Betty Lind Papers, 1952-1990, n.d.
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
Betty Lind was born on March 2, 1913 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Lois and Anna Lieberman. After graduating from Eastern District High School in 1928, Lind worked as a doctor's office assistant and nurse until 1932.
In 1932 Lind began her career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Over the course of the next thirty years, Lind taught modern dance in a number of places, including Douglass College in New Jersey, Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and the New York Academy of Ballet. In addition, Lind served as the president and member of the board of directors for Theatre Dance, Inc. for five years, performing at the YMHA-92nd Street and the Hunter College Playhouse. Among the dancers with whom she studied were Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm, Lester Horton, Lotte Goslar, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham and Louis Horst. She also studied ballet with Nenette Charisse, Helene Platova, and Florence Lessing.
In 1963 Lind received her B.A. cum laude from Brooklyn College in New York. She enrolled at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), 1963-64 (on campus) and worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department of Dance. She received her M.A. from UCLA in 1966.
In 1964 Lind was appointed to the position of Assistant Professor in Physical Education at Oberlin College, with an emphasis on dance. During her time at Oberlin, Lind taught courses in Beginning Technique, Choreography, Esthetics of Dance, and History of Dance. In addition, she served as artistic director and choreographer for the Oberlin Modern Dance Company. Lind also conducted master classes in modern dance at the Theater Dance Workshop of St. Croix during the summers of 1967, 1972 and 1973. In 1969 Lind received an H.H. Powers Travel Grant to explore dance throughout the Far East.
In her first several years at Oberlin, Lind worked tirelessly to get others to recognize that modern dance is an art form. Her beliefs clashed with the approach taken by Oberlin of dividing the courses between the Theater Arts department and the Physical Education department. In conjunction with fellow dance instructors Gretchen Moran and Brenda Way, Lind founded the Committee on Modern Dance and began laying the foundation for a unified program.
Ultimately promoted to Associate Professor of Dance in 1972, Lind retired from Oberlin in 1974 in part because of health problems. She returned to New York and continued her work in dance. Following her retirement Lind wrote prolifically, both articles on dance as well as short fiction. Several of her articles appeared in Dance Observer.
Lind passed away on August 10, 1994 in New York.
Author: Caitlin Condell Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationBrian K. Hansen Papers (RG 30/75).
Student Life: Musical and Dramatic Organizations (RG 19/3/3).
The Records of The Theater and Dance Program (RG 9/19).
The papers of Betty Lind provide a brief overview of Lind's career at Oberlin College and her life following her retirement.
The files pertaining to her time at Oberlin reflect her determined efforts to establish modern dance as an art form. Lind's attempts to incorporate modern dance into the Theater Arts department are also demonstrated in this collection, both by proposals and by the numerous productions she staged with The Modern Dance Club.
Lind's own career as a dancer/choreographer is particularly illustrated by the numerous photographs in the collection. Many of her essays on dance reveal a deep love for her work and a continued interest in modern dance up until her death.
In addition, Lind's hobby of creative writing is well represented, including thirteen original short stories.
Lind's papers reveal a deep appreciation for her students, and Lind's close friendship with former student Lolo Beckwith, Class of 1971, is continually apparent throughout the collection.
The collection is divided into eight series, I. Correspondence, II. Materials Related to Modern Dance at Oberlin, III. Student Papers, IV. Miscellaneous, V. Notebooks, VI. Performances, VII. Writings, VIII. Photographs.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Correspondence, 1966, 1972-75, 1977-81, 1983-86, n.d.
The correspondence consists of letters (incoming and outgoing) between Betty Lind and members of the Oberlin College faculty and staff. The bulk of the letters are between Lind and Dean Robert M. Longsworth.
Series II. Materials Related To Modern Dance at Oberlin, 1959, 1963-64, 1968-69, 1973-74, n.d.
The Materials Related to Modern Dance at Oberlin includes notes and notebooks, course syllabi, class bibliographies and other materials related to the classes taught by Betty Lind. In addition there are several proposal papers regarding the recognition of modern dance as an art form and requests for its inclusion in the Theater Arts department.
Series III. Student papers, 1959, 1963-66
Included in this series are materials related to Betty Lind’s graduate studies at UCLA. The materials include her M.A. Thesis from 1966, entitled ‘The Phenomenon of Choreography by “Chance,”’ a notebook with her class notes, and a dance chart for Toccata, and miscellaneous papers including articles, various notes and papers written by Lind, and a Blue Book exam.
Series IV. Miscellaneous, 1955-57, 1973-74, 1980-90, n.d.
This series consists of exhibition and performance materials collected by Betty Lind between the years of 1980 and 1990. Among the reoccurring names are Zeke Berman and Lolo Beckwith. The other materials relate solely to Lolo Beckwith, including programs and reviews. Printed matter collected by Betty Lind includes the words and music to the song I Want To Be Alone, a playbill for Lettice & Lovage, and a pamphlet distributed by the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies. Finally, the series consists of critical comments by others on Lind's work in modern dance. The fifth folder is comprised of critical comments by others on Lind's work in modern dance.
Series V. Notebooks, 1952, 1954, 1962, 1966-69, 1973-74, 1977, n.d.
The seven notebooks that comprise this series contain handwritten notes and writings by Betty Lind. The contents range from notes taken for classes, addresses, writings and prayers, and measurements for costumes.
Series VI. Performances, 1959, 1964-70, 1973-74, 1977, 1979, n.d.
This series contains individual folders for thirteen performances given or directed by Betty Lind. All but two of the performances were given during Lind's time at Oberlin. The materials include notes, programs and clippings. See the inventory for the complete listing of the performances, which are arranged chronologically.
Series VII. Writings, 1960, 1962-64, 1966, 1969-71, 1974-75, 1977-83, 1985, 1987-90, n.d.
This series is divided into two subseries. The first is comprised of writings by Betty Lind, including thirteen short stories, primarily about middle-aged female dancers, a lecture, writings regarding dance and several other papers. Materials include drafts of the stories, comments from others, and notes from various magazines and journals. The second subseries is comprised of writings by others collected by Betty Lind. It includes writings by Lolo Beckwith, clippings, and miscellaneous papers. A paper entitled “John Cage and Music By “Chance,”’ written by Betty Lind is also found in this folder, which is arranged chronologically.
Series VIII. Photographs, 1971, n.d.
The photographs consist of portraits of Betty Lind, including some taken for a performance of Burlesca. Other photographs include those taken by Lind at the Cloisters in New York, assorted photographs of unidentified people, and a series of pictures taken by Marian Hunter for Dance Is: Many Things, a performance Lind initially choreographed while at Oberlin.
INVENTORY
Series I. Correspondence, 1966, 1972-75, 1977-81, 1983-86. n.d.
Box 1
Letters received by Betty Lind, 1966, 1972-5,
1977-81, 1983-84, n.d.
Lolo Beckwith, 1980, 1985-86, n.d.
Series II. Materials Related to Modern Dance At Oberlin, 1959, 1963-64, 1966-69, 1971-74, n.d.
Box 1 (cont.)
Dance As An Art Form: Course Syllabi, Student Papers,
Course Materials,1963-64, 1973-74, n.d.
Dance History, 1959, 1968-69, 1973, n.d.
Notecards for Dance Bibliography Class Lectures, n.d. (2f)
The Teaching of Modern Dance at Oberlin, 1966-69,
1971-73, n.d.
Series III. Student Papers, 1959, 1963-66
Box 1 (cont.)
“The Phenomenon of Choreography by “Chance”
(M.A. Thesis), 1966
Notebook and Papers, UCLA, 1959, c.1963-66 (2f)
Toccata, 1963
Series IV. Miscellaneous 1955-57, 1973-74, 1980-90, n.d.
Box 2
Critical Comments, Diane et al, 1974, n.d.
Exhibition & Performance Materials, 1980-90, n.d. (2f)
Materials Relating To Lolo Beckwith, 1986-87, 1990, n.d.
Printed Matter, 1955-57, 1973-74, 1990, n.d.
Series V. Notebooks, 1952, 1954, 1962, 1966-69, 1973-74, 1977, n.d.
Box 3
Seven Notebooks, 1952, 1954, 1962, 1966-69,
1973-74, 1977, n.d.
Series VI. Performances, 1959, 1964-70, 1973-74, 1977, 1979, n.d.
Box 4
The YM-YWHA Dance Center: Group Dances with
Betty Lind, n.d.
L'Histoire Du Soldat–Stravinsky, Facade–Stillwell, 1965
Assembly Program At Finney Chapel, 1965-66, n.d.
Modern Dance Club, 1966-67 (2f)
Renaissance Society: Betty Lind Lecture & Dance Suite,
1959, 1964, 1966-67, n.d.
Blue Bird, 1967-68
Suite For Four, 1968
Virgin Islands Program: St. Croix, Jan. 1969, 1968-69
Modern Dance Company, 1969, 1970, 1973, n.d. (3f)
Regional American College Dance Festival, 1973
Oberlin Dance Company, 1974
Dances In A Small Place, 1979
Dances In A Small Place (New York), 1977
(videotape in oversize box)
Series VII. Writings, 1960, 1962-4, 1966, 1969-71, 1974-75, 1977-83, 1985, 1987-90, n.d.
Subseries 1. Writings by Betty Lind
Box 5
"Island Storm," n.d.
Writings regarding dance, 1960,1962-64, 1966,
1971, 1974, 1978
"Dance In American Theater," 1964, 1975
"Dance Is: Many Things," 1964, 1975, n.d.
Humanities Lecture, 1966
Trip to The Far East: H.H. Powers Grant, Summer
1969, 1969-70, 1978, n.d.
"Along The Way," 1975, n.d.
"Touch-And Go," 1977-81, n.d.
Winter Fever," 1977, 1979, 1983, 1988, n.d.
"Betty Lind Stories," "Cocktail Time," & "Period Log,"
1977-79, 1982, 1985
Monologues, 1978, 1980
"Passage," 1979
"Silence," 1979,1985, n.d.
"Spring Cleaning," 1979-80, n.d.
"Dance For My Father," 1980-82, 1989-90, n.d.
"People On the Block," 1987-88, n.d.
"Woon Diggle," 1987-88, n.d.
Subseries 2. Writings by Others
Box 5 (cont.)
Lolo Beckwith, 1991-92
Articles, 1978, 1981, 1983, 1986-92,
1994, n.d. (2f)
Papers, 1953, 1962, 1965-66, 1981, n.d.
Series VIII. Photographs, 1971, n.d.
Box 6
Burlesca Prints, n.d. (See Also Box 7)
Marian Hunter’s Photographs For Dance Is:
Many Things, n.d.
Miscellaneous Photographs, n.d.
Photographs of Cathy, Florence and Tito at the
Cloisters, taken by Betty Lind, 1971
Portraits of Betty Lind, n.d.
Box 7 (Oversize)
Burlesca Prints (11), n.d.
Unidentified print (mounted), n.d.
Watercolor by Betty Lind, 1955
Videotape, "Dance in a Small Place, October 1977