Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Al Celley Collection of Duke Ellington Materials

Summary
Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1240
Creators:
Celley, Al
Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
Dates:
1943-1989
Languages:
Collection text is in
English
. Some materials in
Arabic
,
Dutch
,
French
, and
German
.
Physical Description:
2.5 Cubic feet
7 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 2 films
Repository:
A diverse collection of papers assembled by Duke Ellington's road manager, Al Celley. The collection includes correspondence, photographs of Ellington and his orchestra at various times and locations; concert ephemera; handwritten notes; business and financial documents, primarily receipts; and travel ephemera.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The collection was assembled by Duke Ellington's road manager, Al Celley and includes correspondence, photographs of Ellington and his orchestra at various times and locations; concert ephemera; handwritten notes; business and financial documents, primarily receipts; and travel ephemera.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into six series.
Series 1: Personal Materials, 1943-1962
Subseries 1.1: Al Celley, 1943-1962
Subseries 1.2: Duke Ellington, 1948
Series 2: Correspondence, 1945-1963
Subseries 2.1: Chronological, 1945-1963
Subseries 2.2: Alphabetical, 1949-1961
Series 3: Subject Files, 1948-1963
Series 4: Financial Materials, 1944-1964
Subseries 4.1: Payroll/Salary Ledgers, 1944-1962
Subseries 4.2: Expense Notebooks, 1946, 1959
Subseries 4.3: Receipts and Bills, 1945-1964
Series 5: Photographs, 1947-1967
Series 6: Audio Visual Materials, 1945-1957
Subseries 6.1: Moving Image, 1957
Subseries 6.2: Audio Discs, 1945-1946
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Albert "Al" Joseph Celley (1909-1994) was Duke Ellington's road manager from 1944 to 1964. Celley handled the band's business affairs, such as concert bookings, logistics, staging shows, and organizing tours. Celley also handled the weekly payroll, contracts, collecting money from promoters, paying road expenses, and sending weekly reports to Bill Mittler, an accountant.
Administration
Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased at auction by the Archives Center, National Museum of American History, May 2011.
Processing Information
Processed by Alison Oswald, archivist, January 2014.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Reference copies for audio discs and moving image do not exist. Use of these materials requires special arrangement with the Archives Center staff. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives.
Preferred Citation
Al Celley Collection of Duke Ellington Materials, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Duke Ellington Collection (AC0301)
Duke Ellington Oral History Project (AC0368)
This project includes an interview with Al Celley, July 12, 1989.
Keywords
Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
African Americans Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Big bands Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Contracts Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Business records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Correspondence Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Financial records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Handbills Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Music Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jazz -- 20th century -- United States Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jazz musicians Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Music trade Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Musicians Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Notes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Orchestrations Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Passports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
78 rpm records Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Signatures (names) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
16mm motion picture film Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tickets Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Writings Genre Form 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
archivescenter@si.edu