Kathleen A. Kerr Papers, 1935-1990

Born in Chicago in 1947, Kathleen Adele Kerr studied Russian language and literature at Stanford University where she earned an undergraduate degree in 1968. With the original plan to continue graduate studies in Slavic languages, Kerr enrolled in a new dance program at Stanford and proceeded to shift gears academically to pursue and complete a MA in Dance Education there in 1974.

Kerr came to Oregon State University in 1975 to teach in the Department of Physical Education and specialized in the instruction of folk and international dances. Along with teaching, Kerr also directed the OSU Folk Ensemble and arranged choreography for the annual Oregon Dance program and opera workshops featured as part of the Winter Music Festival. To advocate and promote the regional folk dance community, Kerr organized a series of annual concerts to showcase the talents of folk dance groups throughout Oregon. Running from 1985 to 1990, this series was known as the All-Oregon Folk Dance Concert (as well as OSU Spring Folk Dance Concert) and functioned as a fundraiser with part of the proceeds earmarked for supporting the OSU Summer Folk Dance Workshop.

In 1989, Kerr left OSU to teach at the University of Northern Iowa and worked there as a professor in their School of Music until retirement in 2010. She died in 2021.