Scope and Content Note
The Billy Taylor Collection represents a comprehensive resource for the study of jazz history, performance, and pedagogy. Dr. Taylor was more than a renowned jazz pianist and composer, he was also an educator who lectured extensively at colleges and universities nationwide, and authored several books on jazz history, theory and appreciation. The collection, which spans the years 1942-2004, documents the depth and breadth of Taylor’s multifaceted career as a musician, composer, writer, host, and jazz ambassador. Throughout his career, Taylor worked tirelessly as an advocate for jazz and to produce programs that promoted jazz as “America’s classical music.”
The collection is divided into the following series: Music, Writings, Business Papers, Professional Papers, Printed Matter, Photographs, Realia and Personal Papers. Music materials from the Billy Taylor Papers chiefly consist of manuscript scores, lead sheets, and parts, by Taylor and other jazz composers and arrangers. Taylor is credited with having composed over 300 works, the majority of which are represented in the collection. Notable works include It's A Grand Night for Swinging, Homage, I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free, Let Us Make a Joyful Noise, Peaceful Warrior, Suite for Jazz Piano and Orchestra, and Theme and Variation for Jazz Trio and Symphony Orchestra. Intermingled with these original compositions are arrangements of Taylor's works by Oliver Nelson, Frank Wess, Manny Albam, Arif Mardin, Luther Henderson, and other prominent jazz musicians.
Taylor's works from two of his most noteworthy projects, The David Frost Show and Jazzmobile, are listed independently of his other pieces. The former mostly contains bound instrumental part books for miscellaneous tunes, while the latter contains photo-reproductions of jazz standards used for Jazzmobile events. Works co-written with wife Teddi Castion are also identified separately. In addition to these materials, Taylor maintained an extensive library of music materials by numerous composers, including Ben Tucker, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Jimmy Owens, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Oliver Nelson, Quincy Jones, and Ray Rivera. These works comprise original or photo-reproduced manuscripts in the hand of the composer/arranger, Taylor, or unspecified individuals.
The Writings series is subdivided into three subseries: Writings by Billy Taylor, Writings about Billy Taylor, and Miscellaneous Writings. The first subseries contains an extensive amount of Billy Taylor's writings in both manuscript and printed form. It includes Taylor's lectures, public addresses, articles, open letters, public statements, drafts of his doctoral dissertation,The History and Development of Jazz Piano, and his published works, including Jazz Piano: A Jazz History and Jazz Piano: History and Development. The Writings about Billy Taylor subseries contains various types of materials documenting Taylor's life, career and activities, including articles, interviews, reviews of performances and recordings, clippings, newsletters, and publicity materials such as brochures and press releases. The Miscellaneous Writings subseries contains writings that Taylor accrued over several decades. While most items may not relate directly to Taylor's career or activities, all reflect in some way his lifelong interest in jazz, the arts, media and culture. These materials include articles on jazz musicians, publications from various projects and programs, reports, research papers, surveys, stage and screen works, and proposals.
The Business Papers series contains administrative papers for numerous cultural organizations and programs with which Taylor associated. It is further subdivided into three subseries: Organizations and Affiliations, Contracts, and General Correspondence. The Organizations and Affiliations subseries contains administrative papers for dozens of organizations and programs, including, ASCAP, Black Journal, Jazzmobile, the Kennedy Center, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rockefeller Foundation. The materials include correspondence, memos, minutes and agendas, legal and financial documents, and printed matter. The Contracts subseries contains Taylor's contracts for many of the organizations and programs with which he was involved. The General Correspondence subseries contains miscellaneous correspondence between Taylor and various organizations and individuals regarding Taylor's professional activities.
The Professional Papers series contains materials that reflect Taylor's various professional pursuits, such as a concert performer, lecturer, interviewer, and television and radio host. The date books and itineraries reveal a chronological record of Taylor's activities and schedules. The interview cue sheets, transcripts and scripts document interviews with dozens of musical and cultural figures, particularly from the world of jazz. Many of the cue sheets and transcripts are from Taylor's stints as cultural correspondent with the television program CBS News Sunday Morning and host of the series Billy Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Center. These documents are often accompanied by related materials pertaining to Taylor's interviews. In addition, this series contains programs and promotional material, including announcements, brochures, flyers, and schedules.
The Printed Matter series contains newsletters, press kits, press releases, programs, and other publications that Taylor personally collected. While most items may not relate directly to Taylor's career or activities, all reflect in some way his lifelong interest in jazz, education, race, the arts, media and culture. The press kits are arranged in two different groupings, one relating to artists and the other relating to organizations and venues.
The Photographs series includes numerous posed publicity shots of Billy Taylor, candid shots of Taylor in performance both alone and with his trio, and Taylor with various musicians and music ensembles, including a rare group photo from 1948 that includes Taylor and jazz pianist Art Tatum. In addition, there are many photographs that depict Taylor's activities, such as coaching, lecturing, teaching, getting involved in community activism, and working as a disc jockey. There are also photographs and snapshots of Taylor and his family, including his wife Teddi. Several items feature Taylor at special events and ceremonies, and with public figures and famous personalities, such as Mayors Ed Koch and John Lindsay, President Gerald Ford, David Frost, and Nancy Reagan. Well-known jazz figures that are pictured alone include Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Ramsey Lewis, Wynton Marsalis, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Frank Wess. This series also includes some slides, contact sheets, oversized prints, and photo albums.
The Realia series contains the numerous awards, citations and plaques that Taylor received throughout his career. It includes the National Medal of Arts which he received in 1992; honorary degrees from dozens of universities and colleges, including Berklee College of Music, Rutgers University, and the University of North Carolina; certificates of appreciation from cities, states, schools, and organizations, including the International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Heritage Society; awards, including the ASCAP Foundation Sacks Award for Exemplary Public Service; proclamations; trophies; fraternity and alumni awards; the Downbeat magazine Lifetime Achievement Award; commemorative stamps; and letters of commendation.
The Personal Papers series contains materials relating to Taylor's education, including documents related to Taylor’s doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In addition, there are financial and legal papers of a personal nature. The correspondence includes various letters, greeting cards, notes, and invitations to special events. There are also official invitations from the White House, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. Taylor and his wife were invited guests at the White House under each administration since the presidency of Richard M. Nixon.
Those who assisted with the processing of the Billy Taylor Collection include: Acquisitions and Processing Technicians Anthony Edwards and Shantel Lambert, and former Junior Fellow, Christine Silas.
Lloyd A. Pinchback
Music Specialist
Acquisitions & Processing Section, Music Division