About Us

Harold Hartshorne

ISU dance judge

Harold Hartshorne, 69, was a pioneer in the history of U.S. ice dancing. He was the primary architect for instituting a national dance title in 1936 and a five-time U.S. dance champion, winning twice with Nettie Prantel (1937-38) and three times with Sandy Macdonald (1939-41). Born in New York City, Hartshorne graduated from Princeton University in 1914 and served as a second lieutenant in the Department of Criminal Investigation in the early days of World War I. Like his father and grandfather, he was a stockbroker and a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Hartshorne became a U.S. dance judge and referee, and, in time, a world dance judge. He was instrumental in introducing the veterans' dance in sectional competitions, conducted annual judges' clinics in Lake Placid, N.Y., and drew many of the dance diagrams for the U.S. Figure Skating Rulebook. He designed and donated many dance trophies for regional, sectional and national competitions. Hartshorne served on many U.S. Figure Skating committees and was president of the Skating Club of New York. When U.S. Figure Skating discovered a shortage of U.S. judges available for the 1961 World Championships, Hartshorne volunteered to judge the dance division. He had seven children with three wives: Harold Hartshorne, Jr., by Marietta Chapin; James, Ann and Margaret ("Peggy") by Mary Bryan; and Dan, Gail and Daryl by Barbara Hatch. His fourth wife, Louise, traveled with him to the 1961 World Championships.

Bio written by Patricia Shelley Bushman, author of Indelible Tracings.