A recent donation to the MSU Libraries, the Murnai (Pins) Neumann Collection, takes us back to the days of nightclubs and live entertainment in the 1930s and 40s. 

Born in St. Louis in 1919, Murnai started dance lessons at around ten years old. Her career as a dancer took her to venues in New York and Chicago, as well as a memorable trip to Havana, Cuba in 1941.

Murnai married Richard Neumann early in the war when he was in the Coast Guard. Richard was a musician and for a time performed with the Guy Lombardo Band. Eventually they moved to Richard’s hometown of Springfield, where they raised their two sons. Murnai gave dance lessons or modeled, while Richard earned his degree from MSU and taught music in the public schools.

The collection includes a brief autobiography of Murnai, newspaper clippings, tickets, programs, and menus from across the eastern U.S. and Havana, as well as dozens of autographed photos of the performers Murnai met in her travels. There are similar items from Richard’s career.

For more information, contact Special Collections and Archives at AnneBaker@missouristate.edu or 417-836-5428.