Elizabeth Russell papers, ca. 1873-2005

MLMSS 9121/Boxes 1-3
MLMSS 9121/Box 4X

fonds

ca. 1873-2005

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Nonmusical Sound Recordings, Objects, Clippings, Photographs

449254

0.83 metres of textual material (3 boxes, 1 outsize box)
1 audiocassette (1 hr., 34 min.) - 10 × 7 cm, 4 mm tape

Elizabeth Emma Stowe (Betty) Russell, dancer, choreographer, teacher and adjudicator was born in Hobart. She studied ballet first with Beattie Jordan in Hobart, and from 1941-1944 as a full-time student of Estelle Anderson, an exponent of the Cecchetti ballet method, at her ballet school in Rowe Street, Sydney. Russell joined Raissou Kousnatzova's Polish-Australian Ballet, and from 1945-1947 toured with the Bodenwieser Ballet. She arrived in England in 1948 and for the next 11 years toured Europe and the UK with various dance companies. She also choreographed for revue, pantomime, operetta and musicals. After returning to Australia she taught, adjudicated and arranged school performances for children. During the 1970s she also briefly taught ballet and Indian dance movement in a school for overseas students at a hill station in Southern India. She retired in 1988.

Elizabeth Russell papers, ca. 1873-2005. The collection comprises correspondence, including letters from Australian actor Trader Faulkner; business and personal references; literary manuscripts; dance and music certificates; sound cassette; scrapbooks containing correspondence, certificates, programs, brochures, invitations, newscuttings, reviews, information concerning ballet and ballet schools, and colour & black & photographs.

BOX 1

Dance Australia journals containing articles written by Russell on Gertrud Bodenwieser, and the fourth South Pacific Festival of Arts in Townsville, 1983 and 1989

Papers and objects relating to Clemes College Hobart, including prospectus for 1938, Russell’s school reports, school tie, hat band and blazer pockets with school crest, 1935-1938

Folder of handwritten notes by Russell concerning family history, short stories and dance, ca. 1991

Russell’s diary and notes, 1991-2002

Personal papers including family birth, death and marriage certificates, employment references etc., ca. 1873-1977

Folder of personal correspondence, including letters to Modesta Gentile, ca. 1987-2005

Russell’s notes and literary manuscripts including ‘Dancing through the ages’, dance notation, script for Department of Education, notes of children’s performances, ca. 1977-1991

BOX 2

Scrapbook: ‘Family: Scotland, Tasmania, USA’, including colour and black & white photographs, letters, postcards, ca. 1904-1987

Scrapbook: programs, reviews, newscuttings and black & white photographs concerning the Modern Dance Ballet Company at New Boltons Theatre Club; Bodenwieser Ballet tour of Australia and New Zealand; Russell’s tour of the Himalayas and India; Polish-Australian Ballet Company; ca. 1944-1947

Scrapbook: newscuttings and black & white photographs concerning the Bodenwieser Ballet tour of Australia and New Zealand; teaching work for the Combined Services Youth Clubs; ca. 1947-1994

Scrapbook: colour and black & white photographs of Russell, dancers and friends etc., postcards, letters, newscuttings, ca. 1945-1994

Scrapbook: Bodenwieser Ballet and London recitals, black & white photographs, programs, newscuttings, ca. 1947

Index book containing Russell’s handwritten notes and stories, no date

Notebook containing handwritten notes by Russell on her theatre work in England, no date


BOX 3

Folder of letters received by Russell from Trader Faulkner, 1982-2006

Scrapbook: ‘London recitals, Cecchetti Society of NSW, Polish-Australian Company’, being programs, flyers, newscuttings, colour and black & white photographs, ca. 1945-1987

Scrapbook: correspondence, programs, postcards of ships and planes, newscuttings, colour and black & white photographs of family and friends, and Russell at Clemes College, ca. 1935-1973

Scrapbook: colour & black & white photographs of Russell, newscuttings, ca. 1950-1991

Scrapbook: colour and black & white photographs relating to Trader Faulkner, Spanish dance, ca. 1968-1999

Scrapbook: dance and music examination certificates and reports for Russell and Marjorie Dempster, colour and black & white photographs, postcards, newscuttings etc., ca. 1918-1995

Scrapbook: newscuttings, theatre programs, black & white photographs, ca. 1942-1987

Scrapbook: newscuttings concerning Russell, performance reviews, theatre programs, ca. 1950-2000

Scrapbook: colour & black & white photographs of family and friends, postcards, newscuttings, ca. 1970s-1995

BOX 4X

Russell’s Teachers of Dancing examination certificates and Marjorie Dempster’s music examination certificates, ca. 1919-1990

Small purse containing Russell’s dance membership cards, ca. 1967-1993


SOUND RECORDINGS (Call No.: MLOH 730)

Series 01: Sound recording concerning Trader Faulkner

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Approval for reproduction required:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords project 2013-2014