Mary Lou Williams Collection Series 2: Correspondence Subseries 2A: Correspondence with Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC

Transcription

1 Mary Lou Williams Collection Series 2: Correspondence Subseries 2A: Correspondence with Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC Scope and content note This subseries consists of 1.5 cubic feet of material. The bulk of this material is typewritten correspondence on letterhead stationary. Scattered throughout this subseries are handwritten letters, onionskin copies of typewritten letters and several Western Union telegrams. Postmarked envelopes are attached to most of the correspondence. The material is arranged chronologically and covers a time span of over thirty years, from March 27, 1940 to November 21, Folders 1 23 cover the period from March 27, 1940 to November 21, These folders contain correspondence on letterhead stationary from Joe Glaser of Associated Booking Corporation to Mary Lou Williams. The Associated Booking Corporation is also referred to in this material as ABC, Joe Glaser Incorporated or Glaser Consolidated Attractions. Although Williams worked with other booking agents during her career, Glaser was her primary agent during the covered period. He lived from circa 1897 to June 6, 1969 and represented many prominent jazz performers, most notably Louis Armstrong. Folders 1-23 also contain a small amount of correspondence to Mary Lou Williams from other employees of the Associated Booking Corporation. These employees are Frances Church, Joe Glaser s longtime secretary, and associate agent Oscar Cohen. Although folders 1-23 consist primarily of business correspondence, it should be noted that much of it touches on aspects of Williams s personal life and should not be considered as exclusively of an administrative or professional nature. Folder 24 contains material dating from July 6, 1968 to August 21, 1980 and consists of typewritten correspondence on personal stationary from Martha Glaser, the wife of Joe Glaser, to Mary Lou Williams. Scattered throughout this folder is typewritten correspondence on 3 x 5 index cards. This material is personal correspondence and does not discuss business matters.

2 Folder 25 contains material dating from November 1, 1944 to April 22, It consists of postmarked envelopes bearing the pre-printed Associated Booking return address. These are envelopes that have been separated from their enclosures. Folder 26 covers the period from January 22, 1951 to April 22, 1963 and consists of onionskin copies of typewritten correspondence from Mary Lou Williams to Joe Glaser. This correspondence deals largely with business matters concerning the Associated Booking Corporation. Note that contracts and other business documents relating to this correspondence are located in Series 3 Business. Because of the long time span covered by the documents in this subseries, this material provides a narrative of the changing nature of the relationship between Mary Lou Williams and Joe Glaser and charts the vicissitudes of this relationship as it evolved and deepened over a period of over thirty years.

3 Mary Lou Williams Collection Series 2: Correspondence Subseries 2A: Correspondence with Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC Box Folder Contents 1 1 Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC March 27, 1940 February 17, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC August 14, 1943 September 13, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC September 29, 1944 January 24, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC September 27, 1945 August 15, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC August 22, 1946 November 15, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC November 16, 1946 May 12, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC August 18, 1948 August 6, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC August 20, 1949 September 16, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC September 27, 1949 October 29, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC November 7, 1949 December 14, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC January 10, 1950 April 27, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC May 31, 1950 April 20,

4 1 13 Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC April 25, 1951 November 30, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC December 19, 1951 May 9, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC May 6, 1954 November 16, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC November 27, 1954 April 20, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC April 22, 1955 July 18, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC March 18, 1960 December 26, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC January 24, 1962 February 5, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC February 7, 196 February 22, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC October 10, 1963 May 2, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC May 23, 1966 May 28, Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC December 31, 1968 November 21, Martha Glaser correspondence July 6, 1968 August 21, Miscellaneous November 1, 1944 April 22, Correspondence to Glaser from Mary Lou Williams January 22, 1951 April 22,

5 Mary Lou Williams Collection Series 2: Correspondence Subseries 2A: Correspondence with Associated Booking Corporation, aka ABC Scope and content note This subseries consists of 1.5 cubic feet of material. The bulk of this material is typewritten correspondence on letterhead stationary. Scattered throughout this subseries are handwritten letters, onionskin copies of typewritten letters and several Western Union telegrams. Postmarked envelopes are attached to most of the correspondence. The material is arranged chronologically and covers a time span of over thirty years, from March 27, 1940 to November 21, Folders 1 23 cover the period from March 27, 1940 to November 21, These folders contain correspondence on letterhead stationary from Joe Glaser of Associated Booking Corporation to Mary Lou Williams. The Associated Booking Corporation is also referred to in this material as ABC, Joe Glaser Incorporated or Glaser Consolidated Attractions. Although Williams worked with other booking agents during her career, Glaser was her primary agent during the covered period. He lived from circa 1897 to June 6, 1969 and represented many prominent jazz performers, most notably Louis Armstrong. Folders 1-23 also contain a small amount of correspondence to Mary Lou Williams from other employees of the Associated Booking Corporation. These employees are Frances Church, Joe Glaser s longtime secretary, and associate agent Oscar Cohen. Although folders 1-23 consist primarily of business correspondence, it should be noted that much of it touches on aspects of Williams s personal life and should not be considered as exclusively of an administrative or professional nature. Folder 24 contains material dating from July 6, 1968 to August 21, 1980 and consists of typewritten correspondence on personal stationary from Martha Glaser, the wife of Joe Glaser, to Mary Lou Williams. Scattered throughout this folder is typewritten correspondence on 3 x 5 index cards. This material is personal correspondence and does not discuss business matters.

6 Folder 25 contains material dating from November 1, 1944 to April 22, It consists of postmarked envelopes bearing the pre-printed Associated Booking return address. These are envelopes that have been separated from their enclosures. Folder 26 covers the period from January 22, 1951 to April 22, 1963 and consists of onionskin copies of typewritten correspondence from Mary Lou Williams to Joe Glaser. This correspondence deals largely with business matters concerning the Associated Booking Corporation. Note that contracts and other business documents relating to this correspondence are located in Series 3 Business. Because of the long time span covered by the documents in this subseries, this material provides a narrative of the changing nature of the relationship between Mary Lou Williams and Joe Glaser and charts the vicissitudes of this relationship as it evolved and deepened over a period of over thirty years.