Personal Correspondence and Notes
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
setName: label: See more items in
content: Duke Ellington Collection
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1941-1974, undated
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0301, Series 5
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: Consists of personal letters, cards, postcards, and invitations sent to Duke Ellington by celebrities, fans, dignitaries, friends, and colleagues between 1941 and 1974. The majority of the correspondence was received by Duke Ellington on his 70th and 75th birthdays, and during his final illness in 1974. Correspondence of particular interest includes four United States presidents and their first ladies; foreign and domestic dignitaries; and contemporary television personalities, editors, and critics. Prominent musicians, composers and singers such as W.C. Handy, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and Ella Fitzgerald are represented among the letters and telegrams. There is also a long letter from a former school teacher.

Notes written by Ellington that document his thoughts on jazz music, musicians, and history are among the most significant items. The handwritten and typed notes include lyrics to sacred and secular songs, and draft manuscripts and chronologies for his book, Music is My Mistress. Included among these notes are performance and recording itineraries and tune lists. Of further interest in this series are the Ellington Christmas cards, renowned for their original poetry and artwork and unique presentation of the season's greetings.

The records are arranged in chronological order. Undated materials have been placed at the end of the series. The personal letters of Father Gerald Pocock have been separated from the rest of the correspondence materials and restricted at the request of the author to protect his privacy.