Collection consists of photographic prints from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists.
Scope and Contents:
Twenty-five silver gelatin photographic prints (on fiber-based paper, 20" x 16") from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists. Descriptions of prints supplied by the donor, Michael Cuscuna.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Photoprints, 1953-1966
Biographical / Historical:
Wolff (born 1907 or 1908 in Berlin, Germany, died March 8, 1971 in New York City) was a record company executive, photographer and record producer. After a career as a commercial photographer in Germany, Wolff emigrated to the United States in 1939. In New York his childhood friend Alfred Lion, had co-founded Blue Note Records in the same year, and Wolff joined Lion in running the company. During Lion's war service, Wolff worked for Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store, and together they maintained the company's catalog until Lion was discharged. Until Lion retired in 1967, Wolff concentrated on the financial affairs of the business and only supervised occasional recording sessions produced during his visits to Europe. For the last four years of his life, when Blue Note was no longer an independent label, Wolff shared production responsibilities with pianist and arranger Duke Pearson. Wolff took photographs during the recordings sessions, usually shot during session rehearsals, throughout the period of Lion's involvement in Blue Note Records. They were used on publicity material and LP album sleeves, and have continued to be used in CD reissue booklets. [Redacted from Wikipedia entry.]
Provenance:
Gift of Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Images, June 3, 2011.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Michael Cuscuna retains copyright. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Curtis Fuller at his June 16, 1957 session for "The Opener" at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey. Recording session with Mobley, Timmons, Chambers, Taylor. Fuller plays trombone and smoke curls above his head. This photograph became the album's cover image.
Local Numbers:
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Clifford Brown at his August 28, 1053 session for "The Clifford Brown Sextet (Blue Note) at Audio-Video Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis at Davis's session of April 20, 1953 for "The Miles Davis All-Stars" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard at Gordon's May 6, 1961 session for "Doin' All Right" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Hank Mobley and Pepper Adams at Mobley's October 20, 1957 session for "Poppin" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Alfred Lion and Thelonious Monk at Monk's May 30, 1952 session for "Genius of Modern Music" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
W. Royal Stokes Collection of Jazz Musicians' Photographs, ca. 1970-2000, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.
