Scope and Content Note
The Pearl Bailey Papers documents the performance, writing, education, and public service careers of singer and actress Pearl Bailey (1918-1990) through correspondence, music, photographs, scrapbooks, and realia. The materials span the period 1931 to 1992 with the bulk of them covering the years 1970 to 1990. Bailey’s early performance career is much less represented in the collection. Beyond a diary from 1931, there is very limited material from her pre-1950 theater and singing career.
Scores and parts for hundreds of songs comprise the Music series and also consitute the bulk of the collection. These titles were arranged for big band by Bailey’s husband, Louie Bellson, and other prominent arrangers, including Buddy Baker, Benny Carter, Lew Davies, Bill Holman, Marty Paich, Lloyd Phillips, and Don Redman. Bailey performed a diverse array of music throughout her career, from jazz standards and show tunes to popular hits from the 1970s and 1980s.
Bailey’s penchant for recording her thoughts and sharing her wisdom is reflected in the Writings series. An inveterate writer, Bailey published five books and each is represented in the collection files. Other writings by Bailey are located in the Georgetown University series which includes many of her class assignments.
Although limited in nature, photographs in the Production Files provide a glimpse of the filming of Porgy and Bess and the Broadway staging of House of Flowers. The series also includes scripts from Bailey’s 1971 television show.
The Correspondence, Scrapbooks, and Photographs series are closely interrelated. Bailey requested that interesting, significant, or other materials be placed into scrapbooks by her staff. Many of these volumes are multi-topical in nature and contain correspondence with United States presidents and foreign leaders, along with everyday people who caught her fancy; clippings; photographs; and other materials. Items are taped into the volumes. Although there are separate series devoted to each of these material types, correspondence, photographs, and scrapbooks are located throughout the collection.
Two other series are also interrelated, Biographical Materials and Awards and Honors. Although limited in scope, the former series provides some information on Bailey’s life beyond the stage, particularly concerning peoples' reaction to her death. The latter series contains citations, honorary degrees, and other items that attest to her accomplishments.