Founded in 1960, the purpose of the Miami Valley Arts Council was to facilitate communication between local arts organizations and to promote cummunity support for cultural activities. The bulk of records in this collection fall in the late 1960's and include minutes of the board meetings, correspondence, clippings and news releases, membership lists, calendars of events, and information on the various groups associated with the Council. Finding aid available.

Records consist of organizational papers, annual reports, financial records, and performance programs for two early dance groups that predated the Dayton Ballet Company. Dayton Ballet Company records start in 1958 and include a constitution, minutes of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, officers and membership lists, annual reports, newsletters, financial records, an extensive collection of performance records and programs, correspondence, records of the Friends of the Dayton Ballet, press releases, clippings, and materials relating to the Dayton Ballet's membership in national and regional dance organizations. Also included are scrapbooks containing clippings, photographs, and programs which highlight the early careers of Dayton Ballet founders, Josephine and Hermene Schwarz, as well as the activities and performances of the Company. Finding aid available.

The Ohio Theater Alliance was founded in 1972 to bring together all levels of theater - professional, community, college, and school - to promote communications and take action on matters of concern. The records in this collection include organizational papers, meeting minutes, membership records, committee reports, conference records, financial records, and correspondence. Finding aid available.

Consists of materials relating to Katz' long career as a musician, composer, teacher, and conductor. Katz organized the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in 1933 and held the post of Musical Director until he retired in 1975. Papers in this collection include personal correspondence, a complete set of Dayton Philharmonic concert programs for 1933-1975, conductor scores, photographs, clippings, speeches, and articles by Katz. Also included are audio tapes of DPO performances and an interview with Katz. Finding aid available. See also MFM-19.

Includes photographic prints, negatives, exhibit catalogues, and correspondence for an internationally known Yellow Springs photographer. Finding aid available.

Consists of the glass plate and film negatives of an internationally known Dayton photographer, an associate of Steiglitz and Steichen, and one of the first professional female photographers in the United States. Collection contains over 10,000 images and is roughly divided into two portions: the portraits, many of prominent individuals, by which Reece made her living; and the creative photographs of her salon. Finding aid available.

Richard Fullerton was a local photograph historian and collector. His Jane Reece collection consists primarily of images which document the renovation of Reece's home and studio, an old firehouse on 834 Riverside Drive in Dayton, and photographs and information about the surrounding neighborhood. Also included are interior and exterior photographs of Reece's studio and a few examples of her artistic photography. Finding aid available.

Collection consists of 89 photographs of Dayton photographer, Jane Reece, owned by Josephine Schwarz. Included are images of Dayton Ballet founders, Josephine and Hermene Schwarz, the Schwarz Family, Reece self-portraits, and nature photographs. Finding aid available.

Richard Fullerton was a local collector of historic photographs and materials about the history of photography. His collection contains prints, negatives, tintypes, carte de viste, and cabinet photos. There is also a collection of carte de viste images specifically by Dayton photographers with the name and address of each photographer stamped on the back. In addition, Fullerton collected photographs and other materials related to various local history subjects including Dayton railroad stations and traction lines, street scenes of Dayton, the Montgomery County Courthouse, the Dayton Fire Department, and the 1913 Dayton Flood. Finding aid available.

The Josephine Schwarz Papers consist of a collection of the personal correspondence, photographs, writings, and memorabilia of Josephine and, to a lesser extent, the personal papers of her sister Hermene Schwarz. The collection encompasses a wide range of topics, including the Schwarz School of Dance, the Dayton Ballet, correspondence concerning dance and ballet-related issues, personal correspondence with family, friends, and students, her journals, diaries, and scrapbooks, ballet and family photographs, and memorabilia. Finding aid available.

Formed in 1943 by a group of local film makers, the Dayton Amateur Movie Makers Club's records consist of meeting minutes, membership lists, newsletters containing club programs, correspondence, and several films produced by club members. Finding aid available.

Sebastian, a dancer and nationally known choreographer, was the Artistic Director of the Dayton Ballet Company during the 1980's. His papers include correspondence, both personal and professional from colleagues in the dance world, Dayton Ballet administrative materials and performance records, photographs, clippings, materials pertaining to his dance teaching activities, and personal items including diplomas and school papers. Finding aid available.

Artbeat was a bi-monthly half- hour radio program about the visual arts in the Miami Valley. Hosted by Dayton artist, Susan Zurcher, the show consisted of an interview with either a local artist or an artist who was showing in the Miami Valley. The program aired on several local Public Radio stations. The collection consists of tapes and transcripts of the broadcasts. Finding aid available.

Founded in 1968 by Jeraldyn Blunden, DCDC is a modern dance company rooted in the African American experience. DCDC performs locally, tours nationally and internationally, and provides educational programs in the Miami Valley. Throughout its history, the company has built a collection of dances by the most significant modern dance creators and holds the largest collection in the world of classic works by African American choreographers.The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company records document the administrative functions, finances and performances of this important modern dance company. Finding aid available.

In 1967, the Dayton Board of Education received a grant to promote the creativity and self-expression of its students (grades five through twelve) through creative writing, drama, dance, music and visual arts. The collection consists of administration papers, newspaper and magazine articles, publicity pamphlets, and photographs . Finding aid available.

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded by Paul Katz in 1933. It is recognized as one of Dayton's oldest and longest standing cultural institutions. The records of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra document the organization's history from founding to the recent past. Emphasis is on the 1970's and 1980's. This is an ongoing collection. The collection is rich in brochures and photographs, programs, administrative records, and marketing material. Finding aid available.

A diary detailing the founding and early development of the Dayton Chamber Orchestra, a forerunner of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirk was a harpist with the orchestra and one of its key organizers and advocates. The diary gives much detail about finances, personnel, organization, and programs.