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Lloyd Shaw Foundation

 Organization

Biography

The Lloyd Shaw Foundation was formed in 1964 in memory of square dance pioneer Lloyd Shaw to continue his mission of teaching American folk dance to people of all generations. Dorothy Shaw became a highly significant figure in the square dance world herself, lecturing widely, helping to start the Lloyd Shaw Foundation, and serving as Executive Secretary until 1979. Lloyd and Dorothy’s daughter Doli married Donald Jenkins Obee, who served as President of the Foundation from 1965 until 1979; their daughter, Enid Cocke, has served as President since August of 1979. The Lloyd Shaw Foundation was voted into existence in August of 1964, following the yearly Lloyd Shaw Summer Fellowship held at the home of Dorothy Stott Shaw in Colorado Springs, CO. It was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs, and the original membership consisted of 46 dance leaders from across the United States and Canada; by 1966 there were over 140 members. The Foundation is still incorporated in the state of Colorado, but its headquarters address moved to Manhattan, Kansas in 1979. The stated purpose of the organization is to, “Recall, restore, and teach the folk rhythms of the American people.” Implicit in the mission is the additional goal of doing so in a manner consistent with the educational and dance philosophies of Lloyd Shaw. The first President of the Foundation was Don Armstrong, who served from 1964-1965; he stepped down under the conviction that a member of Lloyd Shaw’s family should serve as president. Donald Jenkins Obee, Shaw’s son-in-law, served as president from 1965 until 1979, and was followed in this position by his daughter Enid Cocke, 1979 to present. Dorothy Stott Shaw, Lloyd Shaw’s wife, served as Executive Secretary from 1964 until 1979. Although the Foundation originally drew its membership from the Lloyd Shaw Summer Fellowship attendees, and conducted its annual meeting after the close of each Fellowship until 1978, the two were never officially affiliated. The Lloyd Shaw Foundation has had significant relationships with a number of other organizations, including the United Square Dancers of America, Legacy, and CALLERLAB, The Country Dance and Song Society, the New England Square Dance Foundation, and international music distributors. In 1986 the Library of Congress named the Archives Division as a clearing house for square dance materials, and in 1987 the Archives helped form the National Dance Archives Coordinating Committee. The Lloyd Shaw Foundation’s primary functions and activities are educational; although it focuses on square and contra dancing, many other dance traditions are represented in its programs. Under the Foundation’s auspices, college credit-granting workshops were conducted at Colorado State University from 1965 until the mid-1970s, and at other universities and colleges as well; workshops and teacher training courses continue to be held around the country and internationally, and the Foundation and its members have consistently conducted presentations and dances at the request of numerous organizations. The Foundation has actively produced and revised targeted dance education kits to assist teachers in dance education since 1966, including resources designed specifically for grades from kindergarten through high school as well as special education students. Other activities have included sponsoring and running dance camps, particularly the Rocky Mountain Dance Roundup in Colorado, Cumberland Gap in Kentucky, and Terpsichore’s Holiday in West Virginia; providing scholarships for members and groups to attend various dance camps around the country and to travel internationally; and providing research and historical services through the Lloyd Shaw Dance Library and the Archives Division. The Foundation has also acted as a publisher for musical recordings and dance books, and publishes its own journal. Since 1967, members of the Board of Directors have served for a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms, with descendants and relatives of Lloyd Shaw being exempt from the term limits. From 1976 until 2004, the Archives Division existed as an independent entity within the Lloyd Shaw Foundation administrative structure, overseen by its director and the Executive Directors. The Foundation maintained an office for its mailing operations in Lakewood, CO from 1972 until they were moved to Albuquerque, NM in 1988, where they shared facilities with the Archives Division. The Archives Division was disbanded after its materials were donated to the University of Denver in 2003. In 1972 the Lloyd Shaw Foundation Dance Archives was started by Mary D Walsh. At the time, it consisted of a single 8mm film of E.S. “Red“ Henderson calling for his Spokane, Washington-based performance group, the Silver Spurs. In August of 1976 the Foundation’s Board of Directors voted to create an official Archives Division; Dr. Litchman was appointed Director, under the direction of the Executive Committee. By December the Archives was offering photocopies, research services, and a tape recording service; the organizational newsletter, the “Long Shadow,” actively solicited donations of both money and materials. In 1978 the Board of Directors voted to provide an operating budget and funds for acquisitions. Prior to and even after the formation of the Archives researchers had access to the Lloyd Shaw Dance Library, which consisted of Lloyd Shaw’s personal collection, at the home of Dorothy Shaw in Colorado Springs, CO. Some of these resources were later incorporated into the Archives, but many remained in the possession of the family. The Archives was housed at Dr. Litchman’s home in Albuquerque, NM until 1982. In 1982 it was shifted into a renovated chicken coop, and moved again in 1988 to a local dance studio purchased by the Foundation. Dr. Litchman began negotiations to permanently move the Lloyd Shaw Foundation Dance Archives to the University of Denver in 2002, and the transition was completed in 2003.

Found in 52 Collections and/or Records:

Box 21: Caller's Notebooks

 File — Box D096.0021: Series D096.10 [Barcode: U186023280378]
Identifier: D096.10.0021
Abstract

This box contains caller's notebooks given to the Lloyd Shaw Foundation. The notebooks are from Henry Bauling, Barry Bins, Ray Black, Bill Johnston, Ralph Piper, George Watts, and (3) unidentified notebooks.

Dates: 1850-2007

Box 33: 19th Century and Ragtime Dance Workshop-Caller Services Department

 File — Box D096.0033: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186022109799]
Identifier: D096.03.0033
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. This box contains materials from: 19th Century and Ragtime Dance Workshop; 31st Halloween Pamphlet; '52 Festival (Lubbock); AAADS: A Weekend of Hope; Abilene Square Dance Day; Aggie Haylofters Round Dance Workshop; Al Brundage Goes to Nassau; Alabama State Square and Round Dance Convention; All American City Square Dance Festival; All American Square Dance Festival; Aman Annual Institute; American...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 34: Fiesta de la Cuadrilla-Funstitute

 File — Box D096.0034: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186022109993]
Identifier: D096.08.0034
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. This box includes: Fiesta de la Cuadrilla; Flint Folk Festival; Florida Dance Fellowship; Florida Folk Dance Workshop; Florida Square and Folk Dance Festival; Florida's Round Dance Convention; Florida Square and Folk Dance Short Course; Flurry Festival; Folk Alliance; Folk and Square Dance Festival (North Carolina); Folk Dance Camp at Reed College; Folk Dance Classes (Fred W. Franz); Folk Dance...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 35: Gadabout's Callers Jamboree-Idyllwild Folk Dance Workshop

 File — Box D096.0035: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186022110009]
Identifier: D096.08.0035
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. In this box are folders from: Gadabout's Callers Jamboree; Gala Square Esta; Gay Nighter's Centennial Festival; Georgia State Square Dancers Association Dixie Crier Convention; Gordon Tracey Workshop; Golden State Roundup; Governor's Conference on Recreation; Grass Valley Fun Weekend; The Greater East Bay Folk Dance Council Festival of the Oaks; Greater Indianapolis Square Dance Callers Association;...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 36: Illinois State Square Dance Convention-Kentucky Dance Institute

 File — Box D096.0036: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186022110017]
Identifier: D096.08.0036
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. This box contains folders from: Illinois State Square Dance Convention; Institute at Boulder and Denver; Institute of Contra, New England Squares, and International Folk Dances; Intermountain Square Dance Festival; International Early Dance and Music Institute; International Fall Fest; International Folk Dance Camp; International Folk Festival; International Folk Dance Festival; International...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 37: March of Dimes Graduation Roundup-New Mexico Square Dance Association Festival

 File — Box D096.0037: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186022110245]
Identifier: D096.08.0037
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. This box contains folders from: Lincoln Annual Square Dance Festival; Los Alamos Folk Dance Festival; Los Angeles Festival; Louisiana State Square and Round Dance Festival; Madelynne Greene's Folklore Camp; Maine Folk Dance Camp; Manitoba Square Dancer; and the Manning Smiths Workshop. March of Dimes Graduation Roundup; Mary Bee Exhibition Square Dance Festival; Maverick's Roundup; Memorial Day...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 38: New Mexico State Square Dance Convention-Oglebay Institute, 1951-2007

 File — Box D096.0038: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186023271581]
Identifier: D096.08.0038
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. In this box are materials from: New Mexico State Square Dance Convention; New Orleans Square Dance Festival; New York State Square and Round Dance Federation Convention; New Zealand Square and Rounds Dance Convention; Northeast Georgia Clogging Championships; Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association Festival; Northern Arizona Square Dance Festival; Northern New Mexico Square Dance Council...
Dates: 1951-2007

Box 39: Stockton Folk Dance Camp-University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp

 File — Box D096.0039: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186023277812]
Identifier: D096.08.0039
Abstract This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. In this box are folders from: Stockton Folk Dance Camp; Stokes Forest Summer Dance Institute; St. Paul Winter Carnival Annual Square Dance Jamboree; Summer Festival of Arts; Summer Square and Folk Dance Festival; Summerfest International Festival; Sunni Bloland's Romanian Dance Workshop; Swingmasters Pow-wow; Taylor Post; Texas Camp; Texas Folk Dance Camp; The Texas State Caller's Association Trail...
Dates: 1930-2007

Box 40: University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp, 1942-1977

 File — Box D096.0040: Series D096.08 [Barcode: U186023277799]
Identifier: D096.08.0040
Abstract

This box contains materials from square and folk dance workshops, festivals, and conferences. In this box are folders from University of the Pacific Folk Dance Camp.

Dates: 1942-1977

Box 41: Lloyd Shaw Foundation Plaques and Awards, 1981-1998

 File — Box D096.0041: Series D096.03 [Barcode: U186023277804]
Identifier: D096.03.0041
Abstract This box contains awards related to the Lloyd Shaw Foundation. Items in this box include: a Top 15 of 1998 award from the 22nd URDC (Universal Round Dance Council, now International Choreographed Ballroom Dance Association) Convention (San Jose, California) for Sam and Jodi Shawver for their choreography that goes with Sam's Song; Silver Spur Award - Award to Bob and Dottie Elgin for Devotion to the Square Dance Activity May 20, 1995 by The Sets in Order American Square Dance Society; Blank...
Dates: 1981-1998