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 include four U.S. 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 of 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. Most of these notes are found in boxes 5 and 6. Of further interest in this series are the Ellington Christmas cards, reknown for their original poetry and artwork and unique presentation of the season's greetings.
The records are arranged chronologically. 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. These records will become available to researchers in the year 2000.
Box 1
Folder 1, June 10, 1941-March 4, 1964; 2, July 21, 1964-November 28, 1966 (click here to see a sample from this folder); 3, February 2, 1967-April 17, 1969; 4, April 24, 1969-April 30, 1969; 5, May 1, 1969-December 9, 1970; 6, February 20, 1971-January 10, 1972.
Box 2
Folder 1, February 2, 1972-November 28, 1973; 2, February 3, 1974-April 25, 1974; 3, April 26, 1974-April 30, 1974; 4, April 29, 1974; 5, May 1, 1974-May 2, 1974; 6, May 2, 1974-May 4, 1974.
Box 3
Folder 1, May 5, 1974-May 6, 1974; 2, May 7, 1974-May 9, 1974; 3, May 10, 1974-May16, 1974; 4, May 17, 1974-May 23, 1974; 5, May 24, 1974-May 30, 1974; 6, Phone Messages for Duke Ellington, 1971-1974.
Box 4
Folder 1, Father Gerald Pocock, July 28, 1969-April 3, 1972; 2, Father Gerald Pocock, April 14, 1972-November 27, 1972; 3, Father Gerald Pocock, December 6, 1972-June 7, 1973; 4, Father Gerald Pocock, June 30, 1973-February 19, 1974.
Box 5
Folder 1, Duke Ellington Christmas Cards, undated; 2, Correspondence, undated; 3, Correspondence, undated; 4, Correspondence, undated; 5,Business Cards and Addresses, undated; 6, Notes, undated; 7, Notes, undated; 8, Notes, undated; 9, Notes, undated.
Box 6
Folder 1, Notes, undated; 2, Notes, undated; 3, Notes, undated.
Unprocessed Ellington hand-written notes
Box 9
Unprocessed birthday gifts
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