The papers of African American painter, printmaker, and educator Reginald Gammon measure 2.4 linear feet and 5.30 GB and date from 1927 to 2007, with bulk of the materials dating from 1960-2005. The collection consists of scattered biographical materials, including video and sound recordings of interviews; correspondence with artists, galleries, organizations, and museums; writings and notebooks; teaching files; printed materials; photographic material; and artwork in the form of sketches, drawings, and paint sketches.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of African American painter, printmaker, and educator Reginald Gammon measure 2.4 linear feet and 5.30 GB and date from 1927 to 2007, with bulk of the materials dating from 1960-2005. The collection consists of scattered biographical materials, including video and sound recordings of interviews; correspondence with artists, galleries, organizations, and museums; writings and notebooks; teaching files; printed materials; photographic material; and artwork in the form of sketches, drawings, and paint sketches.
Biographical materials include Gammon's academic records and diplomas, certificates, military records, an address book, and information about his memorial service. There is a folder on The Spiral Group which includes an exhibition catalog and photographs. There are video interviews, a conversation video, and two TV advertisements, all digital; one analog and one digital audio interview.
Approximately one-half of the collection consists of correspondence with other artists, museums, galleries and arts organizations. Correspondents include Benny Andrews, Romare Bearden, Vivian Browne, Thomas Frey, Joseph Greenberg, Harwood Art Center, Patrick King, Hughie Lee-Smith, Midtown Galleries, National Afro-American Museum & Cultural Center, New Mexico African American Artists Guild, Harvey Overton, Schomberg Center, Smithsonian Institution's Anacostia Museum, Western Michigan University, and Jonathan Wynberg, among many others.
Writings by Gammon consists of essays, a research proposal, notes, grant applications, and notebooks wherein Gammon jotted down thoughts and drafted letters.
Teaching files are related to Reginald Gammon's tenure at Western Michigan University. There are teaching certifications, lecture notes, one sound recording (sound cassette) of a lecture, student recommendations, and grade books, among other items.
Printed materials primarily consist of exhibition catalogs and announcements, including the catalog Ida Y Vuelta on Gammon's 1998 exhibition in Rodez, France. Other materials found in this series are clippings that feature Gammon and his work, periodicals, posters designed by Gammon, and source materials related to jazz. and limited subject files.
Photographic materials include prints, slides, digital photographs, and negatives depicting Reginald Gammon and his artwork, friends and family, and various studios and events.
Artwork includes pencil and ink sketches, drawings, and paint sketches. The series also contains storyboards for children's books as well as mockups for advertisements.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 7 series.
Missing Title
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1936-2006 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1, 3, 5.29 GB; ER01-ER03)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1964-2005 (0.8 linear feet; Box 1-3)
Series 3: Writings and Notebooks, 1948-circa 2000 (0.1 linear feet; Box 2)
Series 4: Teaching Files, 1969-1991 (0.1 linear feet; Box 2)
Series 5: Printed Material, 1955-2005 (0.4 linear feet; Box 2, OV 4)
Series 6: Photographic Material, 1927-2007 (0.2 linear feet; Box 2-3, 0.010 GB; ER04)
Series 7: Artwork, 1937-circa 1999 (0.5 linear feet; Box 2-3)
Biographical / Historical:
Reginald A. Gammon (1921-2005) was a painter and art educator who worked in New York City, Michigan, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was a member of Spiral, an African American artist's collective based in New York City, as well as a member of the New Mexico Afro-American Artist Guild. He taught in the New York public schools and at Western Michigan University.
Gammon was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1941, he received a scholarship to study art at the Philadelphia Museum College of Arts (then the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts) and the following summer worked in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard refurbishing battleships for the war effort. While working, he also attended school at night. He was drafted and served in the Navy from 1944-1946 with an African-American unit stationed in Guam. He lived in Philadelphia briefly after the war and moved to New York City in 1948. During his early years in New York City, Gammon worked at various jobs such as sorting mail for the post office and designing advertising copy. Around this time, he first met his future wife Janice Goldberger whom he married in 1972.
In 1963, Gammon was invited to join Spiral, a group of African American artists which included Charles Alston, Romare Bearden, Alvin Hollingsworth, Norman Lewis, Richard Mayhew, and Hale Woodruff. As a member of this group, Gammon participated in the 1965 exhibition First Group Showing: Works in Black and White. Spiral disbanded later that same year. In 1969, Gammon and Benny Andrews formed the Black Emergency Cultural Coalition. This politically active group of artists picketed the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of Modern Art to protest the exclusion of black artists and curators.
Gammon also taught at the Saturday Academy Program for New York public schools. He set up an informal studio so that children from Harlem could work with resident artists. This position and a recommendation from Hughie Lee-Smith led to an offer from Western Michigan University for a visiting lectureship that turned into a full-time teaching position in which Gammon served until 1991, when he retired as Full Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts and Humanities.
After his retirement from Western Michigan University, Gammon and his wife moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and he became involved in the New Mexico Afro-American Artist Guild and the Albuquerque United Artists, among other civic organizations. He regularly participated in exhibitions and art fairs sponsored by the Guild and served as their treasurer from 1999 until his death. He was artist-in-residence from 1992-2005 at the Harwood Art Center where he also maintained a studio.
Gammon was also one of the founding members of the New Grounds Print Workshop, where he completed his final collection of artworks - a collection of over 100 prints of historically significant gospel singers and jazz musicians. Gammon died on November 4, 2005.
Provenance:
The collection was donated in 2007 and 2008 by Reginald Gammon's widow Janice Gammon.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Use of archival audiovisual recordings and electronic records with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
68 cassette audiotape recordings of oral history interviews and presentations, and 55 newsletters compiled by the New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society, 1960-1991.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1: Agendas and Newsletters, 1986-1995
Series 2: Audio Cassetttes, 1986-1995, undated
Biographical / Historical:
The New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society is located in New York and focuses on the life and career of musician and composer, Edward "Duke" Ellington.
Provenance:
Collection donated by Morris Hodara, February 4, 1992.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1986-1995
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1986-1995, undated
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Ellington is Foreever, Kenny Burrell
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 3
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1988-11-16
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, 50th Anniversary, Duke Ellington 2nd Carneige Hall Concert
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1993-12-17
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Vince Prudente, The True Musician
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-01-20
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-02-17
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-03-17
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Krin Gabbard, Paris Blues
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-04-21
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Members Choice, Arounf the World, Volume 2
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 8
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-05-12
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Members Choice, Around the World
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-05-12
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Saturday Laughter, Herb Martin
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-09-21
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, A Great Day in Harlem, Jean Bach
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-10-20
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Members Choice, Duke Ellington and the Blues
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-11-16
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Members Choice, Duke Ellington and the Blues
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-11-16
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Holiday Party, Joe Temperley Trio
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1994-12-12
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Creed Taylor and Johnny Hodges, Soloist
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1995-01-19
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
Duke Ellington Society Meeting, Sathima Bea Benjamin
Collection Creator:
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library Search this
Duke Ellington Society, New York Chapter Search this
Container:
Box 9
Type:
Archival materials
Audio
Date:
1995-02-16
Collection Restrictions:
Unrestricted research use on site, by appointment, but collection is unprocessed.
Collection Rights:
Certain restrictions on usage: Any use of these recordings for publication (in electronic or print form) must provide a credit line with the name of the speaker or interviewee, the name of the person conducting the interview, and the date (when available). The credit line also must contain the following statement: "original recording in the Duke Ellington Society Archives at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library, New York, New York." Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Collection Citation:
New York Chapter of the Duke Ellington Society Collection, 1960-1991, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. (See Conditions Governing Use for additional credit line information.
