The International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection focuses on the all-female, racially and ethnically diverse big band group that started in 1937 and disbanded in 1949. The collection contains news clippings, photographs, correspondence, ephemera from USO travels, and newsletters. Also included are books related to the group, as well as a tribute CD and a 33 rpm vinyl sound recording.
Scope and Contents:
The collection consists mostly of photographs and news clippings documenting the International Sweethearts Band of Rhythm's performances, rehearsals, and travels. It also includes tribute materials to the band, including books and audio CDs.
Arrangement:
The collection is divided into three series.
Series 1: Piney Woods School, 1937-1944
Series 2: Rosalind Cron Materials, 1933-2005
Series 3: Dixie Hardy Moon Materials, 1935-1951
Biographical / Historical:
The International Sweethearts of Rhythm were a racially and ethnically mixed swing band, all of whose members were women. They were organized in 1937 by Laurence Clifton Jones, who started the Piney Woods School near Jackson, Mississippi. He formed the band from students at Piney Woods and the band toured to raise money for the school, performing at fairs, dance halls, churches, and theaters. In 1939, the band began to tour outside of Mississippi and traveled across the American South and Midwest. In 1941 they separated from Piney Woods, started out on their own as professional musicians and relocated to Arlington, Virginia. While in Arlington, the band recruited professional musicians to replace the underage students who stayed in school. The band's venues included the Apollo Theatre and Savoy Ballroom in New York and the Howard Theatre in Washington DC They performed frequently at military bases and were quite popular during World War II. In response to requests from GIs serving overseas, the Sweethearts undertook a six month tour of Europe starting in July 1945. The tour was supported by the United Service Organization (USO) Camp Shows. The band played in Paris, France and throughout Germany, including the cities of Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Mannheim. The group disbanded in 1949, but reunited for a reunion in 1980 at the Third Annual Women's Jazz Festival in Kansas City.
Rosalin Cron was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1925 and began playing music at nine years old. She joined the band in 1943 and primarly played the alto saxophone, but was also trained to play the clarinet and flute. Cron was a part of the overseas tour. She was with the band until 1946. Dixie Hardy Moon is the niece of founder Laurence Clifton Jones. Catherine (Cathy) Hughes, was born in 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. She is the granddaughter of founder Laurence Clifton Jones and her mother, Helen Jones Woods (1923-2020), played the trombone with the Sweethearts. Hughes is considered a media pioneer and founder of Radio One/TV One.
Provenance:
Collection donated to the Archives Center in 2011 by Rosalind Cron.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp: The Teal Studio, Houston, Texas, undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000001.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp on verso: The Teal Studio, Houston, Texas, undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000002.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp: The Teal Studio, Houston, Texas, undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000003.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archives Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp: The Teal Studio, Houston, Texas, undated.
Arrangement:
Box No. 1.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000004.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp: The Teal Studio, Houston, Texas, undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000006.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Photographer stamp: Bloom / Chicago, in white at lower right, undated.
Arrangement:
Box No. 1.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000007.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Left to right: Ina Belle Boyd, Helen Jones, Irene and Ione Grisham, Willie Mae Lee (Wong). Piney Woods Archives, undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000009.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Daughter (adopted) of Dr. Lawrence C. Jones, Omaha, Nebraska, undated. Imprint under image: "Another Sweetheart / HELEN ELIZABETH JONES / And Her Whispering Trombone". Standing portrait, no instrument included.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000010.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
"Trump Margo / (Bassist) / & / Composer" in ink on photograph. Undated.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000048.tif (AC Scan No.)
General:
Archive Center's Women in Jazz
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
[Groups of International Sweethearts of Rhythm members in uniform, labeled "America's Greatest with their Buddies, G. I. Joe Overseas"]. [Black-and-white photoprint]
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts fo Rhythm, 1937-1949," March 25-May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, Curator.
Restrictions:
Unrestricted research access on site by appointment. Gloves required with unprotected photographs.
Collection Rights:
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.
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Glamour portrait, autographed "To 'Roz' / I shall never forget / you and your fine / sax playing with the / "Sweethearts" -- also our / tour in Europe, remember? Vocally, / Evelyn, / Kassel, Germany / Nov. 23 - 45". John E. Reed, Hollywood, photographer.
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Three saxophone playiers in bottom row, three trombonists in top row. Rosalind "Roz" Cron sitting in the bottom row on the left. On verso: "This is really a shot of our old trombone section made in the Club Plantation, Culver City, CA, in May, 1944. The band was really jumping at the time. We three saxes are not supposed to be seen -- so overlook us. Since then, we have added a white girl to the Bone section -- which makes it a section of 4." / "Supposed to be short of 3 trombones".
Arrangement:
Series #2: Rosalind "Roz" Cron, Box No.1, folder no. ?
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000064.tif (AC Scan No.)
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Autographed "'To Roz' / A great friend & / wonderful musician / I shall never forget our tour in the / ETO please save / me a chair in your band. See you soon, Tiny. Remember the unholy 6 (six)" . Bloom / Chicago imprint at lower left.
Arrangement:
Series #2:Rosalind "Roz" Cron ,Box No.1 , folder no.
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000065.tif (AC Scan No.)
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Ink in upper left: "'To Roz' / It was great / being in the section / and it was swell / knowing you. Lots of luck to you -- / 'Rosita'." "Bloom / Chicago" imprint in negative, lower left.
Arrangement:
Series #2:Rosalind "Roz" Cron, Box No. 1, folder no. ?
Local Numbers:
AC1218-0000066.tif (AC Scan No.)
Exhibitions Note:
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
Anna Mae Winburn, band leader; Willie Mae Wong, left, bottom row; Rosalind "Roz" Cron, second from left, bottom row. "1944, Club Riviera, St. Louis, Mo., After-hour club, 11:00 to 4:00am".
Displayed in Archives Center exhibition, "Women and Jazz: The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, 1937-1949", from March 25, 2011 through May 31, 2011. Craig Orr, curator.
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Collection Rights:
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.
