Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1906-1977.
2. White, Clarence Cameron, 1880-1960.

Description

1. 1.17 lin. ft.

Summary

1. Correspondence, contracts, musical compositions, legal documents, financial records, programs, broadsides, and news clippings documenting Bledsoe's professional career, particularly in Europe. Items of significance include legal correspondence and court documents generated by his lawsuit against Lew Leslie of "Blackbirds" fame, a manuscript score of Shirley Graham's opera "Tom Tom," and a large number of manuscript compositions by Bledsoe, as well as several letters from composer Clarence Cameron White. Also, personal correspondence with friends and family members, and papers relating to a business that he owned. Of special interest is a substantial number of musical manuscripts of art songs, spirituals and instrumental pieces composed and arranged by Bledsoe.

Subject

1. African Americans in the performing arts
2. African American businesspeople
3. Broadsides
4. African American singers
5. Leslie, Lew
6. African Americans > Music
7. Opera
8. Scores
9. Bledsoe, Jules, 1898-1943
10. Bledsoe family
11. African American entertainers > Europe
12. African American composers
13. African American actors

Genre/Form

1. Scores.
2. Broadsides.

Call number

1. Sc MG 255

Note

1. Photographs have been separated to Photographs and Prints Division.
2. Drawings and posters transferred to Art and Artifacts.

Source (note)

1. Caswell, Philip and Bessie

Biography (note)

1. Singer, actor.

Processing action (note)

1. Surveyed
2. Accessioned
3. Cataloging updated

Author

1. Bledsoe, Jules, 1898-1943.

Title

1. Jules Bledsoe papers, 1931-1939.

Biography

1. Singer, actor. Singer and actor Jules Bledsoe (1898-1939) was born in Waco, Texas. A former medical student at Columbia University, he made his concert debut in Aeolian Hall, New York City, on April 21, 1924. Bledsoe created the role of Jo and the interpretation of the song "Old Man River" in the original production of "Show Boat" (1927). He also was known for his title role in "The Emperor Jones."

Connect to:

1. Finding Aid

Added author

1. Bledsoe, Jules, 1898-1943.
2. Du Bois, Shirley Graham, 1906-1977.
3. White, Clarence Cameron, 1880-1960.

Research call number

1. Sc MG 255