles, and reviews on Nagrin and Tamiris.
Transcripts of interviews.
Arranged chronologically.
Posters, flyers, press releases, periodicals, clippings, and programs for Nagrin and Tamiris performances, lectures, and classes.
Arranged chronologically.
Includes outlines for classes in jazz, choreography, and philosophy; student notes; and items relating to administrative matters.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Includes light cues, prop lists, technical requirements, production schedules, correspondence and dramaturge notes relating to Nagrin's works.
Choreographic notes, class exercises, improvisational notes, publicity materials, correspondence, and essays.
Organized into three subseries and arranged alphabetically by author or title.
Correspondence, research, permissions, illustrations, and drafts of his books.
Bylaws, legal papers, contracts, touring information, tax forms, board of directors minutes, agendas, correspondence, Nagrin's military service papers, his calendars and personal notebooks, and extensive biographical information.
Includes National Endowment for the Arts and New York State Council on the Arts applications and awards, and other foundation, grant, and fundraising materials.
Correspondence, programs, reviews, and publicity materials relating to various individuals, organizations, subjects, and to Nagrin's touring throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Mexico.
Organized in two subseries and arranged alphabetically by subject.