Walda Welch-Cobain Collection
Inventory prepared by Tara Davis
Last Revision - November 2015
Table of Contents
Collection Summary.............................................................................................................. 1
Biographical Note.................................................................................................................. 1
Scope and Content Note....................................................................................................... 1
Organization of the Walda Welch Collection...................................................................... 2
Restrictions...........................................................................................................................
2
Index Terms............................................................................................................................ 2
Administrative Information.................................................................................................... 2
Detailed Description of the Collection................................................................................. 4
Ballets Russes Archive at University of Oklahoma School of Dance
Collection Summary
Repository:
Ballets Russes Archive at University of Oklahoma School of Dance
Creator:
Welch, Walda
Title:
Walda Welch Collection
Dates:
1939 - 2005
Quantity:
6 boxes; 250 items; 3 textile items; 5.09 Linear feet (Including textiles)
Abstract:
Walda Welch was an American dancer in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. This collection
documents her time in the company and her training before joining the company. It also
contains communication from Tamara Karsavina, whom she trained with before joining
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Identification: WWC040
Biographical Note
Walda Welch from Boston, Massachusetts danced in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo from
1954 – 1955. At the age of 14, she first saw Alexandra Danilova and Frederick Franklin
perform with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She states, "the dance bug bit me." In 1953
Welch attended The Royal Ballet School in London where she met Tamara Karsavina with
whom she maintained contact and correspondence. Welch signed with Sergei Denham’s
company in 1954 and danced with the company for the 1954-1955 Season. She toured with
the company and danced in the summer stay in Washington DC at Carter Baron
Amphitheatre. Welch left the company to return to Boston University as a student in 1955.
Scope and Content Note
The Walda Welch Collection holds 260 items consisting of photographs, papers, prints,
manuscripts, and textiles. The bulk of these items originate from Welch’s time as a member
of Sergei Denham’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo during the 1954-1955 season. The
collection includes Welch’s Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo suitcase and her overnight
bag from the season. The collection also includes correspondence with and autographed
photographs of Tamara Karsavina, as well as a pair of Karsavina’s pointe shoes.
Page 1
Ballets Russes Archive at University of Oklahoma School of Dance
Organization of the Walda Welch Collection
Programs
Karsavina Correspondence
Karsavina Articles
Gellar/Goldfire Productions Correspondence
Travel Guides and Maps
Dance Publications
Photographs
Scrapbook
Textiles
Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Index Terms
Following are selected search terms used in the collection
Karsavina, Tamara, 1888- 1978
Welch, Walda
Ballet dancers--1940-1950.
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Ballet--1930-1960.
Correspondence
Documents
Information artifacts
Object genre
Photographic Prints
Administrative Information
Provenance
The collection was donated by Walda Welch Cobain in 2010
Page 2
Ballets Russes Archive at University of Oklahoma School of Dance
Processing History
The Walda Welch Collection was processed by Jeri Smalley, Charlotte Hart, Tara
Davis and Rebecca West from 2010 to 2012. Collection was arranged by Tara Davis in
2012. Site edited by Jakob Hertzel in 2015.
Page 3
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Folder Bound Program Bundle
1
1.1.1 1954 October 1- 1954 October 2
Performance Program from Lyric Theatre
1.1.2 1954 October 4 - 1954 October 9
Performance Program from National Theatre
1.1.3 1954 October 22
Performance Program from the Academy of Music
1.1.4 1954 October 14
Performance Program from the Opera House
1.1.5 1954 October 21 - 1954 October 23
Performance Program from the Academy of Music with
handwritten notes of role changes
1.1.6 1954 October 29- 1954 October 30
Performance Program from the Bushnell
1.1.7 1954 November 2
Performance Program from Lincoln Auditorium
1.1.8 1954 November 3 - 1954 November 4
Performance Program from Kleinhans Music Hall
1.1.9 1954 November 8
Performance Program from the Stambaugh Auditorium
1.1.10 1954 November 9
Performance Program from Akron Armory
1.1.11 1954 November 10
Performance Program from Paramount Theatre
1.1.12 1954 November 6
Performance Program from Cleveland Music Hall Public
Auditorium
Folder Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Opera House Program
2
1.2.1 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.2 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.3 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.4 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.5 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.6 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.7 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
1.2.8 1954 October 11
Performance Program from the Boston Opera House
Folder Bound Program Bundle
3
1.3.1 1954 - 1955
Performance Program from the Rockford Community Concert
Association
1.3.2 1954 - 1955
Performance Program from the Community Concert Association
1.3.3 1954 - 1955
Performance Program from the Community Concert Assocation
1.3.4 1954 November 22
Performance Program from the RKO Virginia Theatre
1.3.5 1954 November 28
Performance Program from the Fox Garfield Theatre
1.3.6 1954 November 30
Performance Program from Wisconsin Union Theatre at the
University of Wisconsin
1.3.7 1954 December 2
Performance Program from Knights Gymnasium at Wartburg
College
1.3.8 1954 December 4
Performance Program from Northrop Memorial Auditorium at
University of Minnesota
1.3.9 1954 December 6
Performance Program from KRNT Theater
1.3.10 1954 December 8 - 1954 December 10
Performance Program from Keil Auditorium
1.3.11 1954 December 12
Performance Program from Memphis, Tennessee Auditorium
1.3.12 1954 December 14
Performance Program from Tulsa Philharmonic Society, Inc.
Folder Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Performance Programs
4
1.4.1 1954 November 8
Performance Program from The Stambough Auditorium
1.4.2 1954 November 18
Performance Program from The Dayton Philharmonic Association
1.4.3 1955 April 2
Performance Program from The Mosque by the Civic Musical
Association of Richmond
Folder Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Performance Program Booklets
5
1.5.1 1954 November 11 - 1954 November 13
Performance Program Booklet from Masonic Auditorium
presented by Masonic Temple Assocation
1.5.2 1954 November 19 - 1954 November 20
Performance Program Booklet from the Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestra Music Hal
1.5.3 1954 December 25 - 1954 December 29
Performance Program Booklet from the Chicago Opera House
1.5.4 1955 January 7 - 1955 January 8
Performance Program Booklet from Music Hall Kansas City by
Ruth Seufert Concerts
1.5.5 1955 January 13
Performance Program Booklet from Gretchen Hampton Celebrated
Attractions at High School Auditorium in Colorado Springs
1.5.6 1955 February 17
Performance Program Booklet from the Philharmonic Auditorium
1.5.7 1955 February 17
Performance Program Booklet from the Philharmonic Auditorium
1.5.8 1955 February 17
Performance Program Booklet from the Philharmonic Auditorium
1.5.9 1955 March 26
Performance Program Booklet from Atlanta Municipal Auditoirum
Folder Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Souvenir Program
6
1.6.1 1954 - 1955
Souvenir Program from 1954 - 1955 season
Folder Karsavina Correspondence
7
1.7.1 1958 November 26
Telegram from Tamara Karsavina to Walt Welch; “My thoughts
are with you all today”
1.7.2 1951 April 2
Letter from Tamara Karsavina’s husband (H.J. Bruce) expressing
apologies for forgetting to put a stamp on a previous letter
1.7.3 1958 April 10
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Walda Welch
1.7.4 1951 April 2
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Walter Welch thanking Walter
and his wife for a gift of eggs.
1.7.5 1956 December 15
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Lillian Welch
1.7.6 1958 December 2
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Walter Welch
1.7.7 1966 December 8
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Walter and Lillian Welch
1.7.8 1967 October 15
Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Lillian Welch
1.7.9 1958 November 26
Copy of Telegram from Tamara Karsavina to Walt Welch; “My
thoughts are with you all today”
1.7.10 1958 December 2
Copy of Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Walter Welch
1.7.11 1956 December 15
Copy of Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Lillian Welch
1.7.12 1951 April 2
Copy of Letter from Tamara Karsavina’s husband (H.J. Bruce)
expressing apologies for for
1.7.13 1956 December 15
Copy of Letter from Tamara Karsavina to Lillian Welch
Folder Karsavina Cards
8
1.8.1 undated
Flower card “To Mrs. Welch with love and best wishes, Tamara
Bruce (Karsavina)”
1.8.2 undated
“Noel” Christmas Card from Tamara Bruce (Karsavina)
1.8.3 undated
“Christmas Greetings” Christmas Card from Tamara Bruce
(Karsavina)
1.8.4 undated
“Greetings with an old Recipe” Christmas Card to Walda from
Tamara Karsavina
1.8.5 undated
3 angels singing Christmas card from Tamara (Karsavina) and Nik
Bruce
1.8.6 1959
Madonna Glykophilusa Christmas Card from Tamara Bruce
(Karsavina)
1.8.7 1970 December 18
Keaks House Hampstead Christmas Card from Tamara Karsavina
to Lillian and Walter Welch
1.8.8 undated
Photocopy of fower card “To Mrs. Welch with love and best
wishes, Tamara Bruce (Karsavina)”
Folder Karsavina Manuscript
9
1.9.1 1958
Typed version of Tamara Karsavina’s Manuscript with chapter 1
written as a letter to Walter Welch
Folder Karsavina Newspaper Clippings and Poster Reference
10
1.10.1 undated
Newspaper article titled “Troupe’s ‘Mikado’ Good Show ‘Real Ballet’ All-Too-Brief” by Ben S. Parker
1.10.2 1978 May 27
Tamara Karsavina Obituary from The Times
1.10.3 1950 March 5
Poster announcing Tamara Karsavina’s visit to Oxford and speech
for The Oxford University Ballet Club
1.10.4 1978 May 27
Photocopy of Tamara Karsavina Obituary from The Times
1.10.5 1978 May 27
Photocopy of Tamara Karsavina Obituary from The Times
(Acid Free)
1.10.6 1960 January 24
Photocopy of Prelude to the Ballet by Tamara Karsavina in The
Observer
1.10.7
Photocopy of Prelude to the Ballet by Tamara Karsavina in The
Observer (Acid Free)
Folder Gellar/Goldfire Productions
11
1.11.1 2005 March 14
Letter from Gellar/Goldfire Productions informing Welch of the
completion of the Ballets Russes documentary and telling Welch
her interviews were not used in the final movie
Folder Travel Guides and Maps
12
1.12.1 undated
Affiliated National Hotels United States Road Map and Hotel
Guide
1.12.2 undated
Atlanta Biltmore Hotel Map
1.12.3 1955 March 27 - 1955 April 2
Atlanta TV News and Schedules
1.12.4 1955 March 20 - 1955 March 27
This Week in Chattanooga Visitors Guide
1.12.5 1955 March
Hotel Greeters New Orleans Tourist Guide
1.12.6 undated
St. Louis Cathedral History Brochure
1.12.7 undated
St. Louis Cathedral Pamphlet
Folder City Guides mentioning Ballet Russe
13
1.13.1 1955 March 26
Gay Atlanta Entertainment Guide
1.13.2 1955 March 19
This Week in New Orleans Entertainment Guide
1.13.3 1954 November
“This is Madison!” Travel Guide
1.13.4 1954 December 1 - 1954 December 16
Scene Magazine Entertainment and Travel Guide
1.13.5 1954 October 1954
This Week in the Nation’s Capital Official Travel Guide
Folder Dance Publications
14
1.14.1 1954 October
Dance Magazine
1.14.2 1954 September
Dance News issue
1.14.3 1954 September
Dance News issue
Folder Miscellaneous
15
1.15.1 1960 - 1961
Mary Corbett Burns School of Ballet Class Brochure
1.15.2 undated
Newspaper article titled “Troupe’s ‘Mikado’ Good Show - ‘Real
Ballet’ All-Too-Brief” by Ben S. Parker
1.15.3
Photocopy of newspaper article titled “Troupe’s ‘Mikado’ Good
Show - ‘Real Ballet’ All-Too-Brief” by Ben S. Parker
1.15.4 1954 December 10 - 1954 December 11
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra performance program
Box 2
Folder Walda Welch Snapshots
1
WWC-040-P001 195u
Walda Welch standing outside Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo poster
WWC-040-P002 195u
Walda Welch and Eleanor D'Antuono
Folder Roommate Snapshots
2
WWC-040-P003 195u
Four females holding presents
WWC-040-P004 195u
Two females posing for camera
WWC-040-P005 195u
"Chelli" holding "Ellie"'s shoulders
Folder City Snapshots
3
WWC-040-P006 195u
Maria Tallchief, wearing a fur coat, posing on sidewalk
WWC-040-P007 195u
Woman in fur coat holding a magazine
WWC-040-P008 195u
Woman posing outside building
WWC-040-P009 195u
Woman in fur coat standing in snow
WWC-040-P010 195u
Yvonne Chouteau, Raven Wilkinson, and another dancer posing.
WWC-040-P011 195u
Man and woman posing outside
WWC-040-P012 195u
Two dancers posing near subway entrance
WWC-040-P013 195u
Bobbie and Chellie standing outside of Seneca Hotel Rochester
WWC-040-P014 195u
Bobbie and Chellie standing outside of Seneca Hotel Rochester
WWC-040-P015 195u
Group posing outside hotel
Folder City Snapshots
3
WWC-040-P016 195u
Group posing outside hotel
WWC-040-P017 195u
"Chelli and Ellie" posing outside
Folder Pool Party Snapshots
4
WWC-040-P018 195u
Maria Tallchief, Yvonne Chouteau and three others outside at a
pool party
WWC-040-P019 195u
Ballet Russe group members at pool party
WWC-040-P020 195u
Leon Danielian and Maria Tallchief in chairs at pool party
WWC-040-P021 195u
Woman posing outside
WWC-040-P022 195u
Pool photo
WWC-040-P023 195u
Four men posing on ground at a pool party with Maria Tallchief
and Leon Danielian in background
WWC-040-P024 195u
Man posing on diving board at pool party
WWC-040-P025 195u
Madame Paunnel and Rachel in chairs at a pool party
WWC-040-P026 195u
Miguel Terekhov, Fernando Schaffenburg, and (Mareno?) at pool
party
WWC-040-P027 195u
Four male dancers at the pool party
WWC-040-P028 195u
Male dancer posing on diving board at pool party
Folder Beach Snapshots
5
WWC-040-P029 195u
Group of four next to body of water
WWC-040-P030 1955
"Fernando, Walda, Nony" posing on a beach
WWC-040-P031 195u
"Walda, Nony, Fernando, Baby Kurr" posing on a beach
WWC-040-P032 1961
Mother and father with child posing on a beach
Folder Ferry Snapshots
6
WWC-040-P033 195u
Group talking on ferry dock
WWC-040-P034 195u
Group talking on ferry dock
WWC-040-P035 195u
Man and woman posing in front of water
WWC-040-P036 195u
Man and woman posing in front of water
WWC-040-P037 195u
Deborah Loverney and Terri (?) posing in front of water
WWC-040-P038 195u
Ballet Russe group posing on ferry dock
WWC-040-P039 195u
Ballet Russe group posing on ferry dock
WWC-040-P040 195u
Group posing on sidewalk
WWC-040-P041 195u
Group posing on sidewalk
WWC-040-P042 195u
Group posing on sidewalk
Folder Bus Snapshots
7
WWC-040-P043 195u
Two dancers standing outside bus
WWC-040-P044 195u
Two dancers standing outside bus
WWC-040-P045 195u
Bus driver loading luggage into bus
WWC-040-P046 195u
Man posing outside bus
WWC-040-P047 195u
Woman and bus driver standing outside of bus
WWC-040-P048 1955
Two dancers posing near bus
WWC-040-P049 195u
Dancers outside bus
Folder Travel Snapshots
8
WWC-040-P050 195u
Miguel Terekhov, Maria Tallchief, and unidentified male
WWC-040-P051 195u
Unidentified woman wearing coat standing in front of building
WWC-040-P052 195u
Deni Lamont posing on top of car hood
WWC-040-P053 195u
Yvonne Chouteau and two dancers posing outside a building.
WWC-040-P054 195u
Unidentified male standing outside building
Folder Scenic Snapshots
9
WWC-040-P055 195u
Snowy mountains
WWC-040-P056 1955
Snowy road snapshot taken from inside a vehicle
WWC-040-P057 1955
River and snowy mountain side
WWC-040-P058 1955
Snowy mountain road snapshot taken from inside a vehicle
WWC-040-P059 195u
Capitol Building and cars covered in snow
WWC-040-P060 195u
Snowy mountain pass
Folder Miscellaneous Snapshots
10
WWC-040-P061 1952
Mary Corbett Burns and Margaret Crooke
WWC-040-P062 195u
"Glen" and unidentified male in front of "Pacific Rm." sign
WWC-040-P063 196u
Unidentified woman posing holding a metal crank
WWC-040-P064 195u
Maria Tallchief, Frederic Franklin and an unidentified male and
female
WWC-040-P065 195u
Unidentified man and woman posing outside
WWC-040-P066 1955
Unidentified female sitting and focusing on something in her hands
WWC-040-P067 1955
Two unidentified males standing next to Ballet Russe de Monte
Carlo poster
Folder Ballet Students Color Snapshots
11
WWC-040-P068 195u
Four unidentified young female dancers in studio
WWC-040-P069 195u
Two unidentified female dancers
WWC-040-P070 195u
5 unidentified females and 1 unidentified male posing for camera
Folder Studio Snapshots
12
WWC-040-P071 195u
Unidentified female in studio
WWC-040-P072 195u
4 unidentified females in studio
WWC-040-P073 195u
3 unidentified females in studio
WWC-040-P074 195u
3 unidentified dancers in studio
Folder Outdoor Stage Rehearsal Snapshots
13
WWC-040-P075 195u
Dancers on outdoor stage
WWC-040-P076 195u
Unidentified dancers during rehearsal on outdoor stage
WWC-040-P077 195u
Female dancer in costume on outdoor stage
WWC-040-P078 195u
Ballet Russe dancers on outdoor stage
WWC-040-P079 195u
Two dancers posing on outdoor stage
Folder Backstage Snapshots
14
WWC-040-P080 195u
Dancers rehearsing on stage
WWC-040-P081 195u
Yvonne Chouteau in Les Sylphides with a group of dancers in the
background
WWC-040-P082 1955
Close up of unidentified male dancer in costume
WWC-040-P083 1953
Igor Youskevitch and daughter
WWC-040-P084 1955
4 unidentified male dancers in Mikado
WWC-040-P085 1954-1955
Onstage group shot of dancers in Beau Danube
WWC-040-P086 195u
Meredith Baylis
WWC-040-P087 195u
Unidentified male dancer in costume
WWC-040-P088 195u
Leon Danielian in costume with 3 unidentified female dancers in
background
WWC-040-P089 1955
James Brusock in costume
WWC-040-P090 195u
Deni Lamont laying down backstage
WWC-040-P091 1955
Unidentified male and female dancer on stage
WWC-040-P092 195u
Unidentified female dancer on stage
WWC-040-P09 3 1955
Unidentified male and female dancer in a pas de deux
WWC-040-P094 195u
Maria Tallchief and Frederic Franklin dancing in costume
WWC-040-P095 195u
Unidentified male dancer in costume walking toward camera
WWC-040-P096 195u
Maria Tallchief putting on makeup in costume
WWC-040-P097 1953
Maria Tallchief standing and unidentified male in chair
WWC-040-P098 1955
Female dancer getting ready for performance
WWC-040-P099 195u
Frederic Franklin, Miguel Terekhov and two other dancers
rehearsing on stage
Folder Scheherezade Snapshots
15
WWC-040-P100 1955
Dancers on stage in Scheherazade
WWC-040-P101 1955
Dancers performing Scheherezade
WWC-040-P102 1955
Male dancer in costume for Scheherezade
WWC-040-P103 1955
Dancers on stage in Scheherazade
Folder Nutcracker Snapshots
16
WWC-040-P104 1955
Two unidentified dancers in Nutcracker posing in costume
WWC-040-P105 195u
Dolls in Nutcracker posing for camera
WWC-040-P106 1955
Two dancers on stage in costume
WWC-040-P107 1955
Four dancers posing on stage
WWC-040-P108 1955
Unidentified female dancer in Nutcracker posing for camera
Folder Harold in Italy Snapshots
17
WWC-040-P109 1955
Three unidentified dancers onstage in Harold in Italy
WWC-040-P110 1955
Unidentified male dancer in Harold in Italy
WWC-040-P111 1955
Scene from Harold in Italy
Folder Performance Snapshots
18
WWC-040-P112 1955
Unidentified male and female dancers performing while other
dancers watch
WWC-040-P113 195u
Ballet dancers on stage
WWC-040-P114 1955
Male dancer onstage while other dancers watch
Folder Performance Snapshots
19
WWC-040-P115 195u
Unidentified female dancers onstage in costume
WWC-040-P116 1955
Unidentified female dancer in costume
WWC-040-P117 1955
Shirley Haynes on stage with dancer in background
Folder Swan Lake Snapshots
20
WWC-040-P118 1955
Group of female dancers in Swan Lake
WWC-040-P119 1955
Dancers backstage in Swan Lake
WWC-040-P120 1955
Female dancers in Swan Lake
WWC-040-P121 195u
Back stage at Swan Lake
WWC-040-P122 1955
Female dancers in Swan Lake
WWC-040-P123 1955
Maria Tallchief as Odile in Swan Lake
WWC-040-P124 195u
Maria Tallchief as Odette and Frederic Franklin as Prince Siegfried
in Swan Lake
Folder Coppelia Snapshots
21
WWC-040-P125 195u
Dancers onstage in Coppelia
WWC-040-P126 195u
Miguel Terekhov as Dr. Coppelius in Coppelia
WWC-040-P127 1955
Dancers posing for photo in costume
WWC-040-P128 1955
Frederic Franklin in Coppelia
WWC-040-P129 1955
Two female dancers on stage in costume with two people in
background
WWC-040-P130 1955
Group posing on stage in costume
WWC-040-P131 195u
Giaconda Filippini in Coppelia
WWC-040-P132 195u
Five dancers posing in costume
WWC-040-P133 195u
3 male dancers posing in costume on stage
Folder Don Quixote Snapshots
22
WWC-040-P134 195u
Victor Moreno and Nina Novak in Don Quixote
WWC-040-P135 195u
Maria Tallchief and Frederic Franklin in Don Quixote
Folder Performance Snapshots
23
WWC-040-P136 1955
Four dancers in costume posing for photo
WWC-040-P137 1955
Three female dancers in costume posing for photo
Folder Rehearsal Photograph
24
WWC-040-P138 195u
Maria Tallchief, Freddie Franklin, Alan Howard, Leonide Massine
Folder Tamara Karsavina Portraits
25
WWC-040-P139 1952
Studio portrait of Tamara Karsavina wearing headpiece
WWC-040-P140 1951
Studio portrait of Tamara Karsavina in costume
WWC-040-P141
Studio portrait of Tamara Karsavina and her dog
WWC-040-P142 1966?
Portrait of Tamara Karsavina reclined on a sofa
WWC-040-P143 1954
Tamara Karsavina on stage
WWC-040-P144 20th century
Portrait of Tamara Karsavina
Folder Photo Scans
26
Box 3
Scrapbook
3.1.1
Blue scrapbook
Textiles
Tamara Karsavina's pointe shoes
4.1.1
Pair of pointe shoes worn by Tamar Karsavina with name in sole.
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Suitcase
4.1.2
Suitcase used by Walda Welch on tour with Ballet Russe de Monte
Carlo.
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo Travel Bag
4.1.3
Leather travel bag with engraved metal plate