Wood plaques - Dancers, circa 1980

The Slavic Folk Ensemble records contain historical items in varying formats, all of which document the 30-year history of the ensemble (1963 - 1993). Although much of the collection is documentary (e.g., correspondence, ledgers, performance flyers, and schedules), the SFE took copious amounts of photographs during their performances and trips, creating multiple scrapbooks and other decorative items. In this way, the collection has been painstakingly developed by its original members, and provides an exceptional wealth of information about the workings of the SFE, both onstage and off.

A primary focus within the records is the facilitation of the ensemble as a student organization, with special emphasis being placed on roles and regulations for student officers and administrators. Steve Talan’s work on The Slavic Almanac (1979) is an example of this emphasis, as the item in question is a fully-developed resource guide for current and future members who are interested in serving in leadership within the SFE. The almanac also provides historical context for the resources used by the ensemble, as it includes lists of local businesses and historical organizations that the SFE relied on for some of their research, costumes, music, and performances. Documenting the ensemble’s performance accomplishments was also a clear priority, given the large amount of flyers, newspaper articles, photographs and scrapbooks that were preserved.

Items within the records are arranged according to function and have been arranged in six series: Administrative, Research, Promotional, Performance, Press, and Realia.

The Administrative series contains materials related to the facilitation and management of the SFE and its members.

The Research series contains materials related to Slavic history and traditional dress which was presumably used by the SFE prior to and during performance preparation.

The Promotional series contains materials related to outreach efforts made on the part of SFE members to increase awareness of and engagement with the ensemble.

The Performance series contains materials which document to the SFE’s performance history. Items related to preparations for performances, documentation of individual performances themselves, and trips taken (both nationally and internationally) are included.

The Press series contains materials (e.g., newsletters, newspaper clippings) from various publications describing the SFE and its performances.

The Realia series contains materials of mixed media created by members of the SFE, and which do not fit into any particular series as listed above.

This collection is also correspondent with the Slavic Folk Ensemble Photo Collection, which consists of three boxes of photographs and proofs. The collection encompasses predominantly the performances, practices, and trips taken by the SFE and its members from 1963 to 1992. Many photographs include information regarding the locations and dates, as well as the names of the participants.