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

Browse Items (357 total)

  • Collection: Northern squares
Still Image

Vermont square dancers - 1950s

A series of photographs, mostly from the big square dance gatherings in Northfield and Montpelier, Vermont. View item
Still Image

Frank Fortune

Frank Fortune with the Myron Colby Orchestra, Bradford, NH View item
Website

Frank Fortune and the Bradford (NH) Barn Dance

Back in the 1930s and 1940s in many of the villages of New England were held dances referred to as "Barn Dances" or "Round and Square Dances" or "Eastern Barn Dance Style Square Dances". As people did… View item
Sound

Two Three Hand Stars (clip) - Frank Kaltman

The tune is Big John McNeil. Frank Kaltman founded the influential magazine American Squares and (with Dan Wolfert) created the Folkraft record label after World War II. View item
Sound

Farmer's Daughter (clip) - Ed Bossing

Ed Bossing was director of the Rocky Mount Folk and Square Dance Summer School in Denver, and was employed regularly by the Chicago public school system. He authored the Handbook of Square Dancing,… View item
Sound

Half Way Round (clip) - Rod Linnell

Maine caller with his composition, a singing call set to the RCA VIctor recording of "Back Up and Push." Linnell's version is published in View item
Sound

Lady Round the Lady - George Wade

Played by George Wade and his Cornhuskers. The tune is Lord Saltoun's Reel. You'll note that the introduction to Wade dance recordings is longer than many others. View item
Sound

Darling Nellie Gray (clip) - George Wade

Notice the tempo of this version! View item
Moving Image

Northern Lights - Bill Litchman

Dance written by Floyd Parker, Colorado, danced at the 2011 Dare To Be Square dance weekend in Brasstown, NC, called by Bill Litchman. Dance directions are available, as is an audio clip of the… View item
Sound

Northern Lights (clip) - Floyd Parker

You can find a written description of the dance and a video of the dance called by Bill Litchman. The tune is Blackberry Quadrille. View item