IOWA WOMEN’S ARCHIVES
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LIBRARIES
IOWA CITY, IOWA
MARCIA THAYER (1936-1982)
PAPERS, 1927, 1962-2000
2.5 linear feet
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ACQUISITION:
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The papers» (donor no. 719) were donated by
Alicia Brown-Matthes in 2000.
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ACCESS:
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The »papers are open
for research.
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COPYRIGHT:
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»Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to
The University of Iowa.
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PHOTOGRAPHS:
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In Boxes 3-6, 8 and the map case.
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AUDIOVISUAL:
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One videocassette [V282] shelved in the videocassette collection and
one film [F4] shelved in the film collection.
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ARTIFACTS:
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In Box 6.
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PROCESSED BY:
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Jun-Nicole Matsushita, 2004Your name, year [filename]». [ThayerMarcia.doc]
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»Biography
Dancer, choreographer, musician, and
educator Marcia Claire Belsher Thayer was born in 1936. In her youth Thayer appeared as a lead dancer
and actress for the Magic Ring Theatre in Portland,
Oregon and also played the viola
and violin for a number of operatic, symphonic and theater productions. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in
Dance and English from Mills
College in 1956 and
continued her graduate work at the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa).
Thayer completed a master’s degree in Speech and Dramatic Art in 1960
and fulfilled the course requirements and comprehensive examination towards a
Ph.D. in the same field.
Upon arriving in Iowa, Thayer performed in University Theater
productions as a dancer, actress and later a choreographer. She taught classes in movement for actors and
reviewed dance concerts for the Iowa City
Press-Citizen. As head of the Dance
Program in the Department of Physical Education for Women at the University of Iowa (1962-1974), Thayer expanded the
dance curriculum and developed a program for dance majors. She also began the process of inviting
professional dance groups to perform in Iowa
City, and initiated the Midwestern Dance Symposium for
teachers and students. Thayer also
advanced performance opportunities for student choreographers and performers
through yearly productions of the University of Iowa Dance Theatre that
featured the “Young Choreographer’s Concert,” “Discovery,” and “Vivachi!”
Thayer’s
creative work included plays, musicals, operas, and dances. She acted, danced, choreographed, and
directed numerous productions in Iowa,
Massachusetts,
Oregon, and New York. Tragically, Thayer’s dancing career was ended
by a back injury suffered during a dance production. Unable to dance, Thayer shifted her passion
to the study of Ireland. Thayer died in Ireland after completing a course
in Irish literature during the summer of 1982.Begin text her
Scope and
Content Note
Begin text here:The Marcia Thayer» papers date from 1927» to 2000 and measure 2.5» linear feet. The »papers »are arranged in ten» series: Biographical information, Dance companies, Dance productions,
Paul Engle poetry, Teaching responsibilities, University of Iowa Department of
Dance, Newspaper Clippings, P»hotographs,
Audiovisual, and Artifacts.
The Biographical
Information series contains Thayer’s resume and eulogy. Thayer’s efforts to invite professional
dancers and their companies to present and teach in the Department of Dance are
represented in the Dance Companies series
(1962-1996), which consists of publicity brochures and correspondence.
The Dance
Productions series (1936-1992) consists of news releases, programs,
correspondence, and production records.
Included are Dance Gala posters, Orchesis modern dance club programs
dating from the early 1930s, publicity and club reports, and budget and
membership records. Midwestern Dance
Symposium programs and correspondence dealing with artist searches complete
this series.
The Paul
Engle Poetry series is comprised of poetry exchanged between Thayer and
Paul Engle. Engle was a professor of
English and director of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. The Teaching
Responsibilities series (1964-1971) contains student papers and classroom
handouts. Included are records of the Saturday School of the Dance taught by Thayer.
The University
of Iowa Department of Dance series (1964-2000) is comprised of departmental
publications pertaining to the curriculum, application forms, and undergraduate
and graduate dance programs. Blueprints
of a proposed conversion of the mirror room to a dance theatre complete the
series. The Newspaper Clippings series (1955-1985) is comprised of a collection
of review and general interest articles, photographs and a scrapbook containing
newspaper clippings from 1964 to1985.
The Photographs
series (1927-1986) consists of photographs of dance productions at the University of Iowa, professional dance companies,
dance classes, and portraits. Marcia
Thayer is depicted in many of the photographs throughout the series. Photographs of classes and activities offered
by the Department of Physical Education for Women between 1927 and 1939 depict
social dancing, synchronized swimming, and a dance production. Annual Dance Theatre productions are
documented in photographs and negatives.
The Audiovisual series consists of a film of eleven dances recorded at
the Communications
Center. The 20-minute film consists of solo and duet
performances by Marcia Thayer and Lar Lubovitch, and solo and group productions
by unidentified dancers. A videotape of
the film is available for viewing. A
1982 Dance Gala and “An American in Iowa”
button comprise the Artifacts series
(1982-1983).
Related
Collections
The University of Iowa
Department of Physical Education for WomenBegin text here:»
Box no. Description
Box 1
BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION
DANCE
COMPANIES
Jose Limon and Dance Company, 1962
Erick Hawkins, 1963
Edna Dieman and Julia Bennett, 1965
Paul Taylor Dance Company, 1965
Lucas Hoving and Co., 1966
Helen McGehee, 1967
Dancers in Company, 1996
Miscellaneous
DANCE
PRODUCTIONS
Costume Fittings
Dance Club, 1963
Dance Gala posters, 1980-1992 [Oversize: in Box 8]
Midwestern Dance Symposium
Artist Search Correspondence
Program
News Releases, 1953-1958, 1963
Orchesis
Budget and Membership
Club Reports, 1936-1956
Miscellaneous
Box 2
Nationwide Programs
Programs
Publicity Reports, 1954-1955
Programs
Dance Theater, 1962-1973
Hancher
1976-1988
1990-1998, and undated
Iowa Arts Council Touring Roster, 1995-1996
Professional
Rave, 1987, and undated
State University of Iowa, 1961-1964
Various Universities
Ticket Sales, 1963-1972
PAUL
ENGLE POETRY
TEACHING
RESPONSIBILITIES
Dance Production Handouts, 1966-1967
The Saturday School
of the Dance, 1967
Student Papers, 1964-1971, and
undated
Box 3
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
Application Forms
1992
1994
1995
1996
Undated
Curriculum Correspondence, 1964
Dance Program Publications, 1991,
1993, 2000, and undated
Graduate Program
Proposed Mirror Room Conversion into
a Dance Theatre [Blueprints in map case]
NEWSPAPER
CLIPPINGS
Dance Theater, 1968-1969, and
undated
Orchesis, 1955, 1959, and undated
Scrapbook, 1964-1965 [oversize: in Box 7]
PHOTOGRAPHS
Children’s Dance Classes
Court Dances
Dance Classes, 1964
Dance Concert
1966
1968
Dance Gala, 1982
The Dance in Iowa
Dance Theater Christmas Show, 1967
Dance Theater, 1975
Davenport Children’s Concert, 1962
Department of Physical Education for
Women, 1927-1939
Discovery
1965
Box 4
1966-1967 (2 folders)
1969-1974 (5 folders)
Dom Franco, 1978
Juggler of Notre Dame, 1967
Lar Lubovitch and Marcia Thayer
Duet
Marcia Thayer, undated (3 folders)
[Note: duplicates of some of the photographs in folder 3 are located in Oversize: Box 8]
Master Classes
Miscellaneous
1962
1967
1973-1986
Box
5
Modern Dance Group in the Museum of Art
Negatives, undated
Paul Taylor Dance Company, 1965
Professional Dance Photos
Renaissance Concert
1969
Merchant of Venice, 1969
Summer Dance Concert
1967
1969
Theater
Thesis Concert, 1967
29 Titles, 1974
Vivachi
1964 [Note: One photograph is
located in Oversize: Box 8]
1965
1967-1968
Box 6
1969-1974 (6 folders)
Young People’s Dance Concert, 1967
AUDIOVISUAL
Marcia Thayer Dance Ensembles [V282
located in the videocassette collection and F4 located in the film collection]
ARTIFACTS
Buttons, 1982-1983
Box 7
Oversize:
Scrapbook, 1964-1985
Box 8
Photographs, undated
Dance Gala Posters, 1980-1992