Scope and Content Note
The Les Paul papers span 1904-2000, the bulk of which are from 1934-1996. The materials consist of music used for performances, sheet music, subject files, and publicity files that provide an overview of Paul's life and career. The collection does not contain realia such as award statues or instruments.
Music materials are divided into two subseries: Performance Library and Printed Sheet Music. Performance Library materials consist of Paul's original compositions and arrangements, as well as compositions and arrangements by others for Paul's ensembles. Arrangers are noted if present. Numbers following titles, if they appear, are original to Les Paul's personal music library and can be used to match scores and parts. Printed Sheet Music contains works written or recorded by Les Paul and Mary Ford, or performed by Les Paul under his radio alias, "Rhubard Red." This subseries primarily consists of piano-vocal scores, but also contains annotated sheet music, lead sheets, and sheet music inscribed by Les Paul or to him by other composers. The bulk of the sheet music represents the height of Les Paul's performing career from the 1940s through the 1950s.
Les Paul was a focused and talented musician and innovator whose Subject Files, which account for more than two-thirds of the collection, help document his interests. These papers largely contain correspondence, contracts and other legal documents, and royalty statements and other financial documents, but also include: schematics for instruments, audio equipment, and other wiring diagrams; itineraries and travel details; brochures and catalogs for recording equipment; patent applications; photographs; scripts; discographies; and biographical materials. The Publicity Files series includes photographs, clippings, advertisements, programs, biographical information, and other publicity and promotional materials regarding Les Paul, Mary Ford, and others, as well as some personal family photographs.
Dates
- Creation: 1904-2003
- Creation: Majority of material found within ( 1934-1996)
Language of Materials
Collection material in English and German
Access and Restrictions
The Les Paul Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Les Paul Papers are governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright laws.
Biographical Note
Biographical Note
- 1915, June 9
- Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin
- 1927
- Started performing on Chicago radio station WLS
- 1932
- Adopted the stage name "Rhubard Red" and left school to perform full-time with Sunny Joe Wolverton and his Scalawags
- 1934
- Worked at Chicago radio station WJJD performing country music as Rhubard Red
- mid - 1930s
- Began experimenting with construction of semi-solid bodied guitars and overdubbing recording techniques
- Adopted the name "Les Paul" for his jazz performances on another Chicago radio station, WIND
- 1937
- Formed the Les Paul Trio with Ernie Newton and Jim Atkins
- Married Virginia Webb
- Moves to New York City
- 1938
- The Les Paul Trio joins the Pennsylvanians, an orchestra under the direction of Fred Waring
- 1941
- Built the "Log," the first solid-body electric guitar
- Suffered electrocution during a jam session
- Left the Pennsylvanians and disbanded the original Les Paul Trio
- Briefly served as music director Chicago radio stations WJJD and WIND, performing as "Rhubard Red," left soon after to arrange and perform with the WBBM studio orchestra
- 1943
- Moved to Los Angeles, California
- Drafted into the Army and served in the Armed Forces Radio Network
- 1945
- Bing Crosby and the new Les Paul Trio's recording of "It's been a long, long time" rises to #1 on the Billboard charts
- mid - 1940s
- Began experimenting with recording techniques that included overdubbing, asynchronously record different tracks onto the same tape
- 1946
- Toured with the Andrews Sisters. Their song "Rumors are flying" reached #1 on the Billboard pop charts.
- Began working with singer and guitarist Mary Ford, who was performing as part of the Sunshine Girls on CBS Radio
- 1948
- Released "Lover," his first solo single using multitrack recording
- Paul and Ford involved in a severe car accident. Doctors set his arm at a permanent angle so he could play guitar.
- 1949
- Divorced first wife, Virginia Webb, and married Mary Ford
- 1951
- Paul and Ford release "How high the moon," another multi-track recording that stayed at number #1 on the Billboard charts for several weeks. Several hits follow
- 1952
- Gibson begins selling the Gibson Les Paul solid-bodied electric guitar
- 1955
- "Hummingbird" was last top-40 hit
- 1964
- Paul and Ford divorced
- 1975
- Paul and Chet Atkins's album Chester and Lester won Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Performance
- 1984
- Began performing weekly at the Iridium Jazz Club in New York City
- 1988
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- 2005
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
- Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
- Won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Caravan" and Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "69 Freedom Special" on Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played
- 2009, Aug. 12
- Died in White Plains, New York
Extent
6,300 items
44 containers
22.5 linear feet
Abstract
Les Paul was a Grammy-winning musician and inventor known for his virtuosic guitar playing, pioneering of multitrack recording, and invention of the solid-body electric guitar. His inventions left an indelible impact on the music industry. In addition to live concerts he performed on the radio and on television, notably with his second wife, singer and guitarist Mary Ford. The Les Paul Papers contain music arranged for Les Paul's ensembles by himself or others and printed sheet music of popular songs. The collection also contains publicity materials, business papers, schematics, scripts, brochures, photographs, and correspondence.
Organization of the Les Paul Collection
The Collection is organized in three series:
Catalog Record
Provenance
Gift, Les Paul Foundation, 2010.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Transfers
Audio recordings that arrived at the Library of Congres with the Les Paul Papers are maintained at the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division where they are identified as the Les Paul Collection (MAVIS collection no. 14906). An inventory of this material is available at MBRS.
Other Repositories
The archives at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, contain the Les Paul Papers. Their museum features a permanent exhibit on Les Paul. The Waukesha County Historical Society in Wisconsin contains and displays many artifacts illustrating Les Paul's life and career.
Processing History
The Les Paul Papers were processed by Stephanie Akau and Jane Cross in 2019. Stephanie Akau and Jane Cross coded the finding aid for EAD format in 2019. Jane Cross added materials in 2022 that were transferred from NAVCC.
Source
- Paul, Les (Creator, Person)
Subject
- Atkins, Chet. (Person)
- Atkins, Jimmy. (Person)
- Barnes, George, 1921-1977. (Person)
- Conkling, James B. (James Brewster), 1915-1998. (Person)
- Crosby, Bing, 1903-1977. (Person)
- Fairchild, Sherman M., 1896-1971. (Person)
- Ford, Mary, 1924-1977. (Person)
- Gordon, Gray. (Person)
- Hooven, Joe. (Person)
- Kamin, Wally. (Person)
- Lewis, Morgan, 1906-1968. (Person)
- Maltby, Richard, 1914-1991. (Person)
- Mason, Jack, 1906-1965. (Person)
- McPartland, Marian. (Person)
- Muhoberac, Larry. (Person)
- Paar, Jack. (Person)
- Paul, Gene. (Person)
- Paul, Les--Correspondence. (Person)
- Paul, Les. (Person)
- Paul, Les. (Person)
- Paul, Lester, 1941-2015. (Person)
- Paul, Robert, 1959- (Person)
- Shauer, Melville A. (Person)
- Waring, Fred, 1900-1984. (Person)
- Les Paul Foundation. (Organization)
Genre / Form
- Advertisements.
- Application forms.
- Arrangements (Music)
- Biographies.
- Business correspondence.
- Catalogs.
- Clippings (information artifacts)
- Contracts.
- Discographies.
- Financial records.
- Itineraries.
- Lead sheets.
- Legal documents.
- Parts (Music)
- Personal correspondence.
- Photographs.
- Programs.
- Promotional materials.
- Scores.
- Scripts (Writing)
Topical
- Title
- Guides to Special Collections in the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Author
- Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress
- Date
- 2019
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Part of the Music Division Repository
Performing Arts Reading Room
101 Independence Ave, SE
James Madison Building, LM 113
Washington, DC 20540-4810
(202) 707-5507