Blake, Eubie, 1883- . Papers, 1970-1977: Guide

Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library

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Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138

Descriptive Summary

Repository: Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
Creator: Blake, Eubie, 1883- .
Title: Papers,
Date(s): 1970-1977
Location: Merritt Room
Call No.: Ms. Coll. 105
Quantity: 2 file boxes
Abstract: Materials by and about the American jazz pianist and composer Eubie Blake, including correspondence, articles, clippings, photographs, and sheet music, collected during the 1970's by William D. and Peggy Smith. In the letters Eubie Blake discusses his music, composing, and events of his career. The correspondence also documents the friendship between Eubie and Marion Blake and the Smiths.

Acquisition Information:

The Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library purchased the collection from Charles Apfelbaum, dealer in rare manuscripts and archives in Watchung, NJ, in 1996.

Access Restrictions:

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Scope and Content

The collection consists mainly of materials by and about Eubie Blake, primarily from the 1970's, collected by William D. and Peggy Smith, admirers of Blake who became friends. Included are letters between Eubie and the Smiths, as well as those from Marion Blake to the Smiths. The correspondence documents their friendship as well as events in Eubie Blake's career. The Smiths collected clippings, articles, and other biographical material about Eubie Blake which are included in the collection. There are also letters from Ivan Browning, a singer and collaborator with Eubie, to the Smiths. Also included is a collection of sheet music, all songs by Eubie Blake.

The following catalogue entries represent persons and topics documented in this collection. An entry for each appears in the Harvard On Lone Library Information System (HOLLIS) and other automated bibliographic databases.

Blake, Eubie, 1883-

Blake, Marion

Browning, Ivan Harold

Sissle, Noble, 1889-

Jazz musicians--United States--Biography

Piano music (Ragtime)

Musicals, Excerpts

Container List

Series: I. Correspondence Box 1.
- Letters from Eubie Blake to William B. and Peggy Smith of Long Beach, and later Riverside CA
  - (1) 18 Jan 1970, Brooklyn NY, 1 p., envelope.
    "Letter #2"
  - (2) 20 Jan 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 2 p., envelope
  - (3) 13 Mar 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (4) 30 Jan 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (5) 30 Jun 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (6) 13 Jul 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (7) 10 Aug 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (8) 10 Sept 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (9) 22 Feb 1971, Brooklyn, NY, 2 p.
  - (10) 20 Apr 1971, Brooklyn, NY, 1p.
  - (11) 7 May 1971, Denver, CO, 1 p.
  - (12) 2 Jul 1971, Brooklyn, NY 1 p.
  - (13) [n.d.], Brooklyn, NY, 1 p.
  - (14) [n.d.], Brooklyn, NY, 1 p.
  - (15) 3 Apr 1972, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p.
  - (16) 18 May 1972, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p.
  - (17) 7 Aug 1973, Brooklyn, NY, envelope only.
    Noted on envelope, presumably by Peggy Smith: "Envelope from letter with inscription for book. Letter & inscription placed in book Reminiscing with Sissle & Blake."
  - (18) 6 May 1974, Brooklyn, NY, 2 p., envelope
  - (19) 15 Jun 1974, Brooklyn, NY, 2 p., envelope
  - (20) 6 Dec 1975, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (21) 29 Feb 1976, Los Angeles, CA, 1 p., envelope
  - (22) 7 Mar 1977, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (23) 12 Mar 1977, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope.
    "Letter #2"
  - (24) 23 Oct 1977, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (25) 14 May 1977, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
- Letters from Marion Blake to Peggy Smith (or to William and Peggy)
  - (1) 13 Jul 1970, Brooklyn, NY, 3 p., envelope
  - (2) 20 May 1971, [Brooklyn, NY?], 3 p.
  - (3) 4 Mar 1972, [Brooklyn, NY?], 1 p.
  - (4) 9 Apr 1972, [Brooklyn, NY?], 1 p.
  - (5) ---1973, Molde, Norway, postcard
  - (6) 5 Mar 1973, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
  - (7) 30 Apr 1973, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p.
  - (8) 13 Sept 1974, Brooklyn, NY, 1 p., envelope
- Letters from Peggy Smith to Eubie Blake
  - (1) 25 Jan 1970, Long Beach, CA, 3 p.
  - (2) 2 Feb 1970, Long Beach, CA, 3 p.
  - (3) 5 Feb 1970, Long Beach, CA, 1 p.
  - (4) 19 Mar 1970, Long Beach, CA, 2 p.
- Other Correspondence
  - (1) Wayne B. Gard to Mr. & Mrs. Eubie Blake c/o Blanche Young, 22 Mar 1971, Long Beach, CA, 1 p.
  - (2) Ivan Browning to Mr. & Mrs. William Smith, 8 Sept 1971, Los Angeles, CA
  - (3) Blanche Young to Mr. & Mrs. Bill Smith, 15 Sept 1971, Los Angeles, CA, 1 p., card, envelope.
    Party invitation.
  - (4) Ivan Browning to Bill and Peggy Smith, [Apr] 1972, 1 p.
    Note written on photocopied page containing 2 newspaper reviews: a New York concert appearance by Eubie Blake, and a record review of collaboration between Eubie Blake and Ivan Browning.
  - (5) Jean Walk[?] to Bill and Peggy Smith, 21 Apr 1973, card
  - (6) Ivan Browning to Peggy Smith, 28 Oct 1975, Los Angeles, CA, 2 p.
    Noted on p. 1, presumably by Peggy Smith: "Ans. 11/11/75. Sent publicity to Wayne Gard 11/11/75 & told him to contact Ivan if he wanted him to appear with Eubie."
  - (7) Ivan Browning, presumably to the Smiths, 1p.
    Note at bottom of invitation to concert by Eubie Blake and Ivan Browning at The Church of Divine Guidance in Los Angeles.
  - (8) Marion and Eubie Blake, presumably to the Smiths, [n.d.].
    4 printed Christmas cards.
  - (9) Ivan [Browning], presumably to the Smiths, [n.d.].
    Christmas card with note.
  - (10) Ivan [Browning], presumably to the Smiths, [n.d.].
    Card signed "Most sincerely Ivan and his family.
  - (11) Ivan [Browning], presumably to the Smiths, [n.d.], 1p.
  - (12) Ivan [Browning] to Peggy and Bill Smith, [n.d.], 1p., envelope.
    Apparently sent with newspaper clippings and articles about Eubie Blake.

Series: II. Other Materials Box 1
- (1) Miscellaneous biographical material about Eubie Blake and Ivan Browning: newspaper clippings, journal articles, profiles, concert programs, publicity photographs, record reviews, obituaries.
- (2) Photocopy of newspaper clippings about Ivan Browning.
- (3) "Date Log 1979", calendar book for 1979 and envelope addressed to "Mr. &Mrs. William Smith".
  Printed on the front cover: "MEMORIES OF YOU From Marion & Eubie Blake."
- (4) 8 issues of The Rag Times from1970-1977.
  Each issue of this newsletter published by the Maple Leaf Club features Eubie Blake.
- (5) The Ragtimer, (Nov./Dec. 1975), published by The Ragtime Society.
  Issue features Eubie Blake.

Series: III. Sheet Music Box 2
- (1) I'm Just Wild About Harry, pub. M. Witmark & Sons, New York. Copyright 1921.
  Song from Shuffle Along. Lyrics and music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.
- (2) It Ain't Being Done No More, pub. Handy Brothers Music Co. Inc., New York. Copyright 1935.
  Music by Gene Irwin and Eubie Blake; lyrics by George Sherzer.
- (3) Love Will Find a Way, pub. M. Witmark & Sons, New York. Copyright 1921.
  Lyrics and music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake. Song from Shuffle Along.
- (4) Loving You the Way I Do, pub. Shapiro, Bernstein &Co. Inc., New York. Copyright 1930.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Lyrics by Jack Scholl and Will Morrissey. Song from Hot Rhythm.
- (5) Memories of You, pub. Shapiro, Bernstein &Co. Inc. New York. Copyright 1930 and 1954.
  Music by Eubie Blake; words by Andy Razaf. Featured in the film The Benny Goodman Story. (cover features film)
- (6) Memories of You, Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. Inc., New York. Gem edition. Copyright 1930.
- (7) Memories of You (featured in Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1930)
- (8) My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More (photocopy), pub. Shapiro, Bernstein &Co., Inc., New York. Copyright 1930.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Lyrics by Andy Razaf. From Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1930.
- (9) Shuffle Along: One step song (photocopy), pub. M. Witmark &Sons. Copyright 1921.
  Words &Music by Noble Sissle & Eubie Blake. From Shuffle Along.
- (10) We are Americans too, Handy Brothers Music Co., Inc. New York. Copyright 1941.
  Words and music by Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake, and Charles L. Cooke.
- (11) You're Lucky to Me, pub. Shapiro, Bernstein &Co., Inc. New York. Copyright1930.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Lyrics by Andy Razaf. From Lew Leslie's Blackbirds of 1930.
- (12) Ain't Cha Coming Back, Mary Ann, to Maryland (photocopy), pub. M. Witmark &Sons. Copyright 1919.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Lyric by Noble Sissle.
- (13) Long Gone (from Bowlin' Green), pub. Handy Brothers Music Co., Inc. Copyright 1920 by Pace &Handy Music Co., Inc.
  Music by W.C. Handy. Words by Chris Smith.
- (14) Pickaninny Shoes, pub. M. Witmark &Sons. Copyright 1920. M.W. &Sons 16223-3.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Lyrics by Noble Sissle.
- (15) Selection from Shuffle Along, pub. M. Witmark &Sons. M.W. &Sons 16507-9.
  Lyrics &Music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake. (Just piano)
- (16) Truckin' on Down (Harlem's latest dance craze), pub. Handy Brothers Music Col, Inc. Copyright 1935.
  Music by Eubie Blake. Words by Arthur Porter.
- (17) Baltimore Buzz (Novelty Fox Trot Song from Shuffle Along) (photocopy), pub. M. Witmark &Songs. Copyright 1921. M.W. &Sons 16461-3.
  Lyrics and music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.
- (18) Dixie Moon (From The Chocolate Dandies) (photocopy), pub. Harms Inc. Copyright 1924. 7024_6.
  Lyrics and music by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake.
- (19) Boogy Woogie Beguine.
  Words by Noble Sissle. Music by Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (20) Alone With Love.
  Words by Noble Sissle. Music by Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (21) Brittwood Rag.
  By Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (22) Castle of Love.
  Lyric by Noble Sissle. Music by Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (23) Chevy Chase.
  By Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph. On p. 1: "A New Arrangement by Eubie Blake."
- (24) It's All Your Fault.
  Words by Noble Sissle &Eddie Nelson. Music by Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (25) The James P. Johnson's Medley: The Charleston Dance, Old Fashion Love, If I could be with you one hour tonight.
  By Eubie Blake. Compiled, arranged, and recorded for Columbia Record Co. Original melodies composed by James P. Johnson. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (26) Love is the Important Thing.
  Words by Noble Sissle. Music by Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph.
- (27) Poor Jimmy Green: A Ragtime Piano Solo.
  By Eubie Blake. Reproduction of manuscript, possibly holograph

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