Object Details
- Collection Creator
- Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
- See more items in
- Duke Ellington Collection
- Sponsor
- Processing and encoding partially funded by a grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources.
- Date
- 1941-1974, undated
- Archival Repository
- Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- Identifier
- NMAH.AC.0301, Series 5
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Duke Ellington Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
- 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.
- Scope and Contents note
- Consists of personal letters, cards, postcards, and invitations sent to Duke Ellington by celebrities, fans, dignitaries, friends, and colleagues between 1941 and 1974. The majority of the correspondence was received by Duke Ellington on his 70th and 75th birthdays, and during his final illness in 1974. Correspondence of particular interest includes four United States presidents and their first ladies; foreign and domestic dignitaries; and contemporary television personalities, editors, and critics. Prominent musicians, composers and singers such as W.C. Handy, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald are represented among the letters and telegrams. There is also a long letter from a former school teacher. Notes written by Ellington that document his thoughts on jazz music, musicians, and history are among the most significant items. The handwritten and typed notes include lyrics to sacred and secular songs, and draft manuscripts and chronologies for his book, Music is My Mistress. Included among these notes are performance and recording itineraries and tune lists. Of further interest in this series are the Ellington Christmas cards, renowned for their original poetry and artwork and unique presentation of the season's greetings. The records are arranged in chronological order. Undated materials have been placed at the end of the series. The personal letters of Father Gerald Pocock have been separated from the rest of the correspondence materials and restricted at the request of the author to protect his privacy.
- 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.
- Record ID
- ebl-1503510514217-1503510515977-8
