Square Dance History Project
The rich story of North American square dance finally has a home in the digital age.

Browse Items (503 total)

  • Collection: MWSD
Sound

Ends Turn In - Fenton "Jonesy" Jones

This is a rare live recording of Fenton “Jonesy” Jones from California. In the 1954 tape he says that he prefers to use his guitar for music rather than records even for some of the patter… View item
Sound

Ends Turn In - Joe Casey

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Sound

Ends Turn In (clip) - Joe Lewis

Joe Lewis was one of the big names in square dance calling; he played an accordion that was specially fitted out so that different notes would produce different kinds of sounds, and his big hit was… View item
Sound

Ends Turn In (clip) - Raymond Smith

Dance created by Ed Gilmore, with many versions available on this site. Music here is played by Jack Barbour's band. View item
Still Image

Exhibition groups - photos

These photos from the Bob Osgood collection illustrate various exhibition groups. Although most are unidentified, there is a photo from the 1964 World's Fair, and another group from the 10th… View item
Sound

False Hearted Girl - Dick Jones, 1965

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Sound

False Hearted Girl - Les Gotcher

This is a short clip from a dance called by Les Gotcher in the mid 1959 at the Newton Pavilion in Newton, New Hampshire. The record is probably Kalox #1004 View item
Document

Fast tempos - Texas, 1954

This article (and the following item in the SDHP site) discusses a common problem facing square dancers in the mid-1950s—tempos that are too fast for good dancing. As the author explains, "If any… View item
Document

Fenton "Jonesy" Jones - Sets in Order, February 1961

Cover drawing and appreciation of the caller View item
Sound

Fenton "Jonesy" Jones - interview

This lengthy interview (nearly three hours) with Fenton Jones was conducted by Bob Dalsemer and Drew Tronvig in Los Angeles in 1985. Dalsemer recalls: "In November, 1985 I toured the West Coast… View item
Still Image

Fenton "Jonesy" Jones - photos

This collection of photos of Fenton "Jonesy" Jones includes several from movies in which he appeared. #3 - publicity photo #4 - calling in the 1940s #5 - calling in 1949 #6 - with… View item
Sound

Forming squares - Eric Clamons

Eric Clamons was a square dance caller in Minnesota in the 1940s and 1950s. A chance conversation with his son in 2013 revealed that Eric had taped numerous recordings of square dances from the early… View item