Morgan was a Dalton parent for a time while her sons, Lloyd and later Douglas, attended the school. Barbara Morgan’s grandchildren, Nils and Caitlin Morgan made this gift to enable these images to remain a part of Dalton’s archives. The remainder of Morgan's vast archives is promised to UCLA.

The images capture an active and creative learning environment just at the apex of Helen Parkhurst’s tenure as Head of School. A selection of these photographs appeared in a 1941 large format photo essay describing life at Dalton, which at that time had 545 students and 85 teachers. It is interesting to note that there were boys and girls ages 2 through 14, and then girls only from ages 13-18. Some of these images have appeared in recent alumni publications, and many are sure to delight future generations of Dalton students, teachers and alumni.

 

Barbara Morgan (b.1900 – d.1992) holds an important place in the history of American photography. She is best known for chronicling many of the seminal figures of modern dance including Martha Graham, Hanya Holm, Merce Cunningham, and Erick Hawkins among many others. About the time of her Dalton work, Morgan was preparing her 1941 book, Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs. She was also a co-founder of Aperture Magazine.

 

The school is honored to receive this remarkable collection directly from her descendants.

Story by Robert Meredith, Art Teacher Emeritus