Collection number: MC 271
Size: 1 box
(0.20 cu.ft.)
About Bob Bennett, 1908-1985
Bob Bennett was a teacher and caller of New England style squares who lived in Concord, NH, and later in York, ME. He attended the Folkways School in Peterborough NH with Ralph Page and Gene Gowing in the summer of 1949. While he briefly experimented with western-style squares, calling for the Heel and Toe [square dance] Club in Manchester, he soon became disillusioned and returned to calling the New England style. He mainly called dances within the NH French communities in Concord and Laconia, with musicians such as Omar Marcoux of Concord, Art Stickney, Roger Pinard, and others. Notable regular dances included a winter monthly Saturday dance in Laconia, 1950s-1960s, and a summer monthly dance at a farm outside Goff's Falls, NH. He may also have danced at Frank Fortune's Barn in Bradford, NH. He worked as a maintenance and correctional officer at the state prison in Concord.
About the Bob Bennett Papers, 1948-1999
The collection consists of calling notebooks, music books, festival programs detailing his 1940s-1950s involvement in the New Hampshire Folk Festival, NEFFA, and other New Hampshire dancing activities. Also included is a certificate signed by Ralph Page and Gene Gowing, several letters to archives staff from friends which describe Bennett's life and calling carrier, and a transcription of portions of Louise Winston's diaries which relate to Bob Bennett.
Bennett also donated more than 400 dance recording to the New Hampshire Library of Traditional Music and Dance.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], Bob Bennett Papers, 1948-1999, MC 271, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Gift, 1999
Separated Material
Audio Recordings are housed with main collection.
Collection Arrangement
Collection is in original order as received.
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Correspondence, Training Certificates | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Louis Winston Diaries Partial Transcript | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Festival Programs, Articles on Dance Revival | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Musical Scores | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Calling Notebooks | |
