Ella Fitzgerald Papers

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Finding aid

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Object Details

Summary

Collection documents primarily through music manuscripts, photographic materials, audio recordings, moving images, magazine articles, newspaper clippings, correspondence, concert programs, and awards the professional career and personal life of Ella Fitzgerald. Often called the "First Lady of Song," Fitzgerald was one of the 20th century's most important musical performers.

Scope and Contents

Papers document the professional musical career and personal life of American singer, songwriter, and composer Ella Jane Fitzgerald. Materials include music manuscripts, sheet music, vocal scores, photographs, scripts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, song books, concert programs, magazine articles, business records, sound recordings, moving images, and awards. The bulk of the material relates to Fitzgerald's career as a singer and performer in the United States and internationally. These materials comprise of Fitzgerald's estate that were in her home at the time of her death in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California at the age of seventy-nine.

sova.nmah.ac.0584

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b30d86b3-2935-49c8-b13c-faf206402d9c

Creator

Fitzgerald, Ella, 1917-1996

Producer

Decca (recording company).

Performer

Jazz at the Philharmonic (Musical group)

Producer

Verve Records (Firm)

Musician

Betts, Keter, 1928-

Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974

Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993

Names

Goodman, Benny (Benjamin David), 1909-1986

Producer

Granz, Norman

Musician

Pass, Joe, 1929-1994

Peterson, Oscar, 1925-

Arranger

Riddle, Nelson

Topic

Jazz

African American women -- 1950-1960

African American music -- 20th century

Music -- African-American

Popular music -- African American influences

Passports

African Americans on television

Variety shows (Television programs) -- Production and direction

Festivals

Credit cards

African American women -- History

Jazz -- 20th century -- United States

African American women jazz singers

Concerts -- Programs

Provenance

The collection was donated by the Fitzgerald 1989 Trust, Richard Rosman, trustee on April 14, 1997. The Ella Fitzgeral Charitable Foundation is the successor to the Fitzgerald 1989 Trust.

Creator

Fitzgerald, Ella, 1917-1996

Culture

African American women

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Ella Fitzgerald Papers

Biographical / Historical

Born in Newport News, Virginia on April 25th, 1918, Ella Jane Fitzgerald was sent to an orphanage in Yonkers, New York at the age of six. In 1934, she was discovered as a singer in New York's famed Apollo Theater Amateur Contest. This led to a stint with drummer Chick Webb's Band, with whom she recorded her first big hit, "A -tisket A-tasket" in 1938. After Webb died in 1939, Fitzgerald took over leadership of the band for three years, during which time they were featured on a live radio series. She then embarked upon a solo career, which included recording for Decca Records, and in 1946, she began a pivotal association with producer Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic series, which brought her a large international following. In 1956, Fitzgerald left Decca Records to join Granz's newly formed Verve label. Among her notable Verve recordings were a series of "songbooks" featuring the work of major American composers such as Cole Porter, George Gershwin, and Harold Arlen as well as classic collaborations with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Fitzgerald's toured and performed extensively and her immense popularity also led to appearances on television, in movies, and in commercials and magazine ads. Despite increasing health problems, Fitzgerald continued to tour, perform and record into her seventies with musicians such as guitarist Joe Pass, arranger-producer Quincy Jones, and pianist Oscar Peterson. Throughout her life, Fitzgerald was active in charitable work with particular emphasis on the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Ella Fitzgerald and Harriette E. Shields Child Care Centers. Ella Fitzgerald was admired and honored world-wide. In addition to receiving more than a dozen Grammy awards, she was awarded numerous honorary degrees and many states and cities had commemorative Ella Fitzgerald days. Fitzgerald was a Kennedy Center honoree in 1979 and Harvard University's Hasty Pudding Club named her "Woman of the Year" in 1982. The "First Lady of Song" died on June 17, 1996, of complications from diabetes.

Extent

50 Cubic feet (109 boxes)

Date

circa 1900-2002, undated

Archival Repository

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Identifier

NMAH.AC.0584

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Awards

Audiotapes

Clippings

Contracts

Greeting cards

Manuscripts

Phonograph records

Photographs

Posters

Programs

16mm motion picture film

Sound recordings

Videocassettes

Black-and-white photographs

Newspaper clippings

Itineraries

Ephemera

Printed ephemera

Citation

Ella Fitzgerald Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Arrangement

The collection is organized into ten series. Series 1: Music Manuscripts and Sheet Music, 1919-1973, undated Subseries 1.1: Music From Television Show Appearances, undated Subseries 1.2: Song Books, undated Series 2: Photographs, 1930-1990, undated Subseries 2.1: Ella Fitzgerald Performing Alone, 1930-1990, undated Subseries 2.2: Ella Fitzgerald Performing With Others, 1930-1980, undatedd Subseries 2.3: Publicity, circa 1930-1990, undated Subseries 2.4: Ella Fitzgerald with Family, Colleagues, and Friends, 1930s-1988, undated Subseries 2.5: Candid Photographs, 1945-1990, undated Subseries 2.6: Performing Venues, undated Subseries 2.7: Photographs from Friends and Fans, 1939-1986, undated Subseries 2.8: Photographs Negatives, Transparencies, and Slides, 1963-1964, undated Series 2.9: Oversize, 1940-1983, undated Series 3: Television Production Materials, 1957-1981, undated Series 4: Correspondence, 1956-1996, undated Series 5: Business Records, 1952-1990, undated Series 6: Awards and Honorary Degrees, 1959-2002 Series 7: Concert Programs and Announcements, 1958-1992, undated Series 8: Magazine Articles and Newspaper Clippings, 1949-1997, undated Subseries 8.1: Magazine Articles, 1949-1997 Subseries 8.2: Newspaper Clippings, circa 1950-1990, undated Series 9: Album Jackets and Personal Papers, 1958-1988, undated Subseries 9.1: Album Jackets without LPs, 1958-1980, undated Subseries 9.2: Personal Papers, 1959-1988, undated Series 10: Audiovisual, 1900-1999, undated Subseries 10.1: Sound Discs: Test Pressings, Transcription Discs, and Performer Copies, 1939-1979 Subseries 10.2: Commercial Sound Recordings, 1956-1991, undated Subseries 10.3: Demonstration Sound Discs: Other Artists and Songwriters, 1900-1960s, undated Subseries 10.4: Sound Tapes, 1938-1996, undated Subseries 10.5: Videotapes, 1967-1999, undated Subseries 10.6: Reference Tape Cassettes (for 1/4" open reel originals), undated Subseries 10.7: Films, 1959-1973 Subseries 10.8: Master Reel-to-Reel Audiotapes, 1950-1963, undated

Processing Information

Collection processed by Reuben Jackson, archivist, 2001; Wendy Shay, audiovisual archivist, 2001-2004, 2008, 2015; Leigh Gialanella, digital archivist, 2025; and Vanessa Broussard Simmons, archivist, 2025.

Rights

The Archives Center can provide reproductions of some materials for research and educational use. Copyright and right to publicity restrictions apply and limit reproduction for other purposes. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Genre/Form

Awards

Audiotapes

Clippings -- 20th century

Contracts

Greeting cards

Manuscripts -- Music -- 20th century

Phonograph records

Photographs -- 20th century

Posters -- 20th century

Programs -- 1930-2000

16mm motion picture film

Sound recordings

Sound recordings -- 1930-1990

Videocassettes

Black-and-white photographs

Newspaper clippings

Itineraries

Ephemera -- 20th century

Printed ephemera

Programs -- Concerts -- 20th century

Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Only reference copies of audiovisual materials can be used.

Related Materials

Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution Duke Ellington Collection, NMAH.AC.0301 Ruth Ellington Collection, NMAH.AC.0415 Herman Leonard Photographic Collection, NMAH.AC.0445 Ernie Smith Jazz Film Collection, NMAH.AC0491 Frank Schiffman Apollo Theater Collection, NMAH.AC.0540 Caroline R. Jones Papers, NMAH.AC.0552 Eric Miller Collection, NMAH.AC.0587 Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald by Annie Leibovitz, NMAH.AC0588 William "Cat" Anderson Collection, NMAH.AC.0630 Tad Hershorn Collection, NMAH.AC0680 Harry Warren Papers, NMAH.AC.0750 W. Royal Stokes Collection of Jazz Musicians' Photographs, NMAH.AC.0766 Benny Carter Collection, NMAH.AC0757 Charismic Productions Records of Dizzy Gillespie, NMAH.AC0979 WANN Radio Station Records, NMAH.AC.0800 Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program Collection, NMAH.AC0808 Milt Gabler Papers, NMAH.AC0849 Audrey Wells "Women in Jazz" Radio Series, NMAH.AC.0899 Leonard and Mary Gaskin Papers, NMAH.AC.0900 John and Devra Hall Levy Collection, NMAH.AC.1221 Duncan Schiedt Jazz Collection, NMAH.AC.1323 Ray Brown Papers, NMAH.AC.1362 Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution Moses and Frances Asch Collection, CFCH.ASCH National Postal Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution Ethel Kessler Collection, NPMA.2025.2 Smithsonian Institution Archives, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History, Archives Center, Chair Records, SIA.FA12-193 National Museum of American History, Office of Curatorial Affairs, Exhibition and Program Records, SIA.FA13-194 Office of Telecommunications, Productions, SIA.FARU0591 Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution Archives, Smithsonian Institution Anacostia Community Museum Programs and Projects, 1967-1989, ACMA.09-023 Henry P. Whitehead Collection, ACMA.06-042 Other Repositories Ella Fitzgerald Collection, 1956-1992, ML31.F58, Music Division, Library of Congress Ella Fitzgerald Collection, MC 104, changed to Ella Fitzgerald Music, Papers, Audio Recordings, and Artifacts, IJS-0104 in 2021, Institute of Jazz Studies Repository, John Cotton Dana Library, Rutgers University Ella Fitzgerald Collection, 1965-1972, SPE-83, Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center Repository, Mugar Memorial Library, Boston University

Separated Materials

The National Museum of American History, Division of Culture and the Arts (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) holds artifacts relating to Ella Fitzgerald to include but not limited to: Dress, accession number 1996.342.001 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.002 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.003 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.004 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.005 Suit jacket, accession number 1996.0342.006 Suit skirt, accession number 1996.0342.007 Hat, accession number 1996.0342.008 Pant suit, accession number 1996.0342.009 Suit jacket, accession number 1996.0342.010 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.011 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.012 Dress, accession number 1996.0342.013 Academic robe, accession number 1996.0342.014 Scarf, accession number 1996.0342.015 Academic robe, accession number 1996.0342.016 Academic cowl, accession number 1996.0342.017 Society of Singers Sweatshirt 1986.0342.018 Scarf, accession number 1996.342.020 Scarf, accession number 1996.0342.021 Wig, accession number 1996.342.022 Wig, accession number 1996.342.023 Leopard coat, accession number 1996.0342.024 Sweatshirt, accession number 1996.0342.025 Earrings, accession number 1996.0342.028 Brooch, accession number 1996.0342.030 Pendant, accession number 1996.0342.031 Eyeglasses, accession number 1996.0342.032 Eyeglasses, accession number 1996.0342.033 Eyeglasses, accession number 1996.0342.034 Handbag, accession number 1996.0342.035 Grammy award, accession number 1996.0342.041 Dream Street Foundation award, accession number 1996.0342.044 Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement award, accession number 1996.0342.048 City Key, accession number 1996.0342.049.02 Key to the City of New York, accession number 1996.0342.49.14 Key to the City of Little Rock, accession number 1996.0342.049.15 Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year award, accession number 1996.0342.050 Sorority award, accession number 1996.0342.051 Los Angeles Times Woman of the Year Cup, accession number 1996.0342.052 Society of Singers award, accession number 1996.0342.059 Democratic National Committee award, 1982, accession number 1966.0342.060 IAJE award, accession number 1996.0342.061 WNEW radio station plaque 1996.0342.063 Grammy award, 1975, accession number 1996.0342.065 Grammy award, accession number 1996.0342.066 Grammy award, 1981, accession number 1996.0342.067 Grammy award, 1990, accession number 1996.0342.068 Billboard award, accession number 1996.0342.069 Vision award, accession number 1996.0342.072 Chicago Defender award, accession number 1996.0342.074 Cigarette case, 1961, accession number 1996.0342.077 Ebony Magazine Lifetime award, accession number 1996.0342.078 National Women's Hall of Fame, accession number 1996.0342.079 Encyclopedia Britannica Lifetime Achievement Award 1996.0342.081 Grammy medallion, 1976, accession number 1996.0342.082 St. Jude Hospital Plaque, accession number 1996.0343.083 Football autographed by National Football League (NFL) players, accession number 1996.0342.104 Baseball sign by Los Angeles Dodgers, 1996.0342.108 Name plate, accession number 1996.0342.110 Neon sign, accession number 1996.0342.118 Eyeglass cloth, accession number 1996.0342.119

NMAH.AC.0584

Large EAD

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep8b30d86b3-2935-49c8-b13c-faf206402d9c

NMAH.AC.0584

ACAH

Record ID

ebl-1503513643692-1503513643728-0

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