Elanora Peake Zint Collection Finding Aid MS345

Elanora Peake Zint Collection Finding Aid MS345


[logo]

Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library

717 Queen Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Business Number: 703-746-1791
lhsc@alexlibraryva.org
URL: http://alexlibraryva.org/lhsc

Adrian Vaagenes

Repository
Local History and Special Collections Branch, Alexandria Library
Identification
MS345
Title
Elanora Peake Zint Collection (MS345) 1924-2006
URL:
https://alexlibraryva.libraryhost.com/repositories/2/resources/4
Quantity
.42 Linear Feet, 1 box, 44 folders, correspondence, silver gelatin prints, chromogenic negatives
Creator
Zint, Elanora Peake, 1907-1957
Creator
Zint, Raymond W. (Raymond William), 1899-1962
Language
English .

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item identification], Elanora Peake Zint Collection, MS345, Alexandria Library, Local History and Special Collections, Alexandria, Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Fred Zint, 2006


Biographical / Historical

Elanora Zint nee Peake was born December 20th 1907 in Alexandria, VA, where she attended St. Mary's Academy. In the 1920's, she was a ballerina with the Pemberton Dancers, led by Stafford Pemberton, dancing in venues around Washington D.C, such as the Earle (now Warner) theater. In 1928 she joined the Pantages Vaudeville Circuit, where she met her future husband, Raymond Zint, and they were married in 1930. With the onset of the depression, Elanora and her husband moved to Wapakoneta, OH, Raymond's hometown, where she owned and taught in a dance studio.  In 1942, they moved to Alexandria, where they both served in the OSS and the CIA. Elanora Zint died April 20th, 1957 due to complications from an operation.

Content Description

The collection consists of primarily of photographs, with some artwork, correspondence, and contracts included. The photos are primarily centered around the 1920's Washington D.C. vaudeville scene. Included are letters from Allen Dulles, former head of the CIA, one concerning Elanora's death and service, and another commending Raymond upon his retirement. Another letter concerns a friend of Elanora's, which describes her experience with the Mange Bros. Circus in Venezuela. There are also a small number of photos and negatives of the couple's travels in the 1940's and 50's to Niagara Falls, and Great Falls, VA.  

Arrangement

The collections has been divided into two series: Series I: Photographs and Negatives, 1920-1957 Series II: Correspondence and Ephemera

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Ballet.
  • Circus.
  • Dance Teachers.
  • Great Falls of the Potomac (Md. and Va.)
  • Jones, Bobby, 1902-1971
  • Negri, Pola, 1899-1987
  • Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (N.Y.)
  • Pantages Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres
  • Tourism.
  • Vaudeville.
  • Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Woods, C. R.
  • Zint, Elanora Peake, 1907-1957
  • Zint, Raymond W. (Raymond William), 1899-1962

Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Dulles, Allen, 1893-1969 -- Correspondence.
  • Great Falls of the Potomac (Md. and Va.)
  • Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (N.Y.)
  • Washington (D.C.) -- Social life and customs.

Container List

Series I: Photographs and Negatives
1920-1957Note from relative upon donation
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 1
    Photograph of Elanora Peake Zint
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 2
    Photograph of Elanora Peake
    1926English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 3
    Dance & Studio Photos of Elanora
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 4
    Dance & Studio Photos of Elanora
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 5
    Photo of Elanora and Fellow Dancer
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 6
    Photos of Stafford Pemberton and Elanora
    1926English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 7
    Photos of Gladys Hartlep
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 8
    Photos of an Actor Named Doc
    1928English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 9
    Photo of June Shirley Blake, Age 5
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 10
    Photos of the Pemberton Dancers
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 11
    Photo of a Crowd Around Bobby Jones
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 12
    Photo of Pola Negri
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 13
    Actors and Dancers
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several photographs of actors, dancers, and entertainers from the 1920s. Included are Josie Carole, Paul Douglas, Walter Hebb, and Jack Spangler.

  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 14
    Photos of Dorothy and Edna Daye
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 15
    Three Dancers
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    Originall folder said "3 Graces."

  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 16
    Photo of Buck and Clinton Jr.
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 17
    Photo of Prim
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 18
    Doris in the Doghouse
    February 17, 1942English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 19
    Photo of Unknown Couple
    October 19, 1938English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 20
    Photos of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Frame
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 21
    Photo of Two Dancers
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 22
    Niagara Falls Photo Album
    September, 1951English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 23
    Zoo and Capitol Photo Album
    circa 1950-1957English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 24
    Picnic Photo Album
    circa 1950-1957English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 25
    Great Falls Photo Album
    July 4, 1951English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 26
    Boating Photo Album
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 27
    Negatives 1
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 28
    Negatives 2
    English.
  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 29
    Negatives 3
    English.
Series II: Correspondence and Ephemera
  • Text box: 1 folder: 30
    Dulles Letters and Obituary
    1957-1961English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 2 photocopied letters written by Allen W. Dulles as director of the CIA. One letter is to Raymond Zint, and is a condollence on the death of Elanora, noting her service to the CIA. The other is to congratulate Raymond Zint on his retirement from the CIA. Also in this folder are photocopies of Elanora's obituary.

  • Graphic Materials box: 1 folder: 31
    Pencil Sketch of Elanora by E.Day
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 32
    "Verses to a Dancer" by C.R. Woods
    Woods, C. R.1926English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 33
    Letter to Elanora from Victoria
    September 16, 1933English.
    Scope and Contents

    Folder contains a letter to Elanora Peake Zint from someone named Victoria about travelling with the Mange Bros Circus to Venezuela. The letter was sent from Caracas.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 34
    Photocopies of Class Photos and Dance Contract
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 35
    Miscellaneous – Notes, Business Card, Invoice
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains 3 items: a poem written on a negative sleeve, a receipt from a photo studio, and a business card for Perry Oakes, an artist representative from New York.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 36
    Christmas Card from the Rohms
    1958English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains a Christmas Card from Edsel and Ardath Rohm and features a photograph of their children Keith and Karen.

Series III: Newspaper Clippings
  • Text box: 1 folder: 37
    Dorothy Daye
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 38
    Florence Berry and Alice Kennedy
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 39
    Nina Haynes
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 40
    Various People and Dancers
    English.
    Scope and Contents

    This folder contains several newspaper clippings about various people and dancers. Some of the names found in this folder:

    Florence Ambler, Dolores Carey, Lucille Luitich, MOrse Allen, Virginia Catlett, Gertrude Smith, Cleitte Bradley, Sarah Loftin, Evelyn Wellman, Margaret Suggs, Mrs. John Foreman, Jean Stewart, and Elizabeth Yeoder.

  • Text box: 1 folder: 41
    Woodrow Wilson
    English.
  • Text box: 1 folder: 42
    Miscellaneous
    English.