Library and Archives of the SFDH

• Library
• Encyclopedia
• Publications

The two permanent SFDH staff members hold masters degrees and certificates of specialization in archives and preservation and currently are Ph.D. candidates (all but the dissertation) at the School of Information of the University of Texas at Austin. They maintain an archive of sound recordings, publications, artifacts, and the papers of organizations and individuals involved with RIFD. The constantly increasing SFDH archives consist of approximately 3000 books, 2000 periodicals, 280 archival document cases containing approximately 280,000 unbound items including dance descriptions, photographs, photographic negatives, and slides, 200 video tapes, 30 reels of cellulose acetate or polyester-based moving image films, several dozen artifacts such as musical instruments and costumes, and the sound recordings. All of these materials were produced between approximately 1880 and the present, with the majority being produced between 1930 and 1960, during the American revival of interest in the ethnic dancing of American immigrants and pioneers.

The employees of the SFDH use information from this collection to assist scholars and dancers across North America and Europe. The SFDH itself has sponsored and published since 1987 annual collections of research reports drawn in large part from the information stored in the SFDH Archive. The SFDH distributes its publications to approximately 500 member individuals and institutions each year. SFDH employees conduct educational and recreational seminars locally, nationwide, and abroad, drawing on information and recordings in the SFDH Archive.

The SFDH is always interested in expanding its collection. If you have material related to RIFD that you would like to donate, or wish to contribute information to this site, please contact us.