1927 Manuscript Journal Diary Student Ned Wayburn Studios NYC Black Bottom Dance

Description

MARTIN, Maude] : [Dance] : [Manuscripts].
[Manuscript Journal of a Student at the Ned Wayburn Dance Studios in New York]
. New York: (1927). Single journal volume. Approximately 12" x 9." Woodblock print paper over boards. Ribbon-ties at right margin for closing. Small stationer's label from "Dante Gambinossi / 605 Madison Ave" to interior. Some mild, sporadic foxing to contents. Overall very good. 47 pages of often barely legible manuscript entries in a holograph cursive (approximately 5000 words in total). About half of the leaves towards end remain blank. Three leaves loose, likely from another, similar book and laid-in along with two telegrams and various travel ephemera.
A manuscript journal kept by a Mrs. Chester Martin, whom we believe to be a Maude Martin (born circa-1898) of San Francisco, during her 1927 course of study at a New York City dance studio, likely the Ned Wayburn Studios at 1841 Broadway.
Wayburn was a prominent choreographer and dance instructor in the first decades of the 20th Century. He was longtime lead choreographer of the Ziegfeld Follies and was a strong early influence on Fred Astaire.
Martin's journal here, while often difficult to read, provides an uncommon primary glimpse into dance instruction in NY in the 1920's. A book highlight is a February 1927 record of practicing and performing the "Black Bottom" dance (and includes two pages of manuscript choreography of the steps as taught). The "Black Bottom" was a popular Jazz Age dance which is thought to have originated with Black New Orleans club performers and eventually made its way into massively popular appropriation by white, Roaring 20's scenesters.
The journal is kept from June to August 1927 (with the loose pages with the "Black Bottom" content dated February '27, suggesting she'd been enrolled for a while by the time the journal begins). In August she appears to grow frustrated with the school and heads back west for San Francisco via train (most of the laid-in ephemera appears related to this trip).
Just a few transcribed quotes:
"Asked Mr. Y about ballet - and he advised me seriously to return to the beginner's class - and do it seriously so that my body would get into ballet shape [...] had already spoken to Mr. Wayburn - who advised me to do that." (June 24, 1927)
"The red haired girl who died suddenly last Saturday committed suicide by taking lysol - She was fairly in debt and trying to divorce her husband - etc. Which was sad. She was very attractive." (July 28, 1927)
"The black girl from Chicago who is in 3 tap classes - is to be married next month to a boy she has only known three months and her family have never seen. I told her she was foolish." (July 29, 1927)