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Sheila Malkind photographs

 Collection
Identifier: Midwest-MS-Malkind

Scope and Content of the Collection

The Sheila Malkind photographs contain color photographs, black and white photographs, negatives, contact sheets, and slides from her time working for and with Ruth Page, as well as a free-lance photojournalist. The photographs chiefly relate to cultural life in Chicago, dance, and her personal life.

The collection additionally includes clippings, correspondence, publicity materials, and essays by Malkind and Ruth Page. Lastly there are cassette tapes featuring audio recordings.

Dates

  • Creation: 1960-2003
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1985-1993

Creator

Language

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Sheila Malkind photographs are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Conditions Governing Audiovisual Access

Audiovisual recordings in this collection have not been digitized and are unavailable for use at this time.

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Sheila Malkind photographs are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections at reference@newberry.org.

Biography of Sheila Malkind

Freelance writer and photographer, arts administrator, and medical administrator.

Sheila Malkind was born in 1938. She spent a great portion of her life in Chicago, earning a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University in 1969. Later, in 1996, she also earned a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Illinois - Chicago. She had a varied professional life, and in her 40s became particularly interested in geriatric studies and issues. She got involved with groups such as the Older Women’s League and events such as the Silver Images Film Festival.

Malkind became particularly close to the choreographer and ballet director Ruth Page during the last decade of Page’s life. She worked first as an office manager and then director for the Ruth Page Foundation from 1981 through 1992. In addition to extensively photographing the Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, particularly rehearsals and performances of The Nutcracker, she took many candid photos of Ruth Page in her later years. She started pursuing work as a freelance writer and photographer during this time, and dedicated herself to freelance work full-time from 1992 through 1995. She often photographed other Chicago dance events, including the Tribune Charities Nutcracker rehearsals and the Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater studios. She was also known to roam the streets of Chicago, photographing people, street events, etc.

From 1994 through 1999, Malkind worked as the Project Coordinator for the American Medical Association (AMA). In addition to earning her MPH from UIC, she published several papers during these years. Most of the papers dealt with geriatric concerns such as home care, osteoporosis, the health needs of older women, and more. In 1999, she was hired as the director of the Silver Images Film Festival, the only film festival in Chicago dedicated to portraying the lives of older people.

Malkind’s brother convinced her to relocate to San Francisco in 2002 to explore some real estate opportunities for extra income. She now works as the Executive Director of the Legacy Film Festival on Aging. She also has two children, Stephanie and David.

Extent

9.2 Linear Feet (23 boxes)

Abstract

Malkind, a Chicago photojournalist, worked for the Ruth Page Foundation from 1981 to 1992. Her photographs primarily feature cultural life in Chicago, dance and performing arts events, as well as her personal life. The collection also includes clippings, correspondence, publicity materials, written work by Malkind and Ruth Page, and audio recordings.

Organization

Papers are organized in the following series:

Series 1: Photographs, 1960-2003
Boxes 1-20
Series 2: Papers, 1981-2002
Boxes 21 and 22
Series 3: Audio Recordings, 1982-1987
Box 23

Collection Stack Location

1 39 3

Provenance

Gift of Sheila Malkind, 2003.

Processed by

Marilyn London, 2005; Alexandra Gunnells and Samantha Smith, 2017.

Title
Inventory of the Sheila Malkind photographs, 1960-2003, bulk 1985-1993
Status
Completed
Author
Samantha Smith
Date
©2017.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512