Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1947-1994 (Accumulation)
Extent
3.55 linear feet (5 boxes)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Marilyn Richardson was born on May 22, 1934. She graduated from Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah in 1952. In 1956, she received her BA in Speech with a minor in Dance from Brigham Young University. Marilyn received her MA in 1963 from Pennsylvania State University, with a major in Theatre Arts and a minor in Arts Education.
Richardson began teaching in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation [HPER] Department on the South Dakota State University [SDSU] campus in 1964. At that time, the Frost Arena was not yet built; she taught dance courses in the old barn in whatever space was available. In 1968, she started the Annual Student Dance Concerts. In 1976, Marilyn initiated and worked to establish a dance minor through the HPER Department. The Experimental Dance Concert, which was held on the unique stage of the South Dakota Art Museum was started in 1980.
Richardson provided performance opportunities for dancers, offering experimental concerts to challenge students’ ideals of dance and art, and main stage productions that provided students with choreographic and performance experience. She developed the Motion Machine, which was a student performance company that traveled throughout the region performing at elementary schools. Not only did this offer the SDSU dancers touring and performance experience, but it also provided school children throughout the state the chance to see dance in a different and creative perspective.
Richardson provided choreographic services to SDSU theatre, taught private dance lessons, served on several local, state, and national committees, dabbled in the writing world, and toured as artist in residence and touring artist through the South Dakota Arts Council.
Marilyn Richardson retired from SDSU on May 15, 1994. She is mother of three children and wife to Jay.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection is composed of materials related to dance and the teaching of dance at South Dakota State University. Slides, photographs, videos, posters and scrapbooks document the formal entrance of dance into the university curriculum.
The awards and plaques are composed of various awards and plaques presented to Marilyn Richardson over the years.
The general papers is composed of programs, newsletters, Dance Club material, dance camp and workshop material, concert choreography, and clippings from newspapers and other publications. Also included is the Dance Minor proposal and history at SDSU, information on Nellie G. Kendall, Barbara Kohn, and Terry Larvie, and biographical data of Marilyn Richardson.
The publicity material is composed of posters used for publicity for dance concerts given at SDSU by students, faculty and guest artists and companies. Some of the posters include collages of photographs which may duplicate photographs in the Photographs, Slides and Videocassettes series.
The photographs, slides and video cassettes include images of students and faculty, dance concerts, rehearsals, camps, workshops, the Motion Machine and guest artist and companies. The videos are of concerts, the Motion Machine, student projects, student solos, dance camps, rehearsals, and experimental dance.
The scrapbooks were created for the Dance Club and the Modern Dance Club and include photographs, programs, and clippings.
System of arrangement
This collection is arranged into series:
- Series 1. Awards and plaques
- Series 2. General papers
- Series 3. Photographs, slides, and video cassettes
- Series 4. Publicity
- Series 5. Scrapbooks
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.
Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
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Specialized notes
Alternative identifier(s)
ID
ID
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Richardson, Marilyn (Marilyn W.) (Subject)