Whitney Balliett papers, 1941-2006
Collection Number: 6948

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Whitney Balliett papers, 1941-2006
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Collection Number:
6948
Abstract:
Notes, drafts, and writings on jazz criticism and biography. Also, letters to Balliett and photographs.
Creator:
Balliett, Whitney.
Quanitities:
3 cubic feet.
Language:
Collection material in English
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Whitney Balliett was esteemed jazz critic. He graduated from Cornell in 1951, and went on to write for The New Yorker. For nearly 50 years, he contributed to the publication with over 550 articles, and many more unsigned. He is known for his non-technical approach to criticism, using artful adjectives and vivid verbs to frame the music. His writing was more poetry than anything, and reading it, one will find metaphors and synesthetic synopses understandable by even the most uninformed music listener.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Notes, drafts, and writings on jazz criticism and biography. Also, letters to Balliett and photographs. The Whitney Balliett collection houses a variety of papers and correspondences from Balliett's career. There are a number of notebooks containing (nearly illegible) notes of various musician's concerts or recordings. There are also items relating to the New Yorker, including a drawing of Buddy Rich by Balliett that appeared in the magazine. Some notable letters include notes from Alice Toklas, John Updike, and Frank Sinatra. Additionally, there are a number of formerly framed items from the wall of Balliett's office.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
Cite As:

Whitney Balliett papers, #6948. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
SUBJECTS

Names:
Charles, Ray, 1930-2004
Dahl, Roald
Gillespie, Dizzy, 1917-1993
Sinatra, Frank, 1915-1998
Toklas, Alice B.
Updike, John
Newport Jazz Festival
Subjects:
Jazz musicians -- United States -- Biography.
Jazz -- History and criticism.
CONTAINER LIST
Container
Description
Date
Misc. Papers and Notes
Box 1 Folder 1
"The Thoughts of Youth" - Poems by Whitney B.
 March - October 1941
Box 1 Folder 2
Ghost Experience - Notes about Marian Johnson
Box 1 Folder 3
O'Neal, Hank
Box 1 Folder 4
Powell, Mel
Box 1 Folder 5
Reviews of WB's Books
Box 1 Folder 6
Poetry Images... Whitney's Notes for his own Work
Box 1 Folder 7
"American Singers" - Book Party
 November 28, 1987
Box 1 Folder 8
American Academy of Artist Letters Program
 May 15, 1996
Box 1 Folder 9
Armstrong, Louis (note from a reader)
Box 1 Folder 10
"Atlantic Monthly" Article on a 10 day QE 2 Jazz Cruise by Whitney Balliett
Box 1 Folder 11
Review: American Musicians
Box 1 Folder 12
Bach, Jean (notes on "A Great Day in Harlem")
Box 1 Folder 13
Bagneris, Vernel (original manuscript)
Box 1 Folder 14
Dearie, Blossom
Box 1 Folder 15
Beiderbeike, Bix (notes)
Box 1 Folder 16
Bennett, Tony (notes)
Box 1 Folder 17
Bertoncini, Gene - Moore, Michael (notes)
Box 1 Folder 18
The Blue Book Guide of the "Sporting District" in New Orleans
Box 1 Folder 19
Books: James Gould Cozzens Original Manuscript
Box 1 Folder 20
Book Review: DownBeat - "Ecstasy at the Onion - 31 Pieces on Jazz by Whitney Balliett
Box 1 Folder 21
Book Review: "God's Perfect Child" by Caroline Fraser
Box 1 Folder 22
Braff, Ruby (notes)
Box 1 Folder 23
Braff, Ruby (notes)
Box 1 Folder 24
Briggs, Bunny
Box 1 Folder 25
Burns Ken (notes and piece about his Jazz series)
Box 1 Folder 26
Cain Jackie - Kral, Roy (notes on the singers Jackie + Roy)
Box 1 Folder 27
Canney, Harry
Box 1 Folder 28
Canney, Harry (notes)
Box 1 Folder 29
Canter, Betty (notes)
Box 1 Folder 30
Charlap, Bill (notes)
Box 1 Folder 31
Charlap, Bill (original manuscript)
Box 1 Folder 32
Charlap, Bill
Box 1 Folder 33
Charles, Ray (also Moore, Michael
Box 1 Folder 34
Charles, Ray (notes
Box 1 Folder 35
Cheatham, Doc (notes)
Box 1 Folder 36
Coleman, Ornette (notes)
Box 1 Folder 37
Cunningham, Bradley (notes)
Box 1 Folder 38
Davis, Miles
Box 1 Folder 39
Deanie, Blossom (notes)
Box 1 Folder 40
Eldridge, Roy (notes)
Box 1 Folder 41
Elliott, Bob - Goulding, Ray
Box 1 Folder 42
Ellis, Anita (notes)
Box 1 Folder 43
Feinstein, Sasha
Box 1 Folder 44
Finegan, Bill
Box 1 Folder 45
Flanagan, Tommy
Box 1 Folder 46
Fraishberg, Dave (notes)
Box 1 Folder 47
Ganner, Erroll (notes)
Box 1 Folder 48
Gibson, Dick: Jazz Party - Aspen, Colorado
 1969
Box 1 Folder 49
Gillespie, Dizzy (notes)
Box 1 Folder 50
(Goodman, Benny (notes and original manuscript)
Box 1 Folder 51
Gordon - Research - John Gordon Piece
Box 1 Folder 52
Gordon, John (dealer in Americana)
Box 1 Folder 53
Gordon, John
Box 1 Folder 54
Gordon, Max
Box 1 Folder 55
Cafe Society, Uptown and Downtown (Murals)
Box 1 Folder 56
Grappelli, Stephane - Reinhardt, Django
Box 1 Folder 57
The Great Hurricane of 1938, Reprint from the New Yorker
 Spring 1989
Box 1 Folder 58
Hackett, Bobby (notes)
Box 1 Folder 59
Hackett, Bobby
Box 1 Folder 60
Hall, Jim - Charlap, Bill
 March 1999
Box 1 Folder 61
Hall, Jim (notes)
Box 1 Folder 62
Hall, Jim
Box 1 Folder 63
Hall, Jim
Box 1 Folder 64
Holiday, Billie
Box 1 Folder 65
New York Notes Columns' Notes
Box 1 Folder 66
365 Cedar Swamp Road Article
Box 1 Folder 67
"The House and the Highway" - New Yorker
 December 25, 1971
Box 1 Folder 68
Hurricane photos
 1938
Box 1 Folder 69
Keating, Cletus (Mrs.) interview for "The House and the Highway"
Box 1 Folder 70
Jazz Festival, Mobile notes
Box 1 Folder 71
Jazz Festival, Monterey notes
Box 1 Folder 72
Jones, Elvin (notes)
Box 1 Folder 73
Jones, Elvin
Box 2 Folder 1
Jones, Hank (notes)
Box 2 Folder 2
"Kansas City," Robert Altman Movie
Box 2 Folder 3
Knepper, Jimmy (notes)
Box 2 Folder 4
Lankins, Ellis notes
Box 2 Folder 5
Lawrence, Baby notes
Box 2 Folder 6
Lovano, Joe (notes)
Box 2 Folder 7
Marano, Nancy (notes and original manuscript)
Box 2 Folder 8
McPartland, Marian - McPartland, Jimmy
Box 2 Folder 9
McPartland, Marian (notes)
Box 2 Folder 10
The Modern Jazz Quartet (notes)
Box 2 Folder 11
Monk, Thelonious - Downbeat Score for "Straight No Chaser"
Box 2 Folder 12
Moore, Freddie (notes)
Box 2 Folder 13
New York Notes Columns
Box 2 Folder 14
New York Notes
Box 2 Folder 15
NY Review - E.J. Hobsbawn: Jazz Comes Back
 February 12, 1987
Box 2 Folder 16
Moore, Michael and Charles, Ray
Box 2 Folder 17
Newport Jazz Festival Notes
 1974
Box 2 Folder 18
Newport Jazz Festival
 1973
Box 2 Folder 19
Newport Jazz Festival
 1973
Box 2 Folder 20
Playing the drums on a QE2 Jazz Cruise
Box 2 Folder 21
The New Yorker, 70th Anniversary Party
Box 2 Folder 22
Norris, Walter - Interview, notes
Box 2 Folder 23
Norvo, Red
Box 2 Folder 24
Mercer, Mabel notes
Box 2 Folder 25
Mercer, Mabel (piece in Life Magazine)
 October 15, 1965
Box 2 Folder 26
Mercer, Mabel (notes)
Box 2 Folder 27
McKenna, Dave (notes)
Box 2 Folder 28
Marcus, Marie
Box 2 Folder 29
Moore, Michael (notes)
Box 2 Folder 30
Dates of Whitney Balliett's New Yorker Pieces
Box 2 Folder 31
Oliver, Edith (original manuscript of Edith Oliver's obituary by Balliett)
Box 2 Folder 32
Parker, Leon (notes)
Box 2 Folder 33
Powell, Mel
Box 2 Folder 34
Powell, Mel (notes)
Box 2 Folder 35
Snyder, John
Box 2 Folder 36
Reinhardt, Django (original manuscript)
Box 2 Folder 37
Rowles, Jimmy (notes)
Box 2 Folder 38
Rich, Buddy notes
Box 2 Folder 39
Rich, Buddy - Drawing by Balliett which appeared in the New Yorker
Box 2 Folder 40
Shawn, William (Interview from Womnen's Wear Daily)
Box 2 Folder 41
Schueler, Jon (notes)
Box 2 Folder 42
Sheaming, George
Box 2 Folder 43
Short, Bobby notes
Box 2 Folder 44
Sims, Zoot - Sims, Louise
Box 2 Folder 45
Zutty Singleton - Modern Jazz Quartet notes
Box 2 Folder 46
Sloane, Carol interview notes
Box 2 Folder 47
Steig, Jeremy
Box 2 Folder 48
Syms, Sylvia
Box 2 Folder 49
Tate, Buddy (notes)
Box 2 Folder 50
Tatum, Art (notes)
Box 2 Folder 51
Smith, Jabbo (notes)
Box 2 Folder 52
Taylor, Cecil - interview notes
Box 2 Folder 53
Thornhill, Claude
Box 2 Folder 54
Torme, Mel notes
Box 2 Folder 55
Tough, Dave
Box 2 Folder 56
Venuti, Joe
Box 2 Folder 57
Wein, George and Joyce
Box 2 Folder 58
Wellstood, Dick (notes)
Box 2 Folder 59
Wilber, Bob (notes)
Box 2 Folder 60
Wilder, Joe
Box 2 Folder 61
Wilson, Julie - Interview Notes
Box 2 Folder 62
Wilson, Cassandra
Box 2 Folder 63
Whiting, Margaret - interviews and notes
Box 2 Folder 64
Collected Works
Correspondence
Box 2 Folder 65
Letters from Fans of WB's Writing
Box 2 Folder 66
DownBeat - Letter to Editor - Re: Sidney Catlett (WB)
Box 2 Folder 67
Cooke, Alistair
Box 2 Folder 68
McNulty, Faith
Box 2 Folder 69
Macklin, Elizabeth - "The House Style
 September 29, 1997
Box 2 Folder 70
Maxtone - Graham, John
Box 2 Folder 71
Lee, Peggy
Box 2 Folder 72
Toklas, Alice
Box 2 Folder 73
Letters from: Lena Horne
Box 2 Folder 74
Dahl, Roald
Box 2 Folder 75
Dirda, Michael
Box 2 Folder 76
Foote, Shelby
Box 2 Folder 77
Hentoff, Nat
Box 2 Folder 78
Rowles, Jimmy
Box 2 Folder 79
Ondaatje, Michael
Box 2 Folder 80
Updike, John
Box 2 Folder 81
Yardley, Jonathan
Box 2 Folder 82
Steinman, Michael (a fan of Whitney's)
Box 2 Folder 83
Dance, Helen Oakley - Dance, Stanley
Box 2 Folder 84
Letters from: Brian McInerry - Maher, James T.
Box 2 Folder 85
Wilbur, Bob (letter re: Jelly Roll Morton)
Box 2 Folder 86
Remnick, David
Box 2 Folder 87
Stephenson, Sam
Box 2 Folder 88
Gibson, Rob (Lincoln Center)
Box 2 Folder 89
Letters from musicians, writers, critics, and others (including Frank Sinatra)
Box 2 Folder 90
Whitworth, Bill
Box 2 Folder 91
Reviews and quotes on WB's writing
Box 2 Folder 92
Turner, Frederick
Box 3 Folder 1
Asekoff, Louis (poet)
Box 3 Folder 2
Letters from fans
Box 3 Folder 3
Letters, answered and unanswered
 1995 - 2006
Box 3 Folder 4
Letters, answered and unanswered
 1995 - 2006
Box 3 Folder 5
Letters, answered and unanswered
 1995 - 2006
Box 3 Folder 6
Letters, answered and unanswered
 1995 - 2006
Box 3 Folder 7
Lewis, John (memorial service in St. John's Cathedral, letter from a reader)
 2001
Box 3 Folder 8
Letters from Readers
Box 3 Folder 9
Letter from Borclay Henry
Box 3 Folder 10
Letters from Cheatham, Doc - Ellis, Anita - Lewis, John
Box 3 Folder 11
Letters from Alex Wilder
Box 3 Folder 12
Photo by Jack Bradley, p. 19 - Whitney, Nancy dancing... from DownBeat magazine
Box 3 Folder 13
Photos of Musicians
Box 3 Folder 14
The Saturday Review (pieces by WB)
Box 3 Folder 15
Original Manuscript - City Voices: Fourteen New York Portraits
Photographs, drawings, posters
Manuscript Box 93
Photograph of Duke Ellington in front of the Apollo theater, signed to Balliett with appreciation.
 1963-11-30
Creator: Avedon, Richard, 1923-2004
Gelatin silver prints.
Manuscript Box 93
Photograph of the members and recipients of awards ceremony of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
 1996-05-15
Creator: Groskinsky, Henry
Scope and Contents
Includes a sheet identifying all people in photograph.
Manuscript Box 93
Harlem 1958 photograph, also known as A Great Day in Harlem, and a modern recreation photograph
 1958-2003
Creator: Kane, Art, 1925-04-09-1995-02-03
Scope and Contents
The photograph depicts 57 jazz musicians. In the more modern, recreated photograph at the same location, ten of the original musicians are pictured. The photograph was taken sometime before October 2003.
Manuscript Box 93
Photograph of Ben Webster in silhouette
 Undated
Manuscript Box 93
"Red Allen, Pee Wee Russell Quintet - Introduced by Whitney Balliett" performance poster
 Undated
Box 3 Folder 16
Photograph of Balliett with Duke Ellington backstage at the Monterey Jazz Festival.
 1966
Creator: Seligo, Fred, 1935-1969
Scope and Contents
Also in the photograph is Nancy and Fred Seligo's date. Fred took the photograph at three a.m.
Gelatin silver prints.
Box 3 Folder 16
Photographs
Scope and Contents
Includes photograph of Balliett at home taken by A. Hall, a New Yorker publication with an interview and photographs titled "Whitney Balliett and All That Jazz", and a photograph of drummer Big Sid Catlett by Skippy Adelman taken circa 1945, printed later.
Box 3 Folder 17
Pencil drawing on paper of Whitney Balliett playing the drums by Paul Resika
 January 15, 1991
Box 3 Folder 18
Watercolor and ink drawing for Atlantic Monthly by Barry Blitt.
Scope and Contents
The illustration was for a piece Balliett wrote about playing the drums with a New Orleans group on a jazz cruise in November 1994, which no critics were invited on. It was a ten day voyage on the QE2 from New York City to Antigua.