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Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Mildred Davenport dance ephemera collection, C0189, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Purchased from Lorne Blair Rare Books, Manuscripts, & Ephemera in February 2011.

Processing Information

Processing and finding aid completed by Amanda Menjivar in January 2023.

Biographical Information

Mildred Davenport was an African American dancer and instructor of dance. Born in 1900, the main portion of Davenport's career took place in Massachusetts, specifically the Boston area. Davenport danced in many shows and reviews throughout her career, including shows on Broadway, and eventually ran two studios, the Davenport School of Dance and Silver Box Studio. Her dance career ended when she enrolled in the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps during World War II, making her one of the first Black women in the Corps (Gilson). Davenport's later life was dedicated to civic service to the Black community of Boston. Davenport passed away in 1990.

Scope and Contents

Content warning: outdated racial language to describe African Americans.

Three programs and one pamphlet documenting the dance career of African American dancer Mildred Davenport.

The first program, dated circa May 29, 1936, is titled "Annual May Pageant and Dance of Miss Mildred Davenport and Pupils in 'The Feast of Apollo' and Divertissements." The performance was held at Brattle Hall in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The cover features a headshot of Davenport in 1930s dance costume.

The second program, dated May 26, 1939, is titled "Twentieth Anniversary Souvenir Programme Booklet of Mildred Davenport and her Pupils - Bronze Rhapsody of 1939." The performance was held at Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, one of the premiere classical performance venues in the area. Inside the program are pictures of Davenport's students of varying ages, from elementary school age to young adult.

The third program, dated May 24, 1940, is titled "Bronze Rhapsody of 1940." The performance was held at Jordan Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Davenport and students from her dance studio, Davenport School of Dance, performed.

The pamphlet, titled "Mildred Davenport Evangelist of the Dance," promotes Davenport's teaching at her dance studio. The cover features an Art Deco photograph/illustration collage of her mid-dance, and a short biography and credentials are provided inside. Created circa late 1930s.

Arrangement

This is a single folder collection.

Related Material

The Special Collections Research Center holds many other collections on dance and the performing arts.

Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine holds the Mildred Davenport dance programs and dance school materials.

University Archives and Special Collections at the University of Massachusetts Boston holds the Mildred Davenport papers.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• African Americans
• Dance -- United States
• Davenport, Mildred, 1900-1990
• Performing arts