Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Francis Wolff Jazz Photoprints

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1238
Creators:
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Dates:
1953-1966
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Cubic feet
1 box
Repository:
Collection consists of photographic prints from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Twenty-five silver gelatin photographic prints (on fiber-based paper, 20" x 16") from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists. Descriptions of prints supplied by the donor, Michael Cuscuna.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Photoprints, 1953-1966

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Wolff (born 1907 or 1908 in Berlin, Germany, died March 8, 1971 in New York City) was a record company executive, photographer and record producer. After a career as a commercial photographer in Germany, Wolff emigrated to the United States in 1939. In New York his childhood friend Alfred Lion, had co-founded Blue Note Records in the same year, and Wolff joined Lion in running the company. During Lion's war service, Wolff worked for Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store, and together they maintained the company's catalog until Lion was discharged. Until Lion retired in 1967, Wolff concentrated on the financial affairs of the business and only supervised occasional recording sessions produced during his visits to Europe. For the last four years of his life, when Blue Note was no longer an independent label, Wolff shared production responsibilities with pianist and arranger Duke Pearson. Wolff took photographs during the recordings sessions, usually shot during session rehearsals, throughout the period of Lion's involvement in Blue Note Records. They were used on publicity material and LP album sleeves, and have continued to be used in CD reissue booklets. [Redacted from Wikipedia entry.]

Administration

Author
David Haberstich
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Images, June 3, 2011.
Processing Information
Collection processed by David Haberstich. 12 prints shown in the "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," Archives Center exhibition space, National Museum of American History, April 1-July 1, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Francis Wolff Jazz Photoprints, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Michael Cuscuna.
Conditions Governing Use
Michael Cuscuna retains copyright. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Jazz Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blue Note Records Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Coltrane, John, 1926-1967 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cuscuna, Michael Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Monk, Thelonious Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Davis, Miles Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
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