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
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.
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
Whitney Balliett papers, #6948. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell
University Library.
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
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Description
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Date
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Misc. Papers and Notes
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Box 1 | Folder 1 |
"The Thoughts of Youth" - Poems by Whitney B.
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March - October 1941 |
Box 1 | Folder 2 |
Ghost Experience - Notes about Marian Johnson
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Box 1 | Folder 3 |
O'Neal, Hank
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Box 1 | Folder 4 |
Powell, Mel
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Box 1 | Folder 5 |
Reviews of WB's Books
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Box 1 | Folder 6 |
Poetry Images... Whitney's Notes for his own Work
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Box 1 | Folder 7 |
"American Singers" - Book Party
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November 28, 1987 |
Box 1 | Folder 8 |
American Academy of Artist Letters Program
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May 15, 1996 |
Box 1 | Folder 9 |
Armstrong, Louis (note from a reader)
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Box 1 | Folder 10 |
"Atlantic Monthly" Article on a 10 day QE 2 Jazz Cruise by Whitney Balliett
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Box 1 | Folder 11 |
Review: American Musicians
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Box 1 | Folder 12 |
Bach, Jean (notes on "A Great Day in Harlem")
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Box 1 | Folder 13 |
Bagneris, Vernel (original manuscript)
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Box 1 | Folder 14 |
Dearie, Blossom
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Box 1 | Folder 15 |
Beiderbeike, Bix (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 16 |
Bennett, Tony (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 17 |
Bertoncini, Gene - Moore, Michael (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 18 |
The Blue Book Guide of the "Sporting District" in New Orleans
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Box 1 | Folder 19 |
Books: James Gould Cozzens Original Manuscript
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Box 1 | Folder 20 |
Book Review: DownBeat - "Ecstasy at the Onion - 31 Pieces on Jazz by Whitney Balliett
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Box 1 | Folder 21 |
Book Review: "God's Perfect Child" by Caroline Fraser
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Box 1 | Folder 22 |
Braff, Ruby (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 23 |
Braff, Ruby (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 24 |
Briggs, Bunny
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Box 1 | Folder 25 |
Burns Ken (notes and piece about his Jazz series)
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Box 1 | Folder 26 |
Cain Jackie - Kral, Roy (notes on the singers Jackie + Roy)
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Box 1 | Folder 27 |
Canney, Harry
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Box 1 | Folder 28 |
Canney, Harry (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 29 |
Canter, Betty (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 30 |
Charlap, Bill (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 31 |
Charlap, Bill (original manuscript)
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Box 1 | Folder 32 |
Charlap, Bill
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Box 1 | Folder 33 |
Charles, Ray (also Moore, Michael
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Box 1 | Folder 34 |
Charles, Ray (notes
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Box 1 | Folder 35 |
Cheatham, Doc (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 36 |
Coleman, Ornette (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 37 |
Cunningham, Bradley (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 38 |
Davis, Miles
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Box 1 | Folder 39 |
Deanie, Blossom (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 40 |
Eldridge, Roy (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 41 |
Elliott, Bob - Goulding, Ray
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Box 1 | Folder 42 |
Ellis, Anita (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 43 |
Feinstein, Sasha
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Box 1 | Folder 44 |
Finegan, Bill
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Box 1 | Folder 45 |
Flanagan, Tommy
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Box 1 | Folder 46 |
Fraishberg, Dave (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 47 |
Ganner, Erroll (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 48 |
Gibson, Dick: Jazz Party - Aspen, Colorado
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1969 |
Box 1 | Folder 49 |
Gillespie, Dizzy (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 50 |
(Goodman, Benny (notes and original manuscript)
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Box 1 | Folder 51 |
Gordon - Research - John Gordon Piece
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Box 1 | Folder 52 |
Gordon, John (dealer in Americana)
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Box 1 | Folder 53 |
Gordon, John
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Box 1 | Folder 54 |
Gordon, Max
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Box 1 | Folder 55 |
Cafe Society, Uptown and Downtown (Murals)
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Box 1 | Folder 56 |
Grappelli, Stephane - Reinhardt, Django
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Box 1 | Folder 57 |
The Great Hurricane of 1938, Reprint from the New Yorker
|
Spring 1989 |
Box 1 | Folder 58 |
Hackett, Bobby (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 59 |
Hackett, Bobby
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Box 1 | Folder 60 |
Hall, Jim - Charlap, Bill
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March 1999 |
Box 1 | Folder 61 |
Hall, Jim (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 62 |
Hall, Jim
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Box 1 | Folder 63 |
Hall, Jim
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Box 1 | Folder 64 |
Holiday, Billie
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Box 1 | Folder 65 |
New York Notes Columns' Notes
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Box 1 | Folder 66 |
365 Cedar Swamp Road Article
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Box 1 | Folder 67 |
"The House and the Highway" - New Yorker
|
December 25, 1971 |
Box 1 | Folder 68 |
Hurricane photos
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1938 |
Box 1 | Folder 69 |
Keating, Cletus (Mrs.) interview for "The House and the Highway"
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Box 1 | Folder 70 |
Jazz Festival, Mobile notes
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Box 1 | Folder 71 |
Jazz Festival, Monterey notes
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Box 1 | Folder 72 |
Jones, Elvin (notes)
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Box 1 | Folder 73 |
Jones, Elvin
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Box 2 | Folder 1 |
Jones, Hank (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 2 |
"Kansas City," Robert Altman Movie
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Box 2 | Folder 3 |
Knepper, Jimmy (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 4 |
Lankins, Ellis notes
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Box 2 | Folder 5 |
Lawrence, Baby notes
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Box 2 | Folder 6 |
Lovano, Joe (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 7 |
Marano, Nancy (notes and original manuscript)
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Box 2 | Folder 8 |
McPartland, Marian - McPartland, Jimmy
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Box 2 | Folder 9 |
McPartland, Marian (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 10 |
The Modern Jazz Quartet (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 11 |
Monk, Thelonious - Downbeat Score for "Straight No Chaser"
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Box 2 | Folder 12 |
Moore, Freddie (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 13 |
New York Notes Columns
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Box 2 | Folder 14 |
New York Notes
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Box 2 | Folder 15 |
NY Review - E.J. Hobsbawn: Jazz Comes Back
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February 12, 1987 |
Box 2 | Folder 16 |
Moore, Michael and Charles, Ray
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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
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Box 2 | Folder 21 |
The New Yorker, 70th Anniversary Party
|
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Box 2 | Folder 22 |
Norris, Walter - Interview, notes
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Box 2 | Folder 23 |
Norvo, Red
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Box 2 | Folder 24 |
Mercer, Mabel notes
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Box 2 | Folder 25 |
Mercer, Mabel (piece in Life Magazine)
|
October 15, 1965 |
Box 2 | Folder 26 |
Mercer, Mabel (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 27 |
McKenna, Dave (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 28 |
Marcus, Marie
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Box 2 | Folder 29 |
Moore, Michael (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 30 |
Dates of Whitney Balliett's New Yorker Pieces
|
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Box 2 | Folder 31 |
Oliver, Edith (original manuscript of Edith Oliver's obituary by Balliett)
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Box 2 | Folder 32 |
Parker, Leon (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 33 |
Powell, Mel
|
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Box 2 | Folder 34 |
Powell, Mel (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 35 |
Snyder, John
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Box 2 | Folder 36 |
Reinhardt, Django (original manuscript)
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Box 2 | Folder 37 |
Rowles, Jimmy (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 38 |
Rich, Buddy notes
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Box 2 | Folder 39 |
Rich, Buddy - Drawing by Balliett which appeared in the New Yorker
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Box 2 | Folder 40 |
Shawn, William (Interview from Womnen's Wear Daily)
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Box 2 | Folder 41 |
Schueler, Jon (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 42 |
Sheaming, George
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Box 2 | Folder 43 |
Short, Bobby notes
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Box 2 | Folder 44 |
Sims, Zoot - Sims, Louise
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Box 2 | Folder 45 |
Zutty Singleton - Modern Jazz Quartet notes
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Box 2 | Folder 46 |
Sloane, Carol interview notes
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Box 2 | Folder 47 |
Steig, Jeremy
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Box 2 | Folder 48 |
Syms, Sylvia
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Box 2 | Folder 49 |
Tate, Buddy (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 50 |
Tatum, Art (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 51 |
Smith, Jabbo (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 52 |
Taylor, Cecil - interview notes
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Box 2 | Folder 53 |
Thornhill, Claude
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Box 2 | Folder 54 |
Torme, Mel notes
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Box 2 | Folder 55 |
Tough, Dave
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Box 2 | Folder 56 |
Venuti, Joe
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Box 2 | Folder 57 |
Wein, George and Joyce
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Box 2 | Folder 58 |
Wellstood, Dick (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 59 |
Wilber, Bob (notes)
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Box 2 | Folder 60 |
Wilder, Joe
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Box 2 | Folder 61 |
Wilson, Julie - Interview Notes
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Box 2 | Folder 62 |
Wilson, Cassandra
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Box 2 | Folder 63 |
Whiting, Margaret - interviews and notes
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Box 2 | Folder 64 |
Collected Works
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Correspondence
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Box 2 | Folder 65 |
Letters from Fans of WB's Writing
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Box 2 | Folder 66 |
DownBeat - Letter to Editor - Re: Sidney Catlett (WB)
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Box 2 | Folder 67 |
Cooke, Alistair
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Box 2 | Folder 68 |
McNulty, Faith
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Box 2 | Folder 69 |
Macklin, Elizabeth - "The House Style
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September 29, 1997 |
Box 2 | Folder 70 |
Maxtone - Graham, John
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Box 2 | Folder 71 |
Lee, Peggy
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Box 2 | Folder 72 |
Toklas, Alice
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Box 2 | Folder 73 |
Letters from: Lena Horne
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Box 2 | Folder 74 |
Dahl, Roald
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Box 2 | Folder 75 |
Dirda, Michael
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Box 2 | Folder 76 |
Foote, Shelby
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Box 2 | Folder 77 |
Hentoff, Nat
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Box 2 | Folder 78 |
Rowles, Jimmy
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Box 2 | Folder 79 |
Ondaatje, Michael
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Box 2 | Folder 80 |
Updike, John
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Box 2 | Folder 81 |
Yardley, Jonathan
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Box 2 | Folder 82 |
Steinman, Michael (a fan of Whitney's)
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Box 2 | Folder 83 |
Dance, Helen Oakley - Dance, Stanley
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Box 2 | Folder 84 |
Letters from: Brian McInerry - Maher, James T.
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Box 2 | Folder 85 |
Wilbur, Bob (letter re: Jelly Roll Morton)
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Box 2 | Folder 86 |
Remnick, David
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Box 2 | Folder 87 |
Stephenson, Sam
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Box 2 | Folder 88 |
Gibson, Rob (Lincoln Center)
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Box 2 | Folder 89 |
Letters from musicians, writers, critics, and others (including Frank Sinatra)
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Box 2 | Folder 90 |
Whitworth, Bill
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Box 2 | Folder 91 |
Reviews and quotes on WB's writing
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Box 2 | Folder 92 |
Turner, Frederick
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Box 3 | Folder 1 |
Asekoff, Louis (poet)
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Box 3 | Folder 2 |
Letters from fans
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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
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Box 3 | Folder 9 |
Letter from Borclay Henry
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Box 3 | Folder 10 |
Letters from Cheatham, Doc - Ellis, Anita - Lewis, John
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Box 3 | Folder 11 |
Letters from Alex Wilder
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Box 3 | Folder 12 |
Photo by Jack Bradley, p. 19 - Whitney, Nancy dancing... from DownBeat magazine
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Box 3 | Folder 13 |
Photos of Musicians
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Box 3 | Folder 14 |
The Saturday Review (pieces by WB)
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Box 3 | Folder 15 |
Original Manuscript - City Voices: Fourteen New York Portraits
|
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Photographs, drawings, posters
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Manuscript Box 93 |
Photograph of Duke Ellington in front of the Apollo theater, signed to Balliett with
appreciation.
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1963-11-30 | |
Creator: Avedon, Richard, 1923-2004
|
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Gelatin silver prints.
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Manuscript Box 93 |
Photograph of the members and recipients of awards ceremony of the American Academy
of Arts and Letters.
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1996-05-15 | |
Creator: Groskinsky, Henry
|
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Scope and Contents
Includes a sheet identifying all people in photograph.
|
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Manuscript Box 93 |
Harlem 1958 photograph, also known as A Great Day in Harlem, and a modern recreation
photograph
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1958-2003 | |
Creator: Kane, Art, 1925-04-09-1995-02-03
|
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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.
|
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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
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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.
|
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Gelatin silver prints.
|
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Box 3 | Folder 16 |
Photographs
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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.
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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.
|
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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.
|