Square and Folk Dance Heritage Center

of Washington

7424 N. Freya Spokane, WA 99217 (Map)
509-489-4832
 

Heritage Center Trustees

The Square and Folk Dance Heritage Center of Washington

The Heritage Center of the Square and Folk Dance Federation of Washington is the official storehouse, research center and showcase of historical record, musical materials, artifacts and other memorabilia gathered by the State Federation since its beginning in 1948. It is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of the history of the Square Dance and six related cultural dance forms; square, round, clogging, contra, line and heritage dances in Washington state.

The Heritage Center was begun in September 1979 with a portion of the profits from the 1979 State Festival presented by its host Mt. Baker Council. Other funding sources have been memorial donations, cash contributions form individuals, festivals and federation funds. Individuals and groups have made material donations of records, books and many other memorabilia.

Finding a location for Heritage Center required the services of many dedicated people. For three years, the Federation Past President’s organization looked for centrally located space in museums, colleges, square dance halls, square dance ranch, and even a trailer to house and display historical items. The Shuffler’s Shanty was ultimately chosen because it was dancer owned and managed. Even then the existence of the center took the dedicated efforts of many organizations and persons who have devoted considerable time, labor, expertise and financial considerations to its being.

The Heritage Center is governed by a board of trustees, four at large dancers and four Past State Federation presidents, along with representatives from each of the 12 Federation Councils and past and Present State Federation historians. It is a place for you, the dancer to appreciate, reminisce and recall the delights of our National Pastime.

What can one expect to find in our Heritage Center?

• History of the Washington State Federation, its Councils and member clubs (current and disbanded). Some histories are still being researched and updated.

• A musical collection of 33’s. 45’s, and 78’s, long play and stereo, discs, tapes and albums that provide a source of musical history of Round and Square Dancing.
• State Federation printed records – complete sets by year kept of financial, federation minutes, officer files and correspondence.
• State Federation magazines "Footnotes" since 1950, State Federation Directory – listing all Federated Dance Clubs since 1948.
• State Seminar materials – including transcripts, booklets, pins, fact sheets of proceedings since inception in 1969.
• Other publications including State Festival programs and final reports, since 1949.
• State Federation Scrapbooks – began in 1948 – include photos, articles, flyers, clippings and other memorabilia.
• Displays:
  • Parker, MacGregor, Presidents awards.
  • Honor roles and commemorative plaques honoring state and local leaders, deceased members and contributors to the center.
  • Badges of past and present clubs, council and national insignia.
  • Banners, flags and pennants (old and new) of National Conventions, State Federation, and Far Western, council and club festivals.
  • Costumes – early dance attire, festival dress and National apparel.
  • Equipment – old P.A. sets, players, and related items.
  • Promotional material – trophies, pins, miscellaneous medals, prizes.

Contributing editors: Ruth and Bob Kramer, Central Puget Sound Council
May 18, 1998