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Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the Duke Ellington Oral History
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.0368
- Creators:
-
Smithsonian InstitutionGreenlee, Marcia (oral historian)Willard, Patricia
- Dates:
-
1989- 1993
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
15 Cubic feet22 boxes
- Repository:
Thirty-nine oral history interviews created by the Archives Center with Duke Ellington's music and business associates. The interviews cover a range of topics including Ellington as a musician, the significance of race in Ellington's work and life, Ellington and the economics of the music business, Ellington as international cultural figure, and Ellington and the historical record.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Interviews with musicians who performed with Ellington, producers and other business associates, Ellington scholars and fans, and family members documenting personal and musical relationships with Duke Ellington.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in one series.
Series 1, Oral History Tapes, 1989-1993
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
The collection was created by the Archives Center to provide research background about the Duke Ellington Orchestra. It complements a growing number of Archives Center collections related to Ellington and American music. The interviewees were asked about their own backgrounds, their personal and musical relationships with Duke, and their assessment of Ellington's strengths and weaknesses and his role in twentieth century American music. The discussions centered on five major themes including Ellington as a musician, the significance of race in Ellington's work and life, Ellington and the economics of the music business, Ellington as international cultural figure, and Ellington and the historical record. Recollections range from approximately the 1940s through the mid 1970s.
The thirty-nine Interviews were conducted by oral historian Marcia Greenlee and former Duke Ellington publicist Patricia Willard with former Ellington music and business associates.
Administration
Author
Deborra A. Richardson
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection created by the National Museum of American History, 1989-1993.
Processing Information
Processed by Deborra A. Richardson, archivist.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright and commercial use restrictions. Contact Archives Center staff for information.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research but the master tapes 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.
Preferred Citation
Duke Ellington Oral History Project, 1989-1993, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Related Materials
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center
Annual International Conference of the Duke Ellington Study Group Proceedings (AC0385)
Al Celley Collection of Duke Ellington Materials (AC1240)
Duke Ellington Collection (AC0301)
Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection (AC0704)
Ruth Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials (AC0415)
Carter Harman Collection of Interviews with Duke Ellington (AC0422)
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection (AC0390)
William Russo Transcription and Arrangement of Duke Ellington's First Concert of Sacred Music (AC0406)
Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection (AC0491)
Keywords
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-3270
Fax Number: Fax: 202-786-2453
archivescenter@si.edu