Square Dance Foundation of New England

2012 Hartford, CT Convention

1976 Portland, ME Convention

Welcome to the Square Dance Foundation of New England!

The Library/Museum of the Square Dance Foundation of New England (SDFNE) has been closed, however the SDFNE continues to exists as an online entity at: http://www.sdfne.org. It is important to realize that a large collection of materials from the SDFNE collection are available on the SDFNE.org web site. Most important among these are the full set of Bob Brundage interviews with more than 100 leading square dance people from the past 60 or more years and the complete digitized issues of the New England Caller/Northeast Square Dancer magazines. The complete publications of five major caller note services are also available on the web site. There are many other items available for viewing.

The collection of historical materials has been transferred to the University of New Hampshire. The Milne Special Collections Library there has what is probably the largest collection of square dance related material anywhere in the world. As we closed our museum we moved a huge amount of books, documents, recordings, photographs and other items to the UNH Library. These added to the already substantial collections we had been sending over the past decade. The task of organizing and cataloging this material will take years. To help support the University’s work on this task the SDFNE has recently made a contribution of $5000 and we hope to continue this support in the future.

Many of the books and records that we have shared with UNH over the past decade have already been cataloged and are listed on the UNH web site. To search for books use the web address: https://www.library.unh.edu/ then enter the keyword SDFNE. Click here to look for records and enter the collection name SDFNE. Other types of materials will require a more specific identification and help with searching the very complete donation lists that the Foundation has on our computers. If you are searching for something like that, contact Jim Mayo: jmayo329@aol.com or John Wedge: jbwedge@gmail.com.

In November of 2016, the SDFNE transferred much of the remainder of it's museum documents and artifacts to the Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs, NY. At this time, Square Dancing is not yet mentioned on the web site of the Museum of Dance, however they have informed us that they will be featuring a special page and a display on Square Dancing in the near future. Our contact is programming and outreach director coordinator, Jessica Munson. Her email address is: info@dancemuseum.org. They're web site is: http://www.dancemuseum.org/.

Also, check out the Square Dance History Site at: https://squaredancehistory.org/.

2007 – Steve & Peggy Schevis (MA)

Square Dance Leader and Vendor Steve and Peggy have been Square Dancing for 41 years. During this time they have been members of the Lancers Square Dance Club where they served as Secretary and President of the club. They have been members of the Channeliers Round Dance Club, the Butterfly …

2007 – Jennie Frizella (NH)

Round Dance Cuer Jennie Frisella must be an individual with unlimited energy and drive. She not only raised four daughters, but earned a B.S. Degree in Zoology from the University of Rhode Island, dedicated twenty-five years to the Girl Scouts from member to leadership, spent sixteen years as visiting faculty …

Jennings, Larry

LARRY JENNINGS INTERVIEW July 26, 2004 The following interview contains many blank spaces and interruptions. I seem to have caught Larry when he was not feeling his best but he wanted to continue. Blank spaces will be indicated by: …….. and indistinguishable words by: ?? Beginning of tape follows. Bob …

Johnson, Bruce: SIO Hall of Fame, CALLERLAB Milestone

BRUCE JOHNSON TAPE TRANSCRIPTION Bob Brundage: Well, this is Bob Brundage again. date is August 27, 1996 and today I’m in Santa Barbara talking with Bruce and Hope Johnson and I’m looking forward to an interesting story about Bruce’s square dance life. So tell us, Bruce, where you were born …

Johnston, Bill

BILL JOHNSTON INTERVIEW Bob Brundage – Well, hi again. This is Bob Brundage and the date today is November the 30th, 1996 and we’re still enjoying the contra dance weekend in York, Pennsylvania. Today we’re talking with the original promoter of this particular weekend, which has been going on for …

*Johnston, Earl: SIO Hall of Fame, CALLERLAB Milestone, NE Yankee Clipper, SDFNE Hall of Fame

EARL JOHNSTON JUNE 22, 1997 BB: Well hi again, this is Bob Brundage again. It’s been quite a while since my last interview and today I’m in Bradenton FL talking with Earl Johnston who originally came from Connecticut as many of you well know. Today is June 22 1997, just …