Kirstein, Lincoln

American ballet director, writer, and dance historian, 1907-1995. Lincoln Kirstein was born in Rochester, NY, educated at Harvard (B.A. 1929, M.A. 1930). He married Fidelma Cadmus, sister of artist, Paul Cadmus, in 1941 and served in the U.S. Army 1943-45. He co-founded School of American Ballet with George Balanchine and Edward M.M. Warburg in 1934. Participated in the founding and/or direction of American Ballet in 1935, Ballet Caravan 1936-41, Ballet Society in 1946, and became general director of the succeeding company, New York City Ballet in 1948. Lincoln Kirstein career included work with visual artists and writers on various projects. His publications in dance include: Dance Index, 1942-48; books on Fokine, Nijinsky, New York City Ballet, a history of theatrical dance, and assistance to Romola Nijinsky in the biography of her husband, 1932-33. He retired from New York City Ballet and School of American Ballet in 1989. Kirstein was known as a sponsor (1959-60) of Japanese theater in the United States. He was the recipient of many distinguished awards.

From the guide to the Lincoln Kirstein papers, ca. 1913-1994, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

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