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Descriptive Summary

Repository: Harvard Theatre Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
Location: b
Call No.: MS Thr 458
Creator: Fokine, Michel, 1880-1942.
Title: Papers,
Date(s): 1906-1964.
Quantity: 20 boxes (8 linear ft.)
Abstract: Correspondence, clippings, photographs and costumes documenting the career of the Russian dancer and choreographer Michel Fokine.

Processed by:

Acquisition Information:

Historical Note

Michel Fokine (1880-1942) was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer. He created his best-known ballets during the years of 1909-1914 when he served as choreographer for Serge Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. In 1919 he moved to the United States where he lived and worked until his death.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into ten series:

• I. Compositions
• II. Correspondence
• III. Biographical material
• IV. Choreographic notes
• V. Music scores
• VI. Financial documentation
• VII. Miscellaneous
• VIII. Photographs
• IX. Newspaper clippings
• X. Costumes and shoes

Scope and Content

The collection represents various aspects of Michel Fokine’s long career in dance, particularly from his years in America. It contains personal and business correspondence primarily from his American period. It also contains manuscripts of his critical essays in Russian and English, including an unfinished essay on Serge Diaghilev; biographical material, including complete lists of his works in Russian and English; music scores for his ballets; choreographic notes, including synopsis for his last unfinished ballet La Belle Hélèn; some financial records; costumes and shoes, and clippings from numerous American, European and Russian newspapers. The collection also includes photographs of him, his wife, dancer Vera Fokine, née Antonova, and his son, dancer and teacher Vitale Fokine.

Related Material

In the late 1950s Vitale Fokine donated a considerable part of Michel Fokine's archive to the Leningrad Theatre Library in the Soviet Union. See letter from Gosudarstvennaia teatral'naia biblioteka imeni A.V. Lunacharskogo to Vitale Fokine. (20) Description of this collection could be found in Sovetskii Balet, 1987, v. 4, pp. 46-50.

Container List

• Series: I. Compositions
  Includes manuscripts and typescripts of Fokine's essays and articles on dance.
  Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by title.
  • (1) On the subject of the article "Barbarism in the Dance" : AMs, Ts, 1932. 1 folder.
    In Russian and English.
    Also includes a letter to Fokine from Mr. Barber on the subject.
  • (2) Diagilev : AMs, undated. 1 folder.
    On Serge Diaghilev.
    In Russian, unfinished.
  • (3) Dilettantism in the dance : AMs,1932. 1 folder.
    In Russian.
  • (4) How the ballet histories were written : Ms, Ts, undated. 1 folder.
    In English.
  • (5) On facts and "facts" : AMs, undated. 1 folder.
    In Russian. About Serge Lifar's book on Serge Diaghilev.
  • (6) The new ballet : Ms, undated. 1 folder.
    In English. Translation from Russian of the Novyi balet.
  • (7) Novyi balet : print (photocopy), 1916. 1 folder.
    In Russian.
  • (8) A sad art : Ts, 1921. 1 folder.
    In English.

• Series: II. Correspondence
  Includes business and personal correspondence of Michel Fokine, primarily regarding copyrights for his ballets, and payment arrangements for dance classes at Michel Fokine Dance Studio in New York. The series also includes letters to Fokine’s son, Vitale Fokine, from various correspondents regarding Michel Fokine’s legacy.
  Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.
  • (9) Balabanoff, Eugene. Letters to Michel Fokine, 1919. 1 folder.
    Concerning photographer W. Eide.
  • (10) Basil, W. de, recipient. Letters from Michel Fokine, 1934-1936. 1 folder.
    Concerns copyrights and proper crediting for Fokine's ballets in the Ballets Russes du Col. W. de Basil programs.
  • (11) Chkeidze, Aleksandr. Letters to Vitale Fokine, 1968-1973. 1 folder.
    Includes postcards.
  • (12) Clarke, Mr, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
    Draft of a letter to the tax collector.
  • (13) Dandré, Victor. Correspondence with Michel Fokine, 1914-1934. 1 folder.
    Discusses copyrights for Fokine's ballets.
  • (14) Dunton, James. Letter to Michel Fokine, 1926. 1 folder.
    Requests information about Waslaw Nijinsky. Includes a draft of Fokine's answer in pencil on verso.
  • (15) Educational Ballets Ltd, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
    Discusses reimbursement for his trip to London in 1938.
  • (16) Fischer-Hugne, Carin. Correspondence with Michel Fokine, 1931-1932. 1 folder.
    Discusses translation of Fokine's articles into Swedish.
  • (17) Fokine, Michel, recipient. Letters from his family, 1937 and undated. 1 folder.
    Includes letters from Fokine's wife, Vera Fokine and his mother-in-law.
  • (18) Fokine, Vitale, recipient. Letters from his parents Michel Fokine, and Vera Fokine, 1935-1936 and undated. 1 folder.
  • (19) Foley, Charles. Correspondence with Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
    Discusses contract and copyright for the music of Sergei Rachmaninoff.
  • (20) Gosudarstvennaia teatral'naia biblioteka imeni A.V. Lunacharskogo. Letter to Vitale Fokine, 1960. 1 folder.
    Requests publication rights for the material sent to the Library by Vitale Fokine.
  • (21) Haakon, Paul. Letter to Michel Fokine, 1929. 1 folder.
    Requests permission to perform the role of Harlequin in Carnaval.
  • (22) Ito, Michio. Letter to Michel Fokine, 1926. 1 folder.
    Requests permission for Isamu Noguchi to make Fokine's bust.
  • (23) Koner, Samuel. Letter to Michel Fokine, 1933. 1 folder.
    Discusses preventing performances of Fokine's ballets without his permission by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
  • (24) Library of Congress. Letter to Vitale Fokine, 1959. 1 folder.
    Discusses establishing "Fokine Archive."
    Second page missing.
  • (25) Marsh, Miss, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, 1931. 1 folder.
  • (26) National City Bank of New York, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, 1939. 1 folder.
    Concerns a check from the Covent Garden Theatre, London.
  • (27) Norton Publishing Co, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
    Request for a book.
  • (28) Pons, P. Miss, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
  • (29) Popov, Mrs., recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, 1932. 1 folder.
    Requests payments for dance classes.
  • (30) Sutcliffe, A. recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, undated. 1 folder.
  • (31) Reit & Kaminsky. Correspondence with Michel Fokine, 1927-1928. 1 folder.
    Discusses legal services for Fokine's son, Vitale Fokine.
  • (32) Sargé, Madame, recipient. Correspondence from Michel Fokine, 1924-1928. 1 folder.
    Discusses payments for dance classes for Mme Sargé's daughter.
  • (33) Société Des Auteurs Et Compositeurs Dramatiques. Correspondence with Vitale Fokine, 1958. 1 folder.
    Discusses Michel Fokine's estate and royalties for his ballets.
  • (34) Sogolov, Mikhail Isaevich. Letter to Vitale Fokine, 1975. 1 folder.
    Discusses possibility of ballet classes in Russia for his daughter Isabelle Fokine.
  • (35) Son, Ignati Sergeevich. Correspondence with Michel Fokine, 1936. 1 folder.
    Discusses performances of Fokine's ballets by the Ballets Russes du Col. W. de Basil.
  • (36) Tait, Nevin, recipient. Letter from Michel Fokine, [1938.] 1 folder.
    Request reimbursement for the ticket to London.
  • (37) Michel Fokine. Letters to unknown correspondents, 1939 and undated. 1 folder.

• Series: III. Biographical material
  The series includes information on Michel Fokine's performances as a dancer 1914-1930, chronological lists of his ballets with the information on composers, designers and first performance dates, and a copyright certificate for the ballet Fra Mino, choreographed in 1906.
  Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
  • (38) Fra Mino : copyright certificate. 1906. 1 folder.
  • (39) Leningradskii gosudarstvennyi akademicheskii teatr opery i baleta. [course transcript] : Ts (carbon), 1925. 1 folder.
    Transcript of Michel Fokine's education at the Theatre School and his career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer at the Mariinski Ballet.
  • (40) Performances of Michel Fokine and Vera Fokina : Tss, 1918-1928. 1 folder.
    Chronological list of Michel and Vera Fokine engagements in Europe and the US.
  • (41) Ballets and dances choreographed by M. Fokine : AMs (in Michel Fokine's hand), 1905-1941. 1 folder.
    Chronological list of ballets and dances in operas and dramas choreographed by Fokine. Includes first performance date, composer, writer and designer names, and place; in Russian.
  • (42) Ballets and dances choreographed by M. Fokine : Ms (in Vitale Fokine's hand), 1905-1942. 1 folder.
    Chronological list of ballets and dances in operas and dramas choreographed by Fokine. Includes first performance date, composer, writer and designer names, and place; in Russian.
  • (43) Ballets created by Michel M. Fokine, and dances in operas and dramas : Ts (photocopy), 1905-1942. 1 folder.
    Chronological list in English.

• Series: IV. Choreographic notes
  The series includes librettos of ballets, program notes, stage plans and a costume design.
  Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by production name.
  • (44) La Belle Hélèn : AMs notes, undated. 1 folder.
    Libretto and research notes in Russian and English for Fokine's last ballet.
  • (45) Prekrasnaia Elena : AMs libretto, undated. 1 folder.
    First draft in Russian.
  • (46) Prekrasnaia Elena : AMs libretto, undated. 1 folder.
    Final draft in Russian.
  • (47) La Belle Hélèn : Ts (carbon) libretto, 1942 Aug. 28. 1 folder.
    In English on Ballet Theatre letterhead.
  • (48) Don Juan : drawing stage plan, undated. 1 folder.
    Stage plan with notes on scenes breakdown.
  • (49) L'Epreuve d' Amour : AMs libretto, undated. 1 folder.
    Libretto in Russian.
  • (50) L'Epreuve d' Amour : program (photocopy), undated. 1 folder.
    In English.
  • (51) [Unidentified ballet] : costume design, watercolor drawing, undated. 1 folder.
    On paper, unsigned.
    Sketch for a woman's costume and headpiece.

• Series: V. Music scores
  Includes music scores and instrumental parts for various ballets.
  Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by composer's name.
  • (52) Glück, Christoph Willibald, Ritter von, 1714-1787. Don Juan : printed score with AMs annotations ( in Fokine's hand), undated. 1 folder.
  • (53) Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791. Die Liebesprobe : printed score with AMs annotations (in Fokine's hand), undated. 1 folder.
    2 copies. Score for the ballet L'Epreuve d'Amour.
  • (54) Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay, 1844-1908. [Violin concerto] : Ms, 1922. 1 folder.
  • (55) Saint-Saëns, Camille, 1835-1921. Instrumental part for Le Cigne : Ms, 1907. 1 folder.
    Fokine's personal stamp in ink on the front page.

• Series: VI. Financial documentation
  Includes notes to the banks, rosters of dancers with salaries for various performances, bank slips, and a ledger.
  Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
  • (56) Financial ledger book, 1929-1941. 1 v. in 1 folder.
    Household expenses and income for Fokine's household.
    Pages 1-150 are missing.
  • (57) Lewison Stadium (New York, N.Y.). Financial records for American Ballet, 1934. 1 folder.
    Expenses and profits, and salary rosters for the season of Fokine's company.
  • (58) Capitol Theatre (New York, N.Y.). Financial records for American Ballet, 1934. 1 folder.
    Expenses, profits, and salary rosters for the season of Fokine's company.
  • (59) The National City Bank of New York. Banking records, 1955, and undated. 1 folder.
    Bank statement, copies of checks, deposit slips, notes.

• Series: VII. Miscellaneous
  Includes household notes, address books and a book.
  • (60) Grebenshchikov, Georgii, 1882-1964. Volchia skazka, 1927. 1 v. in folder.
    A book in Russian inscribed by the author to Michel and Vera Fokine as a Christmas gift.
  • (61) Fokine, Michel. Address books, undated. 2 v. in 1 folder.
  • (62) Fokine, Michel. Household notes, undated. 1 folder.
    Includes lists of household items and alphabetical list of research files.
  • (63) Fokine, Vitale. Note on the preservation of press books : AMs, 1964 [1967?] June 1 folder.
    Note from Vitale Fokine concerning problems with the preservation of press books.

• Series: VIII. Photographs
  Includes portraits, postcards, group photographs, performance photographs and negatives of Michel Fokine, Vera Fokine, their son Vitale Fokine, their family, and their students. Also includes family photograph albums. Some photographs are annotated on verso. Many photographs have multiple copies.
  Arrangement: Organized into the following sub-series by subject, then arranged alphabetically within each sub-series:

  • A. People.
  • B. Performances.
  • C. Places.
  • D. Negatives and photograph albums.
  • A. People
    • (64) Fokine family, undated. 19 photographs in 1 folder.
      Michel Fokine and Vera Antonova-Fokine families.
    • (65) Michel Fokine in roles, undated. 13 photographs in 1 folder.
      Includes following roles:

      • Daphnis in: Daphnis and Chloe, 1 photograph.
      • Faun in: Faun and Nymphs, 4 photographs.
      • Harlequin in: Carnaval, 1 photograph.
      • Hassan in: Hassan, 5 photographs.
      • Spanish dancer in: Panaderos, self-portrait, 1 photograph.
      • Perseus from: Medusa, 1 photograph.

      .
    • Oversized, shelved after item 103 (66) Michel Fokine studio portraits, undated. 24 photographs in 5 folders.
    • (67) Michel Fokine and Vera Fokine postcards, undated. 25 postcards in 1 folder.
    • Oversized, shelved after item 103 (68) Michel Fokine and Vera Fokine publicity photographs, undated. 48 photographs in 9 folders.
    • (69) Vera Fokine in roles, undated. 126 photographs in 4 folders.
      Includes the following ballets:

      • Coq d'Or, 8 photographs.
      • Dying Swan, 1 photograph.
      • Fra Mino, 1 photograph.
      • Lullaby, 2 photographs.
      • La Rêve de la Marquise, 1 photograph.
      • Salome, 27 photographs.
      • Thunderbird, 1 photograph.
      • Unidentified roles, 85 photographs.

      .
    • (70) Vera Fokine studio portraits, undated. 87 photographs in 3 folders.
    • (71) Vitale Fokine, 1925 and undated. 14 photographs in 4 folders.
      Includes photos of Vitale Fokine giving ballet classes, portraits, and family pictures. One photograph inscribed on recto in Russian: "To dear Daddy and Mummy with love and wishes of big success and health from Talia. New York, May 18, 1925."
  • B. Places
    • Oversized, shelved after item 103 (72) 4 Riverside Drive, undated. 17 photographs in 1 folder.
      Includes images of exterior and interior of Fokine's residence in Manhattan (New York, N.Y.).
    • (73) Chateau Fleur De Lys, 1941 and undated. 20 photographs in 1 folder.
      Includes images of exterior and interior of Fokine's estate in Yonkers, New York.
    • (74) Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles, Calif.), undated. 5 photographs in 1 folder.
    • (75) Michel Fokine Dance Studio, undated. 4 photographs in 1 folder.
  • C. Performances
    • (76) Cleopatra, 1913-1914. 3 photographs in 1 folder.
      Inscription on recto of one print: "Michel Fokine and Vera Fokina in the 'Cleopatra' with the Swedish Corps de Ballet Royal Opera House Stockholm, season 1913-14."
    • (77) Don Juan, undated. 2 photographs in 1 folder.
    • (78) Les Elves, undated. 8 photographs in 1 folder.
      Includes envelope inscribed in Vitale Fokine's hand: "My 'L'elves,' Evelyn's Ballet Co."
    • (79) [Firebird?], 1937. 1 photograph in 1 folder.
    • (80) Mecca, undated. 2 photographs in 1 folder.
      Printed note on verso of both photographs: "Michel Fokine. Creator of the Russian Ballet rehearsing part of the big ballet Bacchanale in 'Mecca' the spectacular production at the Century Theater".
    • (81) Petrouchka, undated. 1 photograph in 1 folder.
      Possibly Bronislava Nijinska as Ballerina.
    • (82) Polovtsian Dances, undated. 3 photographs in 1 folder.
    • (83) La Rêve de la Marquise, undated. 2 photographs in 1 folder.
      Michel and Vera Fokine in rehearsal.
    • (84) Schéhérezade, undated. 5 photographs in 1 folder.
    • (85) Les Sylphides, undated. 9 photographs in 1 folder.
      Includes: postcard of Moira Shearer in a scene from the ballet; and a photograph of Vitale Fokine and an unidentified man surrounded by dancers.
    • (86) Unidentified ballets, undated. 8 photographs in 1 folder.
  • D. Negatives and photograph albums
    • (87) Negatives, undated. 51 negatives in 3 folders.
      Includes negatives of photographs of portraits painted by Michel Fokine, family photographs, and performances. Many are unidentified, but some negatives are identified by Vitale Fokine:

      • Cinderella
      • Grandmother Maria
      • Leon and I on plane
      • Ma as Angel
      • Ma in Fra Mino
      • Ma and I on Liberté
      • Me at grave
      • Parents late Yonkers period
      • Spessiva [Olga Spessivtzeva] and I in Carnaval, Buenos Aires, 1930
      • Spessiva [Olga Spessivtzeva] and I in Carnaval and Schéhérezade, Buenos Aires.
    • (88) Photograph albums, 1925-1928, 1929-1942 and undated. 2 bound albums.
      Include mounted family photographs. Some loose photographs enclosed between the pages.

• Series: IX. Newspaper clippings
  Includes clippings of performance reviews from American, European and Russian newspapers between 1916 and 1936. The clipping have been removed from the press-books and photocopied because of the fragile condition of the originals. See note from Vitale Fokine on the preservation of press-books. (63) The originals have been discarded.
  Arrangement: Arranged chronologically.
  • (89) Clippings, 1921. 1 folder.
  • (90) Clippings, 1923. 1 folder.
  • (91) Clippings, 1924. 12 folders.
  • (92) Clippings, 1925. 1 folder.
  • (93) Clippings, 1926, 1 folder.
  • (94) Clippings, 1927. 2 folders.
  • (95) Clippings, 1928. 1 folder.
  • (96) Clippings, 1929. 1 folder.
  • (97) Clippings, 1930. 1 folder.
  • (98) Clippings, 1931. 1 folder.
  • (99) Clippings, 1932. 1 folder.
  • (100) Clippings, 1933. 1 folder.
  • (101) Clippings, 1934. 1 folder.
  • (102) Clippings, 1936. 1 folder.
  • (103) Clippings, undated. 2 folders.
    Contain reviews and press service envelopes.

• Series: X. Costumes and shoes (104) - (116) This series all shelved in Costume Storage Area
  Includes Michel Fokine's and Vera Fokine's costumes, toe shoes and ballet slippers for various ballets.
  • Shelved with (111) (104) Carnaval : tights. 1 pair in 1 box.
    Silk tights with blue, cherry, and off-white color blocks in Harlequin pattern. The tag attached at the waist reads: "M. Fokine. Carnaval tights".
  • (105) Salome : costume. 4 pieces in 1 box.
    Body suit, and parts of corsage in fabric, silver thread and rhinestones. The tag reads: "V. Fokine. Salome."
  • (106) Zapateado : shawl. 1 item in 1 box.
    Silk, purple, with fringe and embroidery. The tag reads: "V. Fokine. Shawl from Zapateado."
  • See note for shelving details (107) Unidentified ballet : costume (2 pieces). 1 box.
    Violet and silver extra-wide skirt and short flared jacket in similar color, but different pattern fabric. The tag reads: "V. Fokine. Caucasian costume. 2 pieces."
    Skirt shelved with (112); Jacket shelved by itself in 1 box.
  • (108) Unidentified ballet : costume. 2 pieces in 2 boxes.
    Vest and short skirt in purple velvet with fringe and gold embroidery.
  • (109) Unidentified ballet : kaftan. 1 item in 1 box.
    Long off-white kaftan. Pearl buttons are enclosed in a small box.
  • (110) Unidentified ballet : piece of fabric. 1 piece in 1 box.
    Red and yellow square piece of fabric with two roses in the center.
  • Shelved with (104) (111) Unidentified ballet : shirt. 1 item.
    White linen shirt with red and blue cross-stitch embroidery.
  • Shelved with (107) (112) Unidentified ballet : slip. 1 item.
    Satin slip, beige.
  • (113) Unidentified ballet : vest. 1 item in 1 box.
    Long vest in beige and gold fabric with gold thread trim.
  • (114) Unidentified toe shoes. 2 pairs and 3 unmatched toe shoes in 1 box.
    Unused pink satin toe shoes: one pair by A. L. Gamba, London, one pair by J. Crait, Paris, ballet shoe maker for Opéra de Paris, and three unmatched toe shoes by the same makers, all without ribbons.
  • Shelved with (116) (115) Unidentified ballet slipper. 1 slipper.
    White leather right ballet slipper with a torn piece of elastic attached.
  • Shelved with (115) (116) Vera Fokine : toe shoes. 1 pair.
    Pink toe shoes with ribbons. The left shoe inscribed on the sole: Vera Fokine.