Marguerite Portnoff collection of Ida Levin ephemera

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Portnoff, Marguerite
Title
Marguerite Portnoff collection of Ida Levin ephemera
Quantity
2 items (1 folder)
Collection Number
4427 (Accession No. 4427-001)
Summary
Ida Levin (born 1907) was a dancer from Seattle, Washington who continued her professional career in New York. The Marguerite Portnoff collection of Ida Levin ephemera consists of photocopies of a 1925 newspaper clipping and a flyer relating to the Benefit Dance Recital organized by the Vocational Scholarship Committee of the National Council of Jewish Women on behalf of the young dance student.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Ida Levin (born 1907) was a dancer from Seattle, Washington who continued her professional career in New York. Levin started her dance training at the Cornish School and continued her study with Mary Ann Wells in Seattle for four years before moving to New York. In 1925, the Vocational Scholarship Committee of the Seattle Section of the National Council of Jewish Women recognized Levin's exceptional talent in dance by awarding her a scholarship to continue her studies. To raise funds to support this scholarship, a benefit performance was held at the auditorium of Temple De Hirsch on June 13th, 1925. Levin was one of the earliest recipients. Her recital included various dance forms and was arranged by Wells. As a result of these efforts, she was able to go to New York and study ballet with Michel Fokine for one year. She also studied with Albertina Rasch, joined the Albertina Rasch Dancers, and toured with them throughout the United States. While in New York, she used Ida Lanvin as her stage name and appeared as a dancer in Broadway musicals, including Rufus LeMaire's Affairs (1927) and the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927 (1927-1928). Levin's parents, who were immigrants from Russia, also relocated to New York, along with her sisters Sadie and Marguerite (later Marguerite Portnoff); by 1930 the entire family was living together in Brooklyn.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Marguerite Portnoff collection of Ida Levin ephemera consists of photocopies of a newspaper clipping from theSeattle Daily Times(June 21, 1925) and a flyer for the 1925 Benefit Dance Recital organized by the Vocational Scholarship Committee of the National Council of Jewish Women. The clipping includes a reproduction of a photograph of Levin by Wayne Albee and a caption providing a brief introduction of her as a dancer. The newspaper item describes her as "Ida Levin," while she is billed on the flyer as "Ida Levine."

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

The collection consists entirely of photocopies.

Formerly titled Marguerite Portnoff papers.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Portnoff's literary rights transferred to the U.W. Libraries.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donated by Marguerite Portnoff, 9/1/1993.

Processing Note

Processing completed in 2012.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Benefit performances--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dance recitals--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dance--Scholarships, fellowships, etc.--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Dancers--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jewish girls--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Jews--United States--Charities
  • Women in charitable work--Washington (State)--Seattle

Personal Names

  • Levin, Ida, b. 1907
  • Portnoff, Marguerite (creator)
  • Wells, Mary Ann, . 1971

Corporate Names

  • National Council of Jewish Women. Seattle Section
  • Temple de Hirsch (Seattle, Wash.)

Geographical Names

  • Seattle (Wash.)--Social life and customs--20th century

Form or Genre Terms

  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Fliers (printed matter)
  • Photocopies
  • Photographs

Titles within the Collection

  • Seattle daily times (Seattle, Wash. : 1896)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Albee, Wayne (creator)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)