Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Hughes, Russell Meriwether, 1898-1988.

Description

1. 6 linear feet (8 boxes)

Summary

1. The La Meri Papers contain a wide variety of materials that document aspects of the personal life and professional career of this well-known ethnic dance specialist and writer.

Subject

1. La Meri, 1898-1988 > Correspondence
2. La Meri, 1898-1988 > Poetry
3. Folk dancing, Mexican
4. Folk dancing > India
5. Dance festivals > United States > 20th century
6. Dancers > United States > Biography
7. Folk dancing, Spanish
8. Folk dancing > Study and teaching > New York (State) > New York
9. Women poets, American > 20th century

Genre/Form

1. Correspondence.
2. Manuscripts.
3. Photographs.
4. Contracts.
5. Certificates.
6. Telegrams.
7. Christmas cards.
8. Photograph albums.
9. Portraits.
10. Poetry.

Call number

1. (S) *MGZMD 207

Note

1. The birth and death dates for La Meri are incorrect in the Biographical/Historical Information section of the finding aid. Listed as (1899-1989); correct dates are (1898-1988).

Source (note)

1. Adams, William

Biography (note)

1. Dancer, teacher, and writer, La Meri (1898-1988) was a pioneer in the field of ethnic dance.

Indexes/finding aids (note)

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Author

1. La Meri, 1898-1988.

Title

1. La Meri papers, 1912-1992.

Biography

1. Dancer, teacher, and writer, La Meri (1898-1988) was a pioneer in the field of ethnic dance. Born Russell Meriwether Hughes in Louisville, Kentucky, she moved to San Antonio,Texas at the age of twelve. La Meri (who was known by friends as "Dickie") studied several art forms as a child, before settling on becoming a dancer after meeting Guido Carreras (who later became her husband) in New York City. After a few years working in local movie theaters in San Antonio, she moved to New York and found work in the company of Spanish dancer, Maria Montero, as well as in vaudeville. It was during an engagement in Mexico City that she adopted the name, La Meri and continued her study of Mexican and Spanish dance forms. Establishing a small company, La Meri began touring the world as an ethnic dancer from 1928 through 1930. In 1940, she established the School of Natya with Ruth St. Denis in New York, where she taught East Indian dance. The school was renamed the Ethnologic Dance Center in 1943 and operated until 1956. In 1960, she retired to Cape Cod, Massachusetts but continued to write extensively and began producing an annual summer ethnic dance festival from 1970-1979. In 1984, La Meri moved back to San Antonio and began her second retirement.

Indexes

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Connect to:

1. Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material
2. Finding Aid

Occupation

1. Dancers.
2. Women poets.

Added author

1. Hughes, Russell Meriwether, 1898-1988.

Research call number

1. (S) *MGZMD 207