Archives West Finding Aid
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Karen Irvin papers, 1929-1998
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Irvin, Karen, 1910?-1999
- Title
- Karen Irvin papers
- Dates
- 1929-1998 (inclusive)19291998
- Quantity
- 11.2 cubic ft. (13 boxes)
- Collection Number
- 4341
- Summary
- Dance instructor and longtime head of the dance department at Cornish School of the Allied Arts in Seattle.
- 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
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Born in Hastings, Pennsylvania, circa 1910, Karen Irvin moved with her family to Seattle, Washington at age 8. It was there that she began to study ballet with Caird Leslie, Lee Foley, and ultimately with Nellie Cornish of the Cornish School (now Cornish College of the Arts). She studied briefly in New York, then returned to the Northwest where she opened a ballet studio in West Seattle. Irvin joined the Cornish faculty in 1945, and in 1952 she became head of the Institution's dance department. Four years later, she co-founded Cornish Ballet -- an early contributor to the regional ballet movement -- with her longtime companion, Mea Hartman. Irvin headed the dance department at Cornish for 27 years, and was responsible for designing the College's dance degree program. She trained dancers for companies such as the Joffrey Ballet, Twyla Tharp Dance, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada, and worked to raise Seattle's stature in the dance world. Miss Irvin died of heart failure on March 2, 1999, at the age of 89.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Accession number 4341-4 primarily contains records from Cornish School of Allied Arts, where Karen Irvin was a dance instructor. Included in her personal papers are several letters written by former Cornish students.
Accession no. 4341-2 consists of costume and set designs by Malcolm Roberts for Cornish School ballet productions. All the boxes in this accession are oversized.
Accession no. 4341-5 contains phamplets, programs, letters, newspaper clipping, sheet music, and other ephemera related to the Cornish College of the Arts and various performances. Also includes attendance records from Ms. Irvin's dance classes.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Malcolm Roberts' rights were not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 3 accessions.
- Accession No. 4341-002, Karen Irvin papers, 1958-1964
- Accession No. 4341-004, Karen Irvin papers, 1945-1991
- Accession No. 4341-005, Karen Irvin Papers, 1940-1998
Acquisition Information
The papers in Accession no. 4341-4 were donated to the Libraries by Karen Irvin, June 30, 1992, and by Sheila C. Dietrich of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Feb. 16, 2000. Accession no. 4341-2 was received from the estate of Karen Irvin on November 17, 1999. Accession 4341-5 was donated by Karen Irvin on October 1, 2016.
Processing Note
Accession no. 4341-4 is a merger of accessions nos. 4341-1, 4341-3, and Cornish School programs extracted from no. 4341-2. Processing was completed in 2004. Accession 4341-2 was also processed in 2004.
Separated Materials
31 photographs related to Cornish School ballet productions were transferred to the division's photography collection from accession number 4341-2 in 2004.
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 4341-002: Karen Irvin papers, 1958-1964Return to Top
Scope and Content: Costume designs and set designs by Malcolm Roberts, related to Irvin's direction of the Cornish Ballet at the Cornish School in Seattle.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Some restrictions exist on copying, quotation or publication. Contact Repository for details.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Cornish School of Allied Arts
Production Files |
|||
box:oversize | Accession | ||
1 | 4341-002 |
West of the Moon
|
1958 |
1 | 4341-002 |
Spectrum
|
undated |
2 | 4341-002 |
L'Etoile Filante
|
1963 |
3-4 | 4341-002 |
Album in the Attic
|
1964 |
5 | 4341-002 |
Wasps
|
1956 |
5 | 4341-002 |
Marmalade
|
undated |
5 | 4341-002 |
La Chasse
|
undated |
6 | 4341-002 |
Time of Parting
|
undated |
6 | 4341-002 |
Daedalus and the
Minotaur
|
1962 |
Cornish School of Allied Arts Costume
Designs |
|||
box:oversize | Accession | ||
6 | 4341-002 | Costume Designs |
undated |
Cornish School of Allied Arts Set Designs |
|||
box:oversize | Accession | ||
6 | 4341-002 | Set Designs |
undated |
Accession No. 4341-004: Karen Irvin papers, 1940-1991Return to Top
Scope and Content: Correspondence, minutes, programs, financial records, newsletters, catalogs, ephemera, clippings. Primarily records of Cornish School of the Allied Arts, especially the dance department.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1: Cornish School of Allied Arts |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 4341-004 | Organizational Features |
1958-1983 |
1/2-4 | 4341-004 | Incoming Letters |
1955-1976 |
1/5 | 4341-004 | Outgoing Letters |
1960 |
1/6 | 4341-004 | General Correspondence: Joffrey, Robert |
1955-1959 |
1/7-15 | 4341-004 | Intraorganizational Correspondence |
1955-1986 |
1/16-17 | 4341-004 | Minutes: Faculty Meetings |
1974-1979 |
1/18 | 4341-004 | Minutes: Board of Directors |
1975-1984 |
1/19 | 4341-004 | Minutes: Executive Committee |
1978-1985 |
1/20 | 4341-004 | Minutes: Board of Trustees |
1984-1985 |
1/21 | 4341-004 | Minutes:Miscellaneous |
1956-1986 |
1/22-33 | 4341-004 | Cornish Course Catalogs |
1947-1991 |
1/34-35 | 4341-004 | Cornish Programs: Dance |
1948-1974 |
1/36-38 | 4341-004 | Cornish Programs: Miscellaneous |
1951-1987 |
2/1 | 4341-004 | Ephemera |
1955-1986 |
2/2-3 | 4341-004 | Reports |
1967-1977 |
2/4 | 4341-004 | Financial Records |
1957-1986 |
2/5 | 4341-004 | Rules and Regulations |
undated |
2/6-7 | 4341-004 | Newsletters |
1974-1991 |
2/8 | 4341-004 | Course Descriptions |
undated |
3/1 | 4341-004 | Calendars and Schedules |
1955-1986 |
3/2 | 4341-004 | News Releases |
1958-1979 |
3/3 | 4341-004 | Choreography |
undated |
3/4 | 4341-004 | Speeches and Writings |
undated |
3/5 | 4341-004 | Awards |
undated |
3/6 | 4341-004 | Lists: Cornish Faculty |
1956-1980 |
3/7 | 4341-004 | Miscellaneous |
undated |
3/8 | 4341-004 | Notes |
undated |
3/9 | 4341-004 | Subject Series: Cornish School of Allied Arts
Shoreline Branch |
1957-1959 |
3/10 | 4341-004 | Financial Aid |
undated |
3/11 | 4341-004 | Graduation |
1959-1986 |
3/12 | 4341-004 | Clippings |
undated |
Series 2: Cornish Alumni Association |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
3/13-15 | 4341-004 | Cornish Alumni Association |
1957-1983 |
Series 3: Cornish Federation of Teachers, Local 4169,
WFT/AFT/AFL-CIO |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
3/16-17 | 4341-004 | Cornish Federation of Teachers, Local 4169,
WFT/AFT/AFL-CIO |
1980-1986 |
Series 4: Personal Papers |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
4/1 | 4341-004 | Biographical Feature |
1999 |
4/2 | 4341-004 | Incoming Letters: Salmon, Ina Marie |
1960 |
4/3-4/4 | 4341-004 | General Correspondence |
1958-1964 |
4/5 | 4341-004 | Subject Series: Karen Irvin Studio of the
Dance |
1945-1950 |
4/6 | 4341-004 | Proposals |
undated |
4/7-8 | 4341-004 | Programs: Seattle |
1950-1970 |
4/9-10 | 4341-004 | Programs: Miscellaneous |
1940-1976 |
4/11 | 4341-004 | Ephemera: University of Washington |
1958-1964 |
4/12 | 4341-004 | Clippings |
undated |
Accession No. 4341-005: Karen Irvin Papers, 1929-1998Return to Top
Scope and Content: Contains phamplets, programs, letters, newspaper clipping, sheet music, and other ephemera related to the Cornish College of the Arts and various performances. Also includes attendance records from Ms. Irvin's dance classes.
Restrictions on Access: No restrictions on access.
Restrictions on Use: No use restrictions
Acquisition Info: Originally donated by Karen Irvin, transferred to the PNW collection from the Visual Materials collection, received with Karen Irvin Photography collection, 2016-10-01
Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
---|---|---|---|
Series 1: Attendance Records |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/1 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1960-1961 |
1/2 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1961-1962 |
1/3 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1967-1968 |
1/4-5 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1969-1970 |
1/6 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1970-1971 |
1/7 | 4341-005 | Attendance |
1971-1972 |
1/8 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Jazz Dance- Instructor Judy
Corkrey |
1971-1972 |
1/9 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Ballet- Instructor Sparks |
1970-1971 |
1/10 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Programs of Study |
1955-1956 |
1/11 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Preschool |
1971-1972 |
1/12 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Ballet III |
1971-1972 |
1/13 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer School |
1972 |
1/14 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer School |
1973 |
1/15 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Classes |
1973-1974 |
1/16 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer School |
1973-1974 |
1/17 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer School |
1974 |
1/16 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer- Instructor Stroberger |
1975 |
1/16 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer- Instructor Mason |
1975 |
1/16 | 4341-005 | Attendance: Summer School |
1976 |
Series 2: Men's Non-Tuition Program |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/21 | 4341-005 | Tuition Free Men's Ballet |
1970-1972 |
1/22 | 4341-005 | Men's Non-Tuition Program |
1971 |
1/23 | 4341-005 | Men's Non-Tuition Program |
1975-76 |
Series 3: Dance Recitals |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
1/24 | 4341-005 | Recital |
1952 |
1/25 | 4341-005 | Cornish Institute of Allied Arts Recitals |
1974-1977 |
1/26 | 4341-005 | Dance Recital |
1976-1977 |
Series 4: Programs |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/1 | 4341-005 | Cornish Ballet Programs |
1957-1977 |
2/2 | 4341-005 | Programs |
1940-1950 |
2/3 | 4341-005 | Programs |
1950-1960 |
2/4 | 4341-005 | Cornish School Programs |
1956-1974 |
2/5 | 4341-005 | Programs |
1960-1970 |
2/6 | 4341-005 | Programs |
1970-1980 |
2/7 | 4341-005 | Programs |
1980-1990 |
2/8 | 4341-005 | Programs: Chamber Music |
1952-1956 |
2/9 | 4341-005 | Programs: Seattle Symphony Orchestra |
1950-1955 |
2/10 | 4341-005 | Programs: Seattle Symphony Orchestra |
1955-1957 |
2/11 | 4341-005 | Programs: Operas Musicals |
1950-1955 |
2/12 | 4341-005 | Programs: Instrumental |
1945-1956 |
2/13 | 4341-005 | Programs: Voice |
1945-1956 |
Series 5: Church of the Redeemer |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/14 | 4341-005 | Church of the Redeemer programs |
1960s-1970s |
2/15 | 4341-005 | Church of the Redeemer miscellaneous |
1970s |
2/16 | 4341-005 | Cornish School Ballet Pre Easter Season |
1971 |
Series 6: Articles and clippings |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/17 | 4341-005 | The London Dancing Times |
1929 |
2/18 | 4341-005 | Articles |
1938-1990 |
2/19 | 4341-005 | Magazine Articles |
1938-1975 |
2/20 | 4341-005 | Newspapers: Skagit Valley Herald, The Seattle
Times |
1958-1962 |
2/21 | 4341-005 | Newspaper clippings |
1951-1971 |
Series 7: Miscellaneous |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
2/22 | 4341-005 | Miss P.W. Manchester |
1975 |
2/23 | 4341-005 | Sample fabric and notes |
|
2/24 | 4341-005 | Wells Family |
1929 |
2/25 | 4341-005 | Correspondants |
1970-1974 |
2/26 | 4341-005 | Cornish School: Teachers and Accompanist
Records |
1974-1975 |
2/27-28 | 4341-005 | Reference Cards |
undated |
Series 8: Sheet Music |
|||
Box/Folder | Accession | ||
3/1 | 4341-005 | Chopin. Brilliant Salon Music, Selected
Composition |
undated |
3/2 | 4341-005 | Sheet Music |
undated |
3/3 | 4341-005 | Brahms Hungarian Dances, The Spirit of the
Sea |
undated |
3/4 | 4341-005 | Louis H. Chalif |
undated |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Arts--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Costume design--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Dance teachers--Washington (State)--Seattle--Archives
- Dance--Stage setting and scenery--Washington (State)--Seattle
- Dance--Study and teaching--Washington (State)--Seattle
Personal Names
- Irvin, Karen, 1910?-1999--Archives
- Joffrey, Robert
- Roberts, Malcolm
- Salmon, Ina-Marie
Corporate Names
- Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle, Wash.)
- Cornish Institute of Allied Arts (Seattle, Wash.)
- Cornish School of Allied Arts (Seattle, Wash.)
Form or Genre Terms
- Drawings