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Guide to the Marcia Thayer papers

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Collection Overview
Date Span:1927-2000
Creator:Thayer, Marcia (1936-1982)
Extent:2.50 linear feet.
Collection Number:IWA0689
Repository:Iowa Women's Archives
Summary:Dancer, choreographer and educator who worked in Iowa, Massachussetts, Oregon and New York.

Dancer, choreographer, musician, and educator Marcia Claire Belsher Thayer was born in 1936. In her youth Thayer appeared as a lead dancer and actress for the Magic Ring Theatre in Portland, Oregon and also played the viola and violin for a number of operatic, symphonic and theater productions. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree inDance and English from Mills College in 1956 and continued her graduate work at the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa). Thayer completed a master's degree in Speech and Dramatic Art in 1960and fulfilled the course requirements and comprehensive examination towards a Ph.D. in the same field.

Upon arriving in Iowa, Thayer performed in University Theater productions as a dancer, actress and later a choreographer. She taught classes in movement for actors and reviewed dance concerts for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. As head of the Dance Program in the Department of Physical Education for Women at the University of Iowa (1962-1974), Thayer expanded the dance curriculum and developed a program for dance majors. She also began the process of inviting professional dance groups to perform in Iowa City, and initiated the Midwestern Dance Symposium for teachers and students. Thayer also advanced performance opportunities for student choreographers and performers through yearly productions of the University of Iowa Dance Theatre that featured the "Young Choreographer's Concert," "Discovery," and "Vivachi!"

Thayer's creative work included plays, musicals, operas, and dances. She acted, danced, choreographed, and directed numerous productions in Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New York. Tragically, Thayer's dancing career was ended by a back injury suffered during a dance production. Unable to dance, Thayer shifted her passion to the study of Ireland. Thayer died in Ireland after completing a course in Irish literature during the summer of 1982.

The Marcia Thayer papers date from 1927to 2000 and measure 2.5 linear feet. The papers are arranged in ten series: Biographical information, Dance companies, Dance productions, Paul Engle poetry, Teaching responsibilities, University of Iowa Department of Dance, Newspaper Clippings, Photographs, Audiovisual, and Artifacts.

The Biographical Information series contains Thayer's resume and eulogy. Thayer's efforts to invite professional dancers and their companies to present and teach in the Department of Dance are represented in the Dance Companies series (1962-1996), which consists of publicity brochures and correspondence.

The Dance Productions series (1936-1992) consists of news releases, programs, correspondence, and production records. Included are Dance Gala posters, Orchesis modern dance club programs dating from the early 1930s, publicity and club reports, and budget and membership records. Midwestern Dance Symposium programs and correspondence dealing with artist searches complete this series.

The Paul Engle Poetry  series is comprised of poetry exchanged between Thayer and Paul Engle. Engle was a professor of English and director of the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa.

The Teaching Responsibilities series (1964-1971) contains student papers and classroom handouts. Included are records of the Saturday School of the Dance taught by Thayer.

The University of Iowa Department of Dance  series (1964-2000) is comprised of departmental publications pertaining to the curriculum, application forms, and undergraduate and graduate dance programs. Blue prints of a proposed conversion of the mirror room to a dance theatre complete the series.

The Newspaper Clippings series (1955-1985) is comprised of a collection of review and general interest articles, photographs and a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings from 1964 to1985.

The Photographs  series (1927-1986) consists of photographs of dance productions at the University of Iowa, professional dance companies, dance classes, and portraits. Marcia Thayer is depicted in many of the photographs throughout the series. Photographs of classes and activities offered by the Department of Physical Education for Women between 1927 and 1939 depict social dancing, synchronized swimming, and a dance production. Annual Dance Theatre productions are documented in photographs and negatives.

The Audiovisual  series consists of a film of eleven dances recorded at the Communications Center. The 20-minute film consists of solo and duet performances by Marcia Thayer and Lar Lubovitch, and solo and group productions by unidentified dancers. A videotape of the film is available for viewing.

A 1982 Dance Gala and "An American in Iowa" button comprise the Artifacts  series(1982-1983).

Alternate Extent Statement: 1 videocassette [V282]
1 film [F4]
Artifacts in Box 6
Photographs in boxes 3-6, 8 and map case

Access: The papers are open for research.

Use: Copyright held by the donor has been transferred to The University of Iowa.

Acquisition: The papers (donor no. 719) were donated by Alicia Brown-Matthes in 2000.

Preferred Citation: Marcia Thayer papers, Iowa Women's Archives, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.

Repository:Iowa Women's Archives
Address:100 Main Library
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:319-335-5068
Curator:Kären Mason
Email:lib-women@uiowa.edu
Website:http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/iwa

Browse by Series:
Series 1: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Series 2: DANCE COMPANIES
Series 3: DANCE PRODUCTIONS
Series 4: PAUL ENGLE POETRY
Series 5: TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
Series 6: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
Series 7: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
Series 8: PHOTOGRAPHS
Series 9: AUDIOVISUAL
Series 10: ARTIFACTS

  • Series 1: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
  • Box 1:
  • Resume and eulogy
  • Series 2: DANCE COMPANIES
  • Box 1:
  • Jose Limon and Dance Company - 1962
  • Erick Hawkins - 1963
  • Edna Dieman and Julia Bennett - 1965
  • Paul Taylor Dance Company - 1965
  • Lucas Hoving and Co. - 1966
  • Helen McGehee - 1967
  • Dancers in Company - 1996
  • Miscellaneous
  • Series 3: DANCE PRODUCTIONS
  • Box 1:
  • Costume Fittings
  • Dance Club - 1963
  • Midwestern Dance Symposium: Artist Search Correspondence
  • Midwestern Dance Symposium: Program
  • News Releases - 1953-1958, 1963
  • Orchesis: Budget and Membership
  • Orchesis: Club Reports - 1936-1956
  • Orchesis: Miscellaneous
  • Box 2:
  • Orchesis: Nationwide Programs
  • Orchesis: Programs
  • Orchesis: Publicity Reports - 1954-1955
  • Dance Theater programs - 1962-1973
  • Hancher programs - 1976-1988
  • Hancher programs - 1990-1998
  • Iowa Arts Council Touring Roster - 1995-1996
  • Professional
  • Rave - 1987
  • State University of Iowa - 1961-1964
  • Various Universities
  • Ticket Sales - 1963-1972
  • Box 8:
  • Dance Gala Posters - 1980-1992
  • Series 4: PAUL ENGLE POETRY
  • Box 2:
  • Paul Engle poetry
  • Series 5: TEACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Box 2:
  • Dance Production Handouts - 1966-1967
  • The Saturday School of the Dance - 1967
  • Student Papers - 1964-1971
  • Series 6: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF DANCE
  • Box 3:
  • Application Forms
  • Application Forms - 1992
  • Application Forms - 1994
  • Application Forms - 1995
  • Application Forms - 1996
  • Application forms: Undated
  • Curriculum Correspondence - 1964
  • Dance Program Publications - 1991, 1993, 2000
  • Graduate Program
  • Proposed Mirror Room Conversion into a Dance Theatre [Blueprints in map case]
  • Series 7: NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS
  • Box 3:
  • Dance Theater - 1968-1969
  • Orchesis - 1955, 1959
  • Box 7:
  • Scrapbook - 1964-1965
  • Series 8: PHOTOGRAPHS
  • Box 3:
  • Childrens Dance Classes
  • Court Dances
  • Dance Classes - 1964
  • Dance Concert - 1966
  • Dance Concert - 1968
  • Dance Gala - 1982
  • The Dance in Iowa
  • Dance Theater Christmas Show - 1967
  • Dance Theater - 1975
  • Davenport Childrens Concert - 1962
  • Department of Physical Education for Women - 1927-1939
  • Discovery - 1965
  • Box 4:
  • Discovery (2 folders) - 1966-1967
  • Discovery (5 folders) - 1969-1974
  • Dom Franco - 1978
  • Juggler of Notre Dame - 1967
  • Lar Lubovitch and Marcia Thayer Duet
  • Marcia Thayer, undated (3 folders) [Note: duplicates of some of the photographs in folder 3 are located in Box 8]
  • Master Classes
  • Miscellaneous - 1962
  • Miscellaneous - 1967
  • Miscellaneous - 1973-1986
  • Box 5:
  • Modern Dance Group in the Museum of Art
  • Negatives, undated
  • Paul Taylor Dance Company - 1965
  • Professional Dance Photos
  • Renaissance Concert - 1969
  • Renaissance Concert: Merchant of Venice - 1969
  • Summer Dance Concert - 1967
  • Summer Dance Concert - 1969
  • Theater
  • Thesis Concert - 1967
  • 29 Titles - 1974
  • Vivachi [Note: One photograph is located in Box 8] - 1964
  • Vivachi - 1965
  • Vivachi - 1967-1968
  • Box 6:
  • Vivachi (6 folders) - 1969-1974
  • Young Peoples Dance Concert - 1967
  • Box 8:
  • Photographs, undated
  • Series 9: AUDIOVISUAL
  • Box 6:
  • Videocassette V282 and Film F4: Marcia Thayer Dance Ensembles
  • Series 10: ARTIFACTS
  • Box 6:
  • Buttons - 1982-1983

This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.


Geographic Names:
Iowa City (Iowa)