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1980 Acquisition |
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The papers of Ross Russell, best known as a jazz journalist, jazz
historian, and the founder of Dial Records, contain correspondence; research
materials; lecture notes; manuscripts and drafts of his published books (
The Sound,
Jazz Style in Kansas City and the
Southwest, and
Bird Lives!), as well as of screenplays,
articles, and numerous unfinished works of fiction and non-fiction (most
prominently an in-depth biography of Raymond Chandler); photographs; legal
papers; royalties; reviews; transcribed interviews; and promotional literature
for Dial recordings. The papers remain in the same order as received, and
loosely reflect the following divisions: I. Correspondence, II. Jazz Writings,
III. Business Records, IV. Academic Papers and Other Writings, V. Photographs,
VI. Addenda. |
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Of special interest are letters in the correspondence files from
Russell's fellow jazz historians throughout the United States and Europe. These
correspondents include nearly every major figure concerned with jazz criticism
and history, such as Martin Williams, Whitney Balliett, Max Harrison, Charles
Delaunay, Rudi Blesh, Leonard Feather, Ralph Gleason, André Hodeir,
Gunther Schuller, Nat Hentoff, Marshall Sterns, and Ira Gitler. There is
additional correspondence from and interviews with such jazz luminaries as John
Lewis, Cootie Williams, Sonny Criss, Bud Freeman, Don Lanphere, Hampton Hawes,
Fats Navarro, Jessie Price, Jay McShann, Gene Ramey, Kenny Clarke, Chan
Richardson, Red Rodney, and most importantly, Charlie Parker, interviewed in a
backstage dressing room between sets. |
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Between 1949 and 1951, Dial Records expanded its scope to include
contemporary classical music. Because of these business dealings, the
collection also includes letters and manuscripts from Ernst Krenek and Rudolph
Kolisch, as well as seventeen letters from Arnold Schoenberg. |
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The archive also includes a number of photographs which were reprinted
in Russell's published jazz studies. Also present are other prints, proof
sheets, and contact sheets produced from photographs by Russell, along with
photographic essays of the 1968, 1970, 1971, and 1974 Monterey Jazz Festivals,
as well as the 1968 Newport Jazz Festival, the 1967 Dixieland Festival at
Disneyland, and the 1969 Jazz by the Bay Festival. The Russell files also
include candid photographs of the Modern Jazz Quartet, Louis Bellson, Sonny
Criss, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, John Handy, Hampton Hawes, Harold Land,
Don Lanphere, Tony Ortega, Jessie Price, Archie Shepp, and Randy Weston. |
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The sale of the Russell Collection was handled by Laurence McGilvery,
who provided a box-by-box inventory of the original 15 cartons of papers. The
collection has since been rehoused into archival containers, and the following
folder list compiled. Since the papers have been accessed using the McGilvery
list for several years, this new folder list includes references to the box and
folder numbers given in the McGilvery list. |
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Held separately in the Ransom Center are 3500 LP recordings and 78 RPM
discs (1,500 of which are jazz related), and reel-to-reel and cassette tapes.
Included are many Dial test pressings of jazz recordings by such masters as
Charlie Parker, Kenny Dorham, Dexter Gordon, and Red Rodney, as well as
recordings of works by Schoenberg and other mid twentieth century classical
composers. The Library holds 265 books, which deal primarily with jazz and
jazz-related topics. Some 400 periodicals, including complete or nearly
complete runs of
Jazz Review,
Clef,
Record Changer, and
Jazz Record, as well as booklets,
pamphlets, programs, and record catalogs are also present. |
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The Index of Correspondents and Index of Works at the end of this finding aid lists
the names of correspondents
and works represented in only the first accession. |
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2002 Acquisition |
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This addition to the papers of jazz historian Ross Russell contains material remaining
in his estate following
his death in January 2000. As with previously received Russell material, this collection
was prepared for
shipment by La Jolla book dealer Laurence McGilvery whose descriptive notes are found
throughout. The bulk of
the material consists of Russell's project files covering a variety of subjects from
notes and sketches for
fiction to jazz topics. Although much of the material is undated, it appears that
these files were in use
during the last years of Russell's life. Russell's folder descriptions are retained
and the folders are
arranged alphabetically. |
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The materials are organized in three series: Series I. Working Papers and Research
Files; Series II.
Correspondence, 1980-1999; and Series III. Personal. |
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Russell was working on a book "The Bebop Era" at the time of his death.
Materials relating to this project are found in Series I. Also of special interest
are more than eighty rolls
of jazz negatives taken primarily between 1967-1971 in settings such as Disneyland,
San Diego, and at the
Monterey and Newport Jazz Festivals. Contact prints, with a descriptive listing derived
from Russell's
numbered negative sleeves, have been prepared by the HRC to facilitate viewing and
identification of these
images. While the contact prints are available for patron use, the corresponding
negatives are restricted.
This series also includes information on Russell's biography of Charlie Parker Bird Lives! |
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The personal and professional correspondence in Series II reflects Russell's wide
interests and activities.
Correspondents include writer Prudence Crowther, biographer Albert Goldman, music
librarian and blues archivist
Edward Komara, and Tony Williams of Spotlite Records. |
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Series III contains resume, chronology, and other biographical material prepared by
Russell for different
purposes. Also present are papers relating to Russell's father and wife, property
and financial records,
personal photographs, travel diaries from 1982-1995, and World War II documents. |
