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Suit jacket worn by Billie Thomas as Buckwheat in the Our Gang short Unexpected Riches

Wearer:
Thomas, Billie Buckwheat  Search this
Maker:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation  Search this
Physical Description:
wool (overall material)
velvet (accents material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements:
overall, flat: 24 1/2 in x 24 in; 62.23 cm x 60.96 cm
Object Name:
jacket
Date made:
before 1942
Associated subject:
Motion Pictures  Search this
Children  Search this
Ethnic Stereotype  Search this
Credit Line:
James and Amber Comisar
ID Number:
2023.0146.01.01
Accession number:
2023.0146
Catalog number:
2023.0146.01.01
See more items in:
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng4bf02f442-4360-4a1d-a885-5b37cbdd57bd
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_2034764

Suit pants worn by Billie Thomas as Buckwheat in the Our Gang short Unexpected Riches

Wearer:
Thomas, Billie Buckwheat  Search this
Maker:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation  Search this
Physical Description:
wool (overall material)
plastic (buttons material)
Measurements:
overall, flat: 33 1/2 in x 16 1/2 in; 85.09 cm x 41.91 cm
Object Name:
pants
Date made:
before 1942
Associated subject:
Motion Pictures  Search this
Children  Search this
Ethnic Stereotype  Search this
Credit Line:
James and Amber Comisar
ID Number:
2023.0146.01.02
Accession number:
2023.0146
Catalog number:
2023.0146.01.02
See more items in:
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng4fbae4a68-8b5f-43c8-abd0-b21f015462ed
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_2034788

Suspenders worn by Billie Thomas as Buckwheat in the Our Gang short Unexpected Riches

Wearer:
Thomas, Billie Buckwheat  Search this
Physical Description:
elastic (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements:
overall, flat: 28 1/4 in x 5 in; 71.755 cm x 12.7 cm
Object Name:
suspenders
Date made:
before 1942
Associated subject:
Children  Search this
Ethnic Stereotype  Search this
Motion Pictures  Search this
Credit Line:
James and Amber Comisar
ID Number:
2023.0146.01.03
Catalog number:
2023.0146.01.03
Accession number:
2023.0146
See more items in:
Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
Popular Entertainment
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng4486aed42-fbd9-41d6-af61-2c38511d72bc
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_2034790

"The Grand Duke of Jazz," by S.S.S, in International Musician, December, 1949

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Container:
Box 1 (Series 10), Folder 13
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 10: Magazine Articles and Newspaper Clippings / 10.1: Domestic Articles
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep81e031ad5-680f-4f22-baf6-e56a0bcc152e
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref20980

"Noblesse Oblige, Jazz Nobility On Tour," by Stanley Dance, both in International Musician, January, 1969

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Container:
Box 5 (Series 10), Folder (b)
Type:
Archival materials
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 10: Magazine Articles and Newspaper Clippings / 10.1: Domestic Articles
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep82f2a9c14-5438-4ae2-8221-8600a0744815
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref21120

Books

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1903-1980, undated
Scope and Contents note:
Consists of regular and oversize books purchased by or given to Ellington and Evie Ellis, Ellington's long-time friend and companion. The materials also include books acquired by Ellis after Ellington's death. The books are arranged in alphabetical order by author or title when the author is unidentified. Publication information is given when available. All of Ellington's religious books can be found in Series 14: Religious Material.

Many books contain inscriptions to Ellington and Ellis from friends, fans and family members. Of particular interest are the following: Katsuji Abe's Jazz: Pictoral Essay, featuring pictures of jazz musicians; Tony Munzlinger's Jazz, a compilation of Munzlinger's sketches; and an autographed letter from Booker T. Washington to A.I. Lathers, dated 24 October 1904, glued inside the cover of Washington's Up From Slavery.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0301, Series 15
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8d3e380fe-f0a6-4ddf-b005-81c069ceba94
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref22138

Melody Maker, London, England, Jazz Poll Awards, Musician of the Year, Top Composer, Top Arranger

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Container:
Box 1 (Series 13), Folder 34
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
May 1963
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 13: Awards
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8e30e4d06-96fc-4576-9b51-0c823cdca688
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref54755

Jazz Interactions, Inc., New York, New York, Master Musician Award

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Container:
Box 8 (Series 13), Folder 14
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1967
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 13: Awards
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep88b286bb1-7631-4273-9b8c-db0f839b8e7d
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref54773

Jazz Interactions, Inc., Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, "Master Musician of the Century"

Collection Creator:
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Container:
Box 1 (Series 13), Folder 49
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
October 7, 1967
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the original and master audiovisual materials are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Copyright restrictions. Consult the Archives Center at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Paul Ellington, executor, is represented by:

Richard J.J. Scarola, Scarola Ellis LLP, 888 Seventh Avenue, 45th Floor, New York, New York 10106. Telephone (212) 757-0007 x 235; Fax (212) 757-0469; email: rjjs@selaw.com; www.selaw.com; www.ourlawfirm.com.
Collection Citation:
Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
See more items in:
Duke Ellington Collection
Duke Ellington Collection / Series 13: Awards
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8d16af338-34e9-4f00-a4fc-510dda8b440a
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0301-ref54778

Father of the blues an autobiography Edited by Arna Bontemps, with a foreword by Abbe Niles

Author:
Handy, W. C (William Christopher) 1873-1958  Search this
Author:
Bontemps, Arna 1902-1973  Search this
Physical description:
xvi, 333 pages illustrations 18 cm
Type:
Biography
Biographies
jazz
Jazz
Place:
United States
États-Unis
Date:
1970
Topic:
Composers  Search this
Jazz musicians  Search this
Compositeurs  Search this
Call number:
ML410.H18 B6 1970X
ML410.H18B6 1970X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_10147

Blues people Negro music in white America by LeRoi Jones

Author:
Baraka, Amiri 1934-  Search this
Physical description:
xii, 244 pages 22 cm
Type:
Music
Musique
Annotations (Provenance)
Criticism, interpretation, etc
jazz
Jazz
Place:
États-Unis
United States
USA
Date:
1963
20th century
Topic:
African Americans  Search this
African Americans--Music--History and criticism  Search this
Blues (Music)  Search this
Blues (Music)--History and criticism  Search this
Jazz  Search this
Jazz--History and criticism  Search this
African Americans--History  Search this
Black musicians  Search this
Black or African American  Search this
Blues  Search this
Noirs américains  Search this
African American  Search this
African Americans--Music  Search this
Afroamerikanische Musik  Search this
Geschichte  Search this
Zwarten  Search this
Civilization  Search this
African American influences  Search this
Civilisation  Search this
Influence noire américaine  Search this
Call number:
ML3556 .J77
ML3556.J77
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_10148

Bessie Smith

Author:
Oliver, Paul  Search this
Physical description:
82 pages illustrations 21 cm
Type:
Books
jazz
Jazz
Place:
United States
Date:
1961
Topic:
Blues (Music)--History and criticism  Search this
Jazz  Search this
Jazz--History and criticism  Search this
Singers--History and criticism  Search this
Call number:
CT275.S642 O4 1961
CT275.S642O4 1961
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_10205

Britt, Johnny [contemporary jazz musician]

Collection Collector:
McCormick, Mack  Search this
Container:
Box 148, Folder 37
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
undated
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Access to original materials in boxes 76-80 is prohibited. Researchers must use digital copies.

Additional materials have been removed from public access pending investigation under the Smithsonian Institution's Ethical Returns and Shared Stewardship Policy.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
See more items in:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection / Series 14: People Files
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8e66c0a00-5da6-4410-9561-5825a024787e
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1485-ref3545

Mobley, Horace [jazz musician] and Josepha

Collection Collector:
McCormick, Mack  Search this
Container:
Box 155, Folder 36
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1975-1976
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Access to original materials in boxes 76-80 is prohibited. Researchers must use digital copies.

Additional materials have been removed from public access pending investigation under the Smithsonian Institution's Ethical Returns and Shared Stewardship Policy.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
See more items in:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection / Series 14: People Files
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep82ab5b4fe-f712-4f99-b220-12f66f70fb58
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1485-ref3914

[Who Killed Robert Johnson (WKRJ)], tape number 5

Collection Collector:
McCormick, Mack  Search this
Extent:
1 Cassette tape (Total Running Time: 84:00)
Container:
Box 165, Cassette OTC 1485.22
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Cassette tapes
Date:
1972-1973
Scope and Contents:
Side A: Estelle Shannan interview, part 3, undated; [Lavert] Hutchinson interview, July 29, 1972; Sodarisa Miller interview, August 3, 1972; Albert Major interview, October 5, 1972; and Lawrence [Olft] interview, November 10, 1972.

Side B: Mrs. H. E. Oertle interview, May 10, 1972; Tomas Acuna interview, undated; and S. R. Leatherman interview, October 1, 1973.

Consists of a compilation of telephone interviews McCormick conducts with individuals primarily as part of his research on Robert Johnson.

Side A: Estella Shannan interview, part 3, undated.

Estella Shannan, mother of Delta blues guitarist Robert Lockwood, Jr., continues her conversation with McCormick. It is learned that she was born in 1899, left Arkansas in 1942, was a commercial cook, and sang in a choir. [Lavert] Hutchison interview, July 29, 1972.

Jazz musician Lavert Hutchison speaks with McCormick on the telephone from his home in Waco, Texas. Born in 1903, Hutchison states that his music career began while as a student at Wilberforce University where he played with Horace Henderson's band, the Collegians, from 1927-1931. He converses about other musicians in the band and his work with big bands around New York.

Sodarisa Miller interview, August 3, 1972.

McCormick conducts telephone interview with Miller, a vaudeville blues singer, as part of his research relating to blues recordings made in the 1920s. Miller (August 13, 1901- ) who also recorded under the name Wilmer Davis, began singing as a child in Louisville, Kentucky. She eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois where she made her first recording at the age of twenty-three. Miller talks about some of the labels she recorded for including Paramount, Victor, and Vocalion. McCormick has a dialogue with Miller about some of the musicians she worked with and the titles of her songs.

Albert Major interview, October 5, 1972.

McCormick calls Majors as part of his research to find relatives of Robert Johnson's mother Julia Majors Dodds. Mrs. Majors informs McCormick that she does not have a relative named Julia Majors.

Lawrence [Olft] interview, November 10, 1972.

McCormick calls Olft as part of his research to find relatives of Robert Johnson. Olft informs McCormick that he is not related to Julia Majors. Check the tape on this one.

Side B: Mrs. H. E. Oertle interview, May 10, 1972.

McCormick interviews Mrs. Homer Eugene Oertle, sister-in-law of Brunswick Records salesman Ernest (Ernie) Monroe Oertle (1890-1941), on the telephone as part of his research for the Smithsonian Institution. He is working on a project to document how the company salesmen discovered unique talent in the 1930s and arranged for them to go to the Texas studios for recording sessions. Mrs. Oertle informs McCormick that she had no information relating to Mr. Oertle's business activities. She also had very little biographical information to offer about the family of her husband, Homer Eugene Oertle (1888-1957), other than the fact that they had immigrated from Switzerland and settled in Pittsburgh, Kansas where the brothers grew up.

Tomas Acuna interview, undated.

McCormick briefly speaks on the telephone with Tomas Acuna and his daughter who are in San Antonio, Texas. McCormick wants to gather from Acuna, a Brunswick Records employee who organized recording sessions, information for his research relating to recording in the 1930s. He asks Acuna the questions through his daughter who then relates the answers to McCormick.

Acuna informs McCormick that he was involved in recording sessions in San Antonio's Gunter Hotel on the second floor. The conversation is ended with the intention of continuing the discussion later.

S. R. Leatherman interview, October 1, 1973.

McCormick interviews Samuel Richard Leatherman Jr. on the telephone as part of his research relating to culture along the Mississippi River area and some of the older plantations. Leatherman (1903- ) began managing the Abby/Leatherman Plantation in 1926 which started as 8,000-9,000 acres of land for the growing of hay, cotton, and corn. He inherited the property from his father Samuel Richard Leatherman who inherited it from the original owners great grandfather Richard Abby and his brother Anthony Abby. Leatherman describes the land, the family home, and the families who worked there. Hugh Fontaine, Leatherman's brother-in-law, operated the plantation for a while and started the Memphis Hunt and Polo Club. He also provides McCormick with information relating to how labor is acquired for the plantation, the number of people living on the property, social activities, and musicians who played for the workers.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research. Access to original materials in boxes 76-80 is prohibited. Researchers must use digital copies.

Additional materials have been removed from public access pending investigation under the Smithsonian Institution's Ethical Returns and Shared Stewardship Policy.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
See more items in:
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection
Robert "Mack" McCormick Collection / Series 15: Audio Cassette Tapes and Digital Files
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep80b80731d-baf8-461f-9667-423f3a18cc14
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-1485-ref4315

Hommage à Bessie Smith

Maker:
Iba N'Diaye, 1928-2008, Senegal  Search this
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 132.2 × 197.2 × 4 cm (52 1/16 × 77 5/8 × 1 9/16 in.)
Type:
Painting
Geography:
Senegal
Date:
1987
Topic:
musical instrument  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of Mme. Diouf and museum purchase
Object number:
2002-13-1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© 1987 Iba N'Diaye
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7519f4862-bd58-4858-973c-27727994b7dc
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_2002-13-1
Online Media:

Helmet mask

Object Name:
epa
Iyaibeji (Mother of twins)
Maker:
Lamidi Olonade Fakeye, 1928 - 2009, born Nigeria  Search this
Yoruba artist  Search this
Medium:
Wood
Dimensions:
H x W x D: 111.4 x 31.4 x 34.9 cm (43 7/8 x 12 3/8 x 13 3/4 in.)
Type:
Mask
Geography:
Nigeria
Date:
ca. 1962
Topic:
mother and child  Search this
male  Search this
Credit Line:
Gift of Jean Kennedy and Richard Wolford
Object number:
77-34-1
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Museum of African Art Collection
Data Source:
National Museum of African Art
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys762311e98-9c24-458f-b388-6d6d7fdc3379
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmafa_77-34-1

Aretha Franklin

Artist:
Milton Glaser, 26 Jun 1929 - 26 Jun 2020  Search this
Sitter:
Aretha Louise Franklin, 25 Mar 1942 - 16 Aug 2018  Search this
Medium:
Color photolithograph
Dimensions:
Sheet: 63.5 x 63.5cm (25 x 25")
Frame: 101.4 × 85.9 × 4.8 cm (40 × 33.75 × 1 7/8")
Type:
Print
Date:
1968
Topic:
Poster  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Female  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Popular singer  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer\Rhythm and blues singer  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Presidential Medal of Freedom  Search this
Aretha Louise Franklin: Grammy  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; 2015 Portrait of a Nation Prize Recipient
Object number:
NPG.2011.121
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
Copyright:
© Milton Glaser
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4bf4f32a2-8268-4ff1-bd73-af2956825ad1
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.2011.121
Online Media:

Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection

Performer:
Basie, Count, 1904-1984  Search this
Webster, Ben  Search this
Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971  Search this
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Fitzgerald, Ella, 1917-1996  Search this
Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David), 1909-1986  Search this
Jamal, Ahmad, 1930-  Search this
Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949  Search this
Davis, Miles  Search this
Collector:
Smith, Ernie  Search this
Names:
Apollo Theatre (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Extent:
30 Cubic feet (352 film reels , 16 mm)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Motion pictures (visual works)
Place:
Harlem (New York, N.Y.) -- 20th century
Date:
1894-1979
Summary:
More than 300 reels of 16mm black and white and color film, silent and sound, fiction and documentary motion picture film documenting jazz and related musical performances, social and popular dance styles and performances, jazz musicians, performance locales, and documentation of African-American popular culture. A list of featured performers in the collection is shown below. The films are frequently compilations produced by Smith for lectures.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists of 352 reels of 16mm motion picture film. Most of the film is 16mm black and white and sound (composite optical track print), although a few titles are silent or in color. The collection is comprised of compilation reels created by Ernie Smith to accompany his lectures, topical compilation reels created by Ernie Smith, compilation reels created by the Archives Center, and single title reels. The Archives Center produced master and reference video copies using a wet-gate telecine film-to-tape transfer system. Titles were often combined to allow for increased ease of handling, storage, and duplication.

The collection is strongest in the areas of jazz dance styles including Lindy Hop and tap, overviews of jazz musical performers and styles; specific jazz musicians and performers including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Woody Herman, Artie Shaw, Bob Crosby, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Jack Teagarden as well as a wide range of female vocalists; and documentation of the New York jazz and club scene. The collection includes feature films and excerpts from feature films, Soundies and other film shorts, television kinescopes, and documentary films.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into one series and is not arranged in accordance with standard archival procedures. The breadth of the collection and the existence of so many multiple topic and/or performer compilation reels made it impossible to impose traditional archival series order. Therefore, each reel is described at the item level in the container list.
Biographical:
Ernest (Ernie) Smith began collecting jazz and jazz dance films during the mid-1950s. An Art Director for a New York advertising agency, Smith had a long-standing interest in jazz and jazz dance that began during his youth in Pittsburgh, Pa. Early on, Smith discovered that jazz music was best appreciated while dancing. He became an accomplished Lindy Hopper, frequenting both white and African American ballrooms.

His job at the advertising agency supported Smith's two passions - painting and jazz dance and music. Smith was also a film enthusiast so, in 1954, after taking a jazz class at the New School taught by Marshall Stearns, a leading jazz scholar, he began collecting examples of jazz and jazz dance on film. In the process of creating his film collection, Smith became one of the leading authorities on jazz and jazz dance films. He collaborated with Stearns on the 1964 book Jazz Dance, compiling the book's jazz dance film listing. He also wrote the extensive entry on jazz film for the 1988 edition of New Grove Dictionary of Jazz .

Smith built his film collection by identifying films of potential interest and acquiring them through trade and purchase. He created lecture reels on specific topics -- the history of jazz, social dance, tap dance, Duke Ellington, Lindy Hop -- and presented lecture/screenings nationally and internationally. He also provided footage for numerous documentaries and maintained active relationships with filmmakers, other film collectors, jazz scholars, the swing dance community, and musicians.

Ernie Smith donated his film collection to the Archives Center in 1993. He continues to lecture and participate in swing dance activities, but he devotes the majority of his time to painting and related artistic pursuits.
Provenance:
The Archives Center acquired the collection from Ernie Smith in 1993.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Topic:
Tap dancing -- 1930-1970  Search this
Motion pictures and music -- 1930-1970  Search this
Dancing in motion pictures, television, etc. -- 1930-1970  Search this
Television and music -- 1930-1970  Search this
Jazz -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Jazz musicians -- 1930-1970  Search this
Jazz dance -- 1930-1970  Search this
African Americans in the performing arts -- 1930-1970  Search this
Genre/Form:
Motion pictures (visual works) -- 20th century
Citation:
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
Identifier:
NMAH.AC.0491
See more items in:
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep85baeb0e0-8e94-4ce0-8c80-7f25800ee24a
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-0491

Female Musicians I

Collection Performer:
Basie, Count, 1904-1984  Search this
Webster, Ben  Search this
Armstrong, Louis, 1901-1971  Search this
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974  Search this
Fitzgerald, Ella, 1917-1996  Search this
Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David), 1909-1986  Search this
Jamal, Ahmad, 1930-  Search this
Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949  Search this
Davis, Miles  Search this
Collection Collector:
Smith, Ernie  Search this
Container:
Box 20, Item RV 491.329
Type:
Archival materials
Moving Images
Date:
Copyright 1948
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but the films are stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
See more items in:
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection / Series 3: Reference Videos
Archival Repository:
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep879eb41ac-b489-4084-8ec8-d113dc6052fe
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-nmah-ac-0491-ref3155

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