Mamie W. Barth School of Dance, Pittsburgh: 26 Programs of Annual Exhibitions (1921-1959), Large inscribed photograph of Evelyn Nesbit, 6 other photos of dancers & 1 framed artwork by (Pittsburgh - Dance) Mamie Barth, Evelyn Nesbitt

26 programs, mainly very good condition, with some soil, from 1921-1959. Programs of dancers (mainly children), about 20 pp. each, with photos of the dancers, ads, etc. From the estate of Mamie Barth. Also, 13x10 framed photo of Evelyn Nesbit, inscribed by her to Mamie Barth ("my old friend") "With love from -- Evelyn Nesbit 1921." In addition: 9 x 7.5 photo of Naro and Zita Lockford, inscribed to Barth in 1928 ("...was very much impressed by your wonderful school of dancing...") -- dancers of the time, including stints with the Folies Bergere. There are three approximately 8x10 framed photos, ca. 1920s-30s, of girl dancers displaying their limberness, no doubt students of Mamie Barth's school of dance, a slightly larger (11.5 x 8.5) framed photo of a girl doing a split, a larger photo (image measures 13.5 x 10) matted and framed, showing the interior of the Barth school of dance and 11 girls practicing (ca. 1920s; the studio was on 5th Ave. downtown) -- the matt is slightly soiled and is definitely non-archival. Finally, there is a framed work of art, watercolors of a ballet dancer in various poses, ca. 1950, by "Beam" -- viewable image measures 14 x 10 inches, matted, framed, not examined outside the frame. Here's the years of the programs we have: 1921-1927, 1929, 1931, 1935-1939, 1944, 1946-1951, 1953, 1956-1959, plus a 50th Anniversary "Dance Exhibition" at Allegheny High School program from 1968. The Barth School of Dancing continued for sometime after Mamie retired, run by her daughter Marjorie. Mamie's husband was a health nut and body builder who was in the holistic health and naturopath business, with an office also on 5th Ave., downtown. A handsome group of Pittsburgh dance memorabilia. By 1921, Evelyn Nesbit, still notorious for her marriage to Harry Thaw, the insane Pittsburgh millionaire who murdered Stanford White, was starting a downward spiral into alcohol, opium, and burlesque vaudeville appearances. She was born in Tarentum (up the Allegheny River from Pittsburgh) and moved back to Pittsburgh when she was married to Thaw (before he killed White), and so probably struck up a friendship with Barth in those days, before Barth started teaching dance. It is a striking photo of the 36 year old Nesbit, in the shadowy moody light the Hixon-Connelly photo studio (Kansas City, MO) was known for.