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Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Guide to the Mongo Santamaria Papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- NMAH.AC.0893
- Creators:
-
Santamaria, Mongo, 1917-
- Dates:
-
1950s-1996
- Languages:
-
Collection is inEnglish. Some materials are inSpanish,FrenchandJapanese.
- Physical Description:
-
2 Cubic feet4 boxes
- Repository:
Collection includes music manuscripts, articles and clippings, concert programs, passports, and photographs.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
This collection documents, mostly in photographs, the musical career of Mongo Santamaria. Other materials include music manuscripts, magazine and newspaper articles, flyers, posters, and passports.
Series 1, Photographs, circa 1950s–1990s, includes primarily black and white and some color images of Mongo Santamaria. There is a photograph of Santamaria with the first Congo he brought from Cuba to the United States. Of particular interest is Santamaria performing with Tito Puente and Cal Tjada's bands. Some of the earlier photographs document performances at the Palladium Nightclub and Apollo Theatre. There are publicity photographs of Santamaria and his band created by the recording studios. The photographs also include award ceremonies, bar scenes and concert appearances. The materials are arranged in chronological order.
Series 2, Music Manuscripts, 1958-1985; undated, includes music created by Santamaria and music performed by him but written by other composers. Escena Afro-Cubanas composed and arranged by Valerie Capers (1985), Just Say Good-by by Rodgers Grant, Mambo Olga Pachanga by Nicolas Martinez (1961) and Peace by Horace Silver are included among these materials. The materials are arranged in alphabetical order by title.
Series 3, Personal and Background Information, 1945-1996; undated, include a profile of Santamaria and other musicians written in Japanese. There are also magazine articles documenting the development of Santamaria's career and his public appearances. Articles from the Miami Herald and the Chicago Tribune are also included among the materials. Personal items consist of Santamaria's Cuban and American passports. The materials are arranged in alphabetical order by type.
Series 4, Performance Materials, 1977-1996; undated, includes the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Certificate to Mongo Santamaria and his Latin-Jazz Orchestra in recognition of nomination for the Best Tropical Latin Performance for Free Spirit, Espirito Libre, 1985. There are also flyers and an entertainment guide, some in Spanish, advertising public appearances for concert performances. A program in French for a jazz festival in Vienna includes profiles of the performers. There are posters including a black and white drawing of jazz musicians by Robert Leonard (1985) and appearances at the Miami Jazz and Heritage Festival, Apollo Theatre, Oberlin College and the Blue Note. Materials are arranged in alphabetical order by type.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is divided into 4 series.
Series 1: Photographs, circa 1950s-1990
Series 2, Music Manuscripts, 1958-1985 and undated
Series 3, Personal and Background Information, 1945-1996 and undated
Series 4, Performance Materials, 1977-1996 and undated
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Cuban-born percussionist, composer, arranger, and bandleader.
Administration
Author
Sarah Allan
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives Center by Mongo Santamaria's daughter, Nancy Anderson.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Sarah Allan (volunteer), 2008; supervised by Vanessa Broussard Simmons, February 2013.
Using the Collection
Preferred Citation
Mongo Santamaria Papers, 1965-2001, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Nancy Anderson.
Conditions Governing Use
Fees for commercial reproduction. Reproduction restricted due to copyright or trademark.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Related Materials
Related Materials
The materials in this collection complement the Latino Music Collection, Tito Puente Papers, Chico O'Farrill Papers, Dizzy Gillespie Collection and Paquito d'Rivera Music Manuscripts and Photograph.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Passports | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Photographs -- 1950-2000 | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Music -- 20th century | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Manuscripts -- Music -- 20th century | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Concert programs | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Jazz musicians -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Jazz | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Drummers (Musicians) | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Musicians -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
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
