Ruth Page Foundation Records, 1989-2013

Gift of the Ruth Page Foundation, 2012-2014.

The Ruth Page Foundation Records are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

The Ruth Page Foundation Records are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Ruth Page Foundation Records, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Catherine Grandgeorge, 2016.

The Ruth Page Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit charitable organization, was established in 1970 by the internationally recognized dancer and choreographer Ruth Page (1899-1991). The Foundation is committed to the education, promotion, and presentation of dance in Chicago. Under the umbrella of the Foundation are a variety of initiatives and resources that support the Chicago dance community. Primary initiatives are the Ruth Page Center for the Arts and the Ruth Page School of Dance. The School of Dance was co-founded in 1971 by Ruth Page, Larry Long (1936-2009), and Dolores Lipinski Long.

Currently, the Foundation also supports a subsidized theater and studio rental program, an in-residence program, the Ruth Page Dance Series, the Ruth Page Festival of Dance at Ravinia, and the annual Ruth Page Award. The Foundation is located in its original residence at 1016 N Dearborn St. in Chicago, and Venetia Stifler is the Executive and Artistic Director.

Records include materials such as calendars, production files, correspondence, employee records, financial statements, tax documents, invoices, programs, brochures, newsletters, clippings, photographs, contracts, legal agreements, and audiovisual materials.

The Ruth Page Foundation Records contain administrative, financial, and publicity materials showing the organization’s impact on the Chicago dance community from 1989 to 2013. The collection documents how the non-profit ran day to day operations through detailed financial records and reports and employee records. Administrative documents, rental agreements, and publicity materials provide insight into how the Foundation served as a meeting place for various dancers, choreographers, and groups. The administrative records also highlight the interconnected nature of the Chicago dance community.

Although the Ruth Page Foundation and the Ruth Page School of Dance are separate entities, the records for both are organized together. Given the close relationship between the Foundation and School of Dance and the initiatives they sponsor together, they are hard to separate. Furthermore, the Foundation’s name changed over time, and is sometimes referred to as the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. See also the Ruth Page Papers that contain records for the Foundation and School of Dance prior to 1989.

Papers are organized in the following series:

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1989-2007 Boxes 1-10 Series 2: Employee Records, approximately 1990-2006 Boxes 11-12 Series 3: Financial Records, 1989-2007 Boxes 13-28 Series 4: Rental Agreements, 1993-2007 Boxes 29-31 Series 5: Programs and Publicity, 1990-2013 Boxes 32-34 Series 6: Oversize and Audiovisual Materials Box 35

• Names
  • Lipinski, Dolores
  • Long, Larry, 1936-2009
  • Page, Ruth, 1899-1991
  • Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance.
  • Ruth Page Foundation.
  • Stifler, Venetia Chakos
• Subject
  • Chicago
  • Choreographers -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • Clubs and Organizations
  • Dance
  • Dance -- Study and teaching
  • Dance companies
  • Dance schools -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • Dance teachers
  • Manuscripts, American -- Illinois -- Chicago
  • Theater
  • Women