Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and a total newcomer to the ballet world. My daughter is the executor of the estate of Diana Adams daughter, Georgina. In her effects are a number of beautiful pictures of Diana en pointe and other classic ballet poses. There are also numerous head shots of her and a pen& ink drawing as well. My daughter knows these would be important to someone and hates to dispose of them. We do not know very much about Diana's history or whether these pictures would be important for us to keep or donate? Can anyone help. Thanks for any information.

Hi, cheryl44tn.

I imagine that Ms. Adams' daughter must have had some very desirable items. It might be worth a call/note to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts ("contact us" link at the foot of the page). If they are not interested, they may be able to suggest institutions that might be. All efforts should be made to preserve the items as a collection, at least until they can be evaluated by an expert.

Also, has your daughter contacted the New York City Ballet?

If your daughter is unable to donate the items as an intact unit, I'm sure we have readers who, like me, would like an opportunity to browse and possibly bid on some of the items on eBay or a similar site.

I am saddened to hear that Georgina has died. She must have been quite young. My sympathies to her survivors.

Adams of course had careers at Ballet Theatre as well as New York City Ballet.
the NYPL would be an ideal place to house these items.
but as noted above if they are to be sold, a note to ballettalkers regarding when and how would be helpful.

You might contact Miami City Ballet. Edward Villella was at New York City Ballet when Diana Adams was there. In the lobby of the studios in South Beach there is a hallway with pictures of famous dancers. I don't recall if there is already a picture of her, perhaps cubanmiamiboy or bart would know?

By the way, the pictures there are of real interest and worth a trip to see when in the area!

Thank you for your information and sympathies. If my daughter decides to sell these items I will post the details (where & when) on this site. She had thought about E-bay but did not know if there was a market for the above mentioned items.

My daughter just informed me that all photos were stamped by the artist - Martha Swope

I wasn't aware that Diana's daughter had died. Is there a link to her obituary? I would have liked to know more about her, since Diana gave up her dance career to have a child.

There was no published obituary for Georgina Bates. She took her own life earlier this year. Due to the circumstances of her death no public services were held. She was cremated and her ashes scattered with those of her mother, Diana Adams and father Ronald Bates per her wishes in her will. She had married and divorced - I'm not sure the dates. She never had any children of her own. She was an animal lover and left several dogs, cats and fish as her only survivors. She was living in Savannah, Georgia at the time of her death.

I'm very sorry to hear of the nature of her passing.

That's very sad to hear. As a die hard Balanchine/NYCB fan, I read over and over in accounts of Adams - and the history of the company - how much she wanted a child. So Georgina Bates was somebody who, in a small way, people were acquainted. Hopefully she knew how much she was wished for by her parents.

I hope this memorabilia will find a good home.

RIP Georgina Bates

Martha Swope was the foremost dance photographer of that time. Those pictures are indeed valuable. I remember Diana Adams -- I revered her as a child. I am so sorry to hear about the fate of her and Ronald Bates' daughter.

This news is so disturbing. I hope Georgina Bates is at peace.

The photographs really should go to the Jerome Robbins Dance Division so the photographs can be shared with the public.

http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/dan/dan.html

Neryssa

The late Ms. Bates is mentioned in Suzanne Farrell’s biography also. Farrell mentions something to the effect that when she was born, the whole company was happy for her parents and ‘felt they had birthed her.’ Very distressing news.