Jeni LeGon Papers
name: label: Author
content: LeGon, Jeni, 1916-
label: Names
content: Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949
topic: label: Topic
content: African American women entertainers
label: Topic
content: African American women
label: Topic
content: Dance in motion pictures, television, etc.
label: Topic
content: Dance, Black
label: Topic
content: Dancers
label: Topic
content: Actresses
label: Topic
content: Tap dancing
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated to the Archives Center by Jeni LeGon in 2002.
creator: label: Author
content: LeGon, Jeni, 1916-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Jeni LeGon Papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: Collection documents the career of Jeni LeGon as a dancer, dance instructor, and actress.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Jeni LeGon was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1916. Her long, successful career as an African American dancer and actress began in musical theatre and vaudeville. In the 1930s she traveled across the southern United States performing first with the Whitman Sisters company and then with her half-sister, Willa Mae Lane, as the LeGon and Lane song-and-dance team. By 1935, LeGon was working under contract with Fox Studios, RKO Pictures, and MGM performing with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson,  Waters and Al Jolson, and Fred Astaire. Throughout the years she performed on Broadway and in other theaters and clubs including the Apollo, Cafe de Paris, Howard, Paramount, and Lincoln. Beginning in the 1950s she offered dance instruction in Los Angeles, California at the Jeni LeGon Dance Studio and Drama and Dance Playhouse; and in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she taught tap and pointe. She died on December 7, 2012 at the age of ninety-six.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Cubic foot (3 boxes, includes photographs)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1930-2002, undated
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0829
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Letters (correspondence)
label: Type
content: Programs
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Itineraries
label: Type
content: Advertisements
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into four series:.

Series 1, Biographical Information and Publicity

Series 2, Theatre and Motion Picture Film, 1935-1945

Series 3, Dance Instruction and Performances, 1953-2002, undatred

Series 4, Tributes and Awards, 1979-2002
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Vanessa Broussard- Simmons, archivist, 2002.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century.
label: Genre/Form
content: Programs -- 1930-2000
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings
label: Genre/Form
content: Itineraries
label: Genre/Form
content: Advertisements -- 20th century
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Collection documents LeGon's career as a dancer, dance instructor, and actress. Materials include biographical information, correspondence, photographs, early travel itineraries, schedules, personal calendars, printed advertisements, invitations to dance events, programs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and awards.  The collection is arranged into four series: Series 1, Biographical Information and Publicity, 1930s; Series 2, Theatre and Motion Picture Film, 1935-1945, undated; Series 3, Dance Instruction and Performances, 1953-2002, undated; and Series 4: Tributes and Awards, 1979-2002.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History


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