The Marilyn Richardson Papers document the growth and formalization of dance as an academic discipline and performing art at South Dakota State University (SDSU), largely through the pioneering efforts of Marilyn Richardson. Spanning the years 1957 to 1994, the collection includes awards, correspondence, programs, newsletters, publicity materials, scrapbooks, photographs, slides, and videocassettes that trace the establishment of SDSU’s dance curriculum, student organizations, and performance traditions.
The collection includes numerous awards and plaques recognizing Richardson’s contributions to SDSU, state and regional dance education, and professional associations such as AAPERD and the South Dakota Association for Health, Physical Recreation, and Dance. General files feature Dance Club records, concert choreography, dance camp and workshop materials, administrative proposals, and personal correspondence. Included are materials related to the creation of the dance minor, biographical documentation of Richardson, and collaborative records involving figures such as Nellie F. Kendall, Barbara Kohn, and Terry Larvie.
Photographs, slides, and videocassettes provide visual documentation of dance concerts, rehearsals, student and faculty performances, the Motion Machine student company, workshops, guest artist residencies, and experimental choreography. Publicity materials consist of posters created to promote student and faculty concerts and often feature collaged images of past performances. Scrapbooks compiled by the Dance Club and Modern Dance Club include photographs, programs, and clippings that reflect student engagement and the evolving role of dance within the university community.
This collection captures the dance program at SDSU during a period when the arts were gaining broader academic legitimacy within land-grant institutions. It reflects Marilyn Richardson’s leadership in elevating dance from extracurricular activity to academic offering, her commitment to student development, and her efforts to connect university dance with K-12 outreach and public engagement across South Dakota. The records document the creation of the dance minor, the founding of the Motion Machine touring company, and the long-standing Annual and Experimental Dance Concerts—milestones that shaped the presence of performing arts at SDSU. The collection serves as a valuable resource for understanding the intersection of education, performance, and community arts during the late 20th century.
