Thompson, Betty Lynd

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Dance professor Betty Lynd Thompson came to Oregon State College in 1927 to teach dance in the Department of Physical Education for Women. Until 1945, she taught all dance classes -- modern, folk, square, tap, and ballroom -- as well as basic rhythm and movement. As other dance faculty were added to the department, she was able to concentrate on her major interest of creative dance. She wrote a college textbook for dance instruction, Fundamentals of Rhythm and Dance, which was published in 1933. In 1931, she founded the Oregon State chapter of Orchesis, the modern dance honorary. Thompson earned a B.A. in English Literature from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1923 and an M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1926 with an emphasis in modern creative dance. She later pursued intensive traning in the studios of master artists in New York, including Martha Graham, who became a friend as well as mentor. She became interested in ceramics in the 1940s while volunteering with the USO and began to sculpt small figurines of dancers after studying ceramics at the University of Washington for one term. She referred to this work as "danceramics". Thompson retired from teaching in 1972. On her 83rd birthday, colleagues and friends organized a celebration, during which she danced on stage. She died a month later on March 2, 1985.

From the description of Betty Lynd Thompson papers, 1916-1980 (bulk 1925-1970). (Eugene Public Library). WorldCat record id: 226969400

Dance professor Betty Lynd Thompson came to Oregon State College in 1927 to teach dance in the Department of Physical Education for Women. Until 1945, she taught all dance classes -- modern, folk, square, tap, and ballroom -- as well as basic rhythm and movement. As other dance faculty were added to the department, she was able to concentrate on her major interest of creative dance. She wrote a college textbook for dance instruction, Fundamentals of Rhythm and Dance, which was published in 1933. In 1931, she founded the Oregon State chapter of Orchesis, the modern dance honorary.

Thompson earned a B.A. in English Literature from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1923 and an M.A. degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1926 with an emphasis in modern creative dance. She later pursued intensive traning in the studios of master artists in New York, including Martha Graham, who became a friend as well as mentor.

She became interested in ceramics in the 1940s while volunteering with the USO and began to sculpt small figurines of dancers after studying ceramics at the University of Washington for one term. She referred to this work as "danceramics".

Thompson retired from teaching in 1972. On her 83rd birthday, colleagues and friends organized a celebration, during which she danced on stage. She died a month later on March 2, 1985.

From the guide to the Betty Lynd Thompson Papers, 1916-1980, 1925-1970, (Oregon State University Libraries)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Thompson, Betty Lynd,. Interview with Betty Lynd Thompson. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald Alumnae, OAC Review, v.51, no.4, Jan. 1939, p. 251. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). MAC'36 holds reunion, OAC Review, v.51, no. 8, Midsummer 1939, p. 517-518. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald Alumnae / Marie Barry, OAC Review, v.52, no.5, Feb. 1940, p. 304. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald News / Bertha Leach, OAC Review, v.47, no.4, Jan. 1935, p. 222-224. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald Alumnae / Marie Barry, OAC Review, v.51, no.5, Feb. 1939, p. 314-318. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). Macdonald Alumnae / Marrie Barry & Betty Freudeman, OAC Review, v.49, no.8, Midsummer 1937, p. 520-522, con't. on 498. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
creatorOf Betty Lynd Thompson Papers, 1916-1980, 1925-1970 Oregon State University Libraries University Archives
creatorOf Thompson, Betty Lynd. Betty Lynd Thompson papers, 1916-1980 (bulk 1925-1970). Oregon State University Libraries
creatorOf OAC Review Index (University of Guelph). MAC Alumnae, OAC Review, v.52, no.2, Nov. 1939, p. 109-110, 112. University of Guelph. McLaughlin Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Atkinson, Pearl, person
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith OAC Review Index (University of Guelph) corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State College corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon. State College, Corvallis. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State College. Division of Physical Education. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State College. Division of Physical Education. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State University corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State University. Division of Physical Education. corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon State University. Division of Physical Education. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Oregon--Corvallis
Subject
Artifacts
Universities and colleges
Corvallis
Dance
Dance
Modern dance
Moving Images
Performing arts
Photographs
Physical education for women
Physical education forwomen
Scrapbooks
Sound recordings
Sports and Recreation
Student activities
Student activities
Student Life
Women
Women field hockey players
Women field hockeyplayers
Occupation
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Person

Active 1916

Active 1980

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