This collection is located on-site.
Photographs, press releases, press clippings, correspondence, office memos, programs, posters and other types of marketing materials.
Series I: The Dance Theatre of Harlem Story
Series 1 reveals the complete Dance Theatre of Harlem "story" from its inception in 1969 under the direction of Founder and Director, Arthur Mitchell, through the announcement of the retirement of Virginia Johnson (Mr. Mitchell's successor as Artistic Director) in 2022. Included are company and school photos, press releases, Playbill and other performance programs, press reviews, feature stories, marketing collateral (including The Dance Theatre of Harlem's Quarterly Newsletter), various awards and honors bestowed on Arthur Mitchell, and the obituaries of both Arthur Mitchell and Co-Founder and Associate Director, Karel Shook.
Series II: The "Chicago Benefit" and "An Afternoon with The Hon. Edward W. Brooke (R-MA)"
Series II focuses on "The Chicago Benefit" and the "Afternoon with The Honorable Edward W. Brooke"— two fundraising events conceived and launched on the Dance Theatre of Harlem's behalf in 1974 by Karyn J. Taylor. It contains Chicago Benefit-related marketing collateral, press releases, press coverage, dance reviews, photos, and memos between Ms. Taylor, the Dance Theatre of Harlem staff, and the Chicago Benefit Committee. These items provide insight into the conception, launch, and management of a successful fundraising campaign and highlight a bit of Chicago history as well: The Chicago Benefit marked the first time that two of Chicago's most prominent African-American business tycoons—John H. Johnson, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines, and George Johnson, inventor of the popular black haircare line, Afrosheen—put aside their long-standing rivalry to join forces in support of a Black arts organization. That might not seem all that newsworthy now, but in 1974 that was big news in Chicago, and it made the headlines.
Series III: Feature Stories and Marketing Collateral
Series III contains oversized souvenir programs, fold-out posters, the Dance Theatre of Harlem - and sponsor-produced large-format marketing collateral, and dance world periodicals containing both cover and/or feature stories on the Dance Theatre of Harlem company and its principal dancers.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
Single reproductions may be made for research purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to secure permission for publication or use from the appropriate copyright holder.
Martha Swope's copyright holder is the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.
Marbeth's copyright holder is ChromaDiverse, Inc., a 501 C-3 organization dedicated to helping arts organizations preserve their legacies.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Karyn J. Taylor Dance Theatre of Harlem Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Arthur Mitchell Collection Columbia University Libraries
Nancy Schaffenburg papers Columbia University Libraries
Frank Bara Collection Columbia University Libraries
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processed by Karyn J. Taylor and Vianca Victor
Karyn J. Taylor studied dance at the Dance Theatre of Harlem in the early 1970s. As a scholarship student, she was assigned to the Public Relations Office, where she worked a wide variety of publicity and fundraising projects, including the "Chicago Benefit" which brought together two longtime rivals of Chicago's Black business community: John J. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company, and George Johnson, inventor of Afrosheen hair care products. She also wrote and edited the DTH quarterly newsletter. After leaving DTH in 1972, she continued to collect memorabilia related to the organization and its many endeavors.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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