About the Square Dance History Project
Square dancing has been an integral part of American social life for centuries. Traditional square dance was vital for generations of Americans, especially in rural communities; in the post-World War II era, modern square dance similarly enjoyed participants numbering in the millions.
Despite its popularity, the history of square dance has not been well documented. Scores of books explain specific figures and calls, but there are few current sources that offer a detailed discussion of the development of this form of American social dance. We hope this site helps to fill that need.
Website
Dancing for Busy People by Cal Campbell
Cal Campbell published "Dancing for Busy People" in 1995 to provide enjoyable dance materials that are accessible to dancers who have not taken Modern Western Square Dance classes. View itemStill Image
Ed Durlacher - World's Fair, 1940
The description on this publiicity photo from the 1940 New York World's Fair reads: FAIR STAGES WORLD'S BIGGEST BARN DANCE More than 700 square dancers, hill billy bands and square… View itemDocument
Keeler Calling
This three-disk set of 78rpm records features caller Elisha Keeler and the band with whom he recorded, Mac Ceppos and his Country Rhythm Boys: Mac Ceppos, violin Eddie Smith, accordion Bill… View itemStill Image
Frank Messina
Frank Messina and the Mavericks recorded hundreds of titles for the Mac Gregor label, providing music for Fenton "Jonesy" Jones, Bob Van Antwerp, Arnie Kronenberger, Jerry Helt, and more. View itemDocument
The Li'l Abner Official Square Dance Handbook
This book clearly is riding the wave of square dance popularity at that time. Linking square dance with the popular comic strip figures, the book even more explicitly illustrates the way that the… View itemMoving Image
Square Dancing in Sudbury, Ontario
This film, made in 1959 by members of the Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers Union Local 598 in Sudbury, Ontario, illustrates the wide range of programming that the union provided for the community.… View itemDocument
Silver Spurs of Spokane, Washington
This article from Sets in Order celebrates Red Henderson and his Silver Spurs performing group of teenagers in Spokane. Henderson attended an early workshop by Lloyd Shaw in Colorado Springs and… View itemDocument
Easy Key Handbook of Square Dance Fundamentals
In the 1950s, square dancing in many locations was changing from traditional to modern squares, moving away from a complete set of patterns to a system in which dancers would learn basic figures that… View itemDocument
Oak Grove Barn
This newspaper article takes a detailed look back at a well-loved venue, the Old Grove Barn in San Antonio. The hall hosted dances from the mid-1930s into the 1960s. Events included a high school… View itemSound
Two Little Hoboes
Two Little Hoboes is a common figure in Ozark square dancing. Here it's called by L.D. Keller, with fiddling by Tommy Jackson. We include the introduction and the first time through the dance, an… View itemDocument
Southern California Square Dance "Gold Rush"
This essay, from the program booklet of the 1976 National Square Dance Convention, provides an overview of early square dancing in southern California. That year's NSDC was held in Anaheim, CA,… View itemSound