Volunteer Opportunities
In The CDHP Archives
Chicago Dance History Project welcomes the opportunity to work with the Chicago community to document and preserve our shared history. Whether you're a dance artist, a dance enthusiast, an archivist, an historian – whether you hold particular knowledge or memory related to the city’s historical and current dance practices, or are simply a fan of public histories with a quest to discover, share, contribute and celebrate – we’re eager to speak with you about a participatory role in CDHP’s archival collections.
Volunteers are currently being directed toward the following active projects:
Jennifer Girard Photography Collection
CDHP’s Jennifer Girard collection includes over 4,000 images shot between 1970 and 2000, consisting of performance, rehearsal, and studio shots from a broad range of Chicago dance companies. The collection is unequalled for representing the turn-of-the-century era of Chicago dance. CDHP is currently in the process of migrating the collection to the Newberry Library Digital Collections. In order that objects are fully and readily discoverable by search terms, volunteer participation is sought to assist with identification of subject matter: dancer(s), dates or date ranges, locations / venues.
In collaboration with the Newberry Library
MoMing Collection Development and Curation
MoMing Dance and Art Center (MDAC) thrived in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood from 1974 to 1991, serving as a venue for local and national dance artists. MDAC is one of the anchoring institutions represented in the Newberry Library Midwest Dance Collection. Likewise, MoMing dance artists are well represented within CDHP’s interview and photo archive. Bringing these two collections together will allow Chicago to share and celebrate the historical significance of this legendary local performing arts institution. Volunteer participation is sought to participate in documentation of local historical memory.
Shirley Hall Bass Collection
Shirley Hall Bass was a student at the Sammy Dyer School of Dancing, became an original Dyerette when the chorus group was formed in 1950, and assumed directorship at the Dyer School when Mr. Dyer died in 1960. Shirley Hall Bass saved hundreds of photographs and programs, which were shared with CDHP by her niece, Cristin Carole. CDHP and the Shirley Hall Bass Foundation are collaborating on an expansion of the current collection and migrating the curated selection to the Newberry Library Digital Collection. We seek volunteer assistance with digitization and documentation procedures. While those familiar with Sammy Dyer and/or Shirley Hall Bass history are enthusiastically welcome to contribute, no prior knowledge or expertise is necessary for participation in this project.