Ramsey Lewis Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Lewis, Ramsey (1935-2022)
label: Creator
content: Ramsey Lewis Trio
label: Names
content: Bennett, Tony, 1926-2023
label: Names
content: Cole, Nat King, 1917-1965
label: Names
content: Lewis, Jerry, 1926-
label: Names
content: Poitier, Sidney
label: Names
content: Robinson, Jackie
label: Names
content: Taylor, Billy
label: Names
content: Wilson, Nancy, 1937-
label: Names
content: Wonder, Stevie (1950)
topic: label: Topic
content: African American entertainers -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: African American musicians
label: Topic
content: Jazz -- 20th century -- United States
label: Topic
content: Musicians -- 20th century
label: Topic
content: Music -- 20th century -- United States
label: Topic
content: Pianists
label: Topic
content: Popular music -- 20th century -- United States
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: This collection was donated by Ramsey Lewis Jr. in March 2008.
creator: label: Creator
content: Lewis, Ramsey (1935-2022)
label: Creator
content: Ramsey Lewis Trio
setName: label: See more items in
content: Ramsey Lewis Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Collection includes press clippings, awards, honorary degrees, and  photographs of Ramsey Lewis Jr., renowned jazz pianist.  The majority of the collection is press clippings relating to Lewis's social appearances, performances, and CD releases from the early 1990s-2007.
accruals: label: Accruals
content: Additional materials were added to the collection in March 2009.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: American jazz composer and pianist Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis Jr. was born on May 27, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois to Ramsey Lewis Sr. (October 30, 1904 - September 28, 1983) and Pauline Lewis (1902 - December 2, 1969). His musical training began at the age of four with piano lessons. Throughout his life Lewis achieved success not only as a musician and composer but as a radio and television talk show host.  In addition, he organized and served for several educational programs to promote jazz receiving numerous awards for his work. Lewis died at the age of eighty-seven on September 12, 2022, in his home in Chicago, Illinois.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.45 Cubic feet (9 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1945-2009, undated
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.1126
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Awards
label: Type
content: Clippings
label: Type
content: Compact discs
label: Type
content: Correspondence
label: Type
content: Diplomas
label: Type
content: Medals
label: Type
content: Menus
label: Type
content: Photographs
label: Type
content: Programs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is divided in five series.

Series 1, Professional Materials, 1993-2007, undated


Series 2, Personal Papers, 1950-1994, undated


Series 3, Awards, Honors, and Honorary Degrees, 1989-2009, undated


Series 4, Photographic Materials, 1945-2007, undated


Series 5, Scrapbooks, 1972-1982, undated
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Sarah Allan, volunteer, 2008; Tiffany Draut, intern, 2008; Anne Jones, volunteer, 2012; and Reuben Jackson, archivist, 2008; supervised by Vanessa Broussard-Simmons, supervisory archivist, 2008.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Awards
label: Genre/Form
content: Clippings -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Compact discs
label: Genre/Form
content: Correspondence -- 20th century
label: Genre/Form
content: Diplomas
label: Genre/Form
content: Medals
label: Genre/Form
content: Menus
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 2000-2010
label: Genre/Form
content: Programs
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs -- 1950-2000
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The collection documents the life and career of Ramsey Lewis Jr., famous jazz pianist, and later, host of a popular syndicated radio talk show and television program.  Though the majority of the collection consists of press clippings relating to Lewis's social appearances, performances, and CD releases from the early 1990s to the present, it also includes photographs from his early life and career, as well as selected correspondence tied heavily to events mentioned in the press clippings and a very small amount of personal materials.  The collection contains programs and menus from social and fundraising galas, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, photographs, slides, awards, honorary degrees and diplomas, and a medal.  Those interested in Ramsey Lewis, as well as the social scene of Chicago in the 1990s, will find this collection useful.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center

John and Devra Hall Levy Papers, NMAH.AC.1221


W. Royal Stokes Collection, of Music Publicity Photoprints, Interviews and Posters, NMAH.AC.0766


Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program Collection, NMAH.AC.0808


Pat and Chuck Bress Jazz Portrait Photographs, NMAH.AC.1219


Frank Schiffman Apollo Theatre Collection, NMAH.AC.0540