Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials
name: label: Creator
content: Ellington, Edward
label: Creator
content: Richardson, Deborra A.
label: Creator
content: Ellington, Gaye
label: Names
content: Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Collection donated by Edward K. and Gaye Ellington on October 12, 1999
creator: label: Creator
content: Ellington, Edward
label: Creator
content: Richardson, Deborra A.
label: Creator
content: Ellington, Gaye
setName: label: See more items in
content: Edward and Gaye Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials
abstract: label: Summary
content: The collection documents the activities of the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the leadership of both Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington and his son Mercer Ellington.  Materials include music manuscripts, business records, lyrics, scripts, and other writings, magazine articles, newspaper clippings and photographs.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Edward and Gaye Ellington are the children of the late Mercer Kennedy Ellington.  The son of jazz great Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington, Mercer continued the musical family legacy as a trumpet player, pianist and composer.  A musician from a young age, Mercer led his own bands, as well as his father's Duke Ellington Orchestra.  Edward, who played the guitar, often traveled with his grandfather and father on tour.  After Duke's passing, Mercer inherited leadership responsibilities of the orchestra.  Edward then became a member of the band and continued to work with his father on the road. Mercer managed and controlled Mercer Records and Fantasy Records, and eventually managed Ellington Productions, Incorporated and the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  In 2003, Edward and Gaye founded the Duke Ellington Legacy Band.  Shortly after the success of the new band, Edward and Gaye created the Duke Ellington Legacy Big Band, an eighteen piece ensemble dedicated to the Ellington sound.  The Legacy also produces educational curricula and develops programming and lecture series for the public.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 9.5 Cubic feet (32 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1899-1981
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0704
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into eight series.

Series 1: Music, Scripts and Compositional Materials, 1928-1974, undated

Subseries 1.2: Published Song Books, 1944, undated

Subseries 1.3: Oversize Scores, undated

Subseries 1.4: Untitled Music Manuscripts, undated 

Subseries 1.5: Notes, Scripts, and Compositional Materials, 1963-1967, undated

Series 2: Personal Papers, 1899-1980, undated

Series 3: Photographs, 1933-1974, undated

Series 4: Business Records, 1959-1977, undated

Series 5: Correspondence, 1959-1975, undated

Series 6: Performance Materials, 1957-1978, undated

Series 7: Publicity, 1934-1981, undated

Series 8: Awards and Recognition, 1962-1979
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Annie Kuebler, 200-2004 and Rebekah Keel, 2015.

Details have been reported and incorporated for Series 1: Music, Scripts and Compositional Materials based on the notes of Michael Kilpatrick, 2021.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The Edward and Gaye Ellington collection contains the records of the businesses and material left by their father, Mercer Kennedy Ellington.   Ruth Ellington, Duke's sister, and Mercer managed similar aspects of Duke's estate and music.  Ruth Ellington managed Tempo Records while Mercer managed Fantasy Records. This collection indicates that there was a distinct line of demarcation between Fantasy Records and Tempo Records.  If there were issues of copyright or contractual agreements, the collection contains paperwork covering the matter. There are, however, some overlaps in material particularly in the music manuscripts, photographs and personal papers relating to the Ellington family. The collection is divided into eight series and includes music manuscripts, programs, awards, business records, photographs, slides, correspondence, contracts, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, press releases, catalogues lyrics, scripts and handwritten notes.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials in the Archives Center

Duke Ellington Collection (AC0301)

Ruth Ellington Collection of Duke Ellington Materials (AC0415)