- unitid
-
{"value"=>"20616", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"Sc MG 346", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"b11543681", "type"=>"local_b"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1928-1990", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1928/1990"}
{"value"=>"1961-1977", "type"=>"bulk", "normal"=>"1961/1977"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"New York Jazz Museum records"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"90 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"54.83 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear_feet"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"The New York Jazz Museum was founded in 1972 to preserve jazz as an art form and to educate the public about jazz through exhibits, events, and concerts. The museum closed in 1977. The New York Jazz Museum records contains files detailing the administration of the museum, exhibits and programs presented by the museum, subject files retained by the museum, and the dissolution of the museum."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"New York Jazz Museum", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>The New York Jazz Museum was founded in 1972 to preserve jazz as an art form and to educate the public about jazz. It developed from the New York Hot Jazz Society, Inc. which was founded in 1967 by Howard E. Fischer who also became the museum's first executive director.</p> <p>The museum documented jazz by collecting records, sheet music, books, periodicals, memorabilia, oral histories and other material, and featured live music, exhibits, films, an audiovisual outline of jazz history called \"Jazz Panorama,\" a touring program, a puppet show, lectures to school children, workshops featuring jazz celebrities, a store, an information center, and a newsletter entitled \"Hot Notes.\" The museum closed in 1977 following financial and other difficulties.</p> <p>In February 1977, the Board of Directors dismissed Howard Fischer, co-founder and director of the museum, when the Board determined that Fischer had misled the Board about the financial affairs of the museum. The Museum faced foreclosure of its mortgage unless five thousand dollars could have been raised by February 14, 1977. To raise the needed funds the Museum held a \"Jamathon\" consisting of sixty hours of live music. The \"Jamathon\" raised thirteen thousand dollars with an additional five thousand dollars donated by the Johnson Wax Foundation, however at this point Fischer sued the Museum for back salary of thirty-two thousand dollars. The court ruled that although Fischer had not done his job well, he was still entitled to his salary. Thus the monies raised from the \"Jamathon\" went to Fischer and, due to the amount needed to pay him, the Museum could not continue to operate.</p> <p>Ann Ruckert, President of the Board of Directors, decided to operate the Museum on a voluntary basis. When Fischer did not receive the total amount owed him he attempted to seize the Museum's collections consisting of its administrative records, phonograph records and other recordings, memorabilia, paintings, musical instruments, and books. Museum personnel removed the material from the building over the weekend.</p> <p>For many years Fischer tried to locate the museum's collections, but Ruckert was always one step ahead, moving the collections four separate times. Eventually the collections were moved to the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey. By using the Freedom of Information Act, Fischer learned the collections were out of state, but the New York and New Jersey State Attorneys General defended the position of the Board of Directors.</p> <p>In 1987, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the New York Public Library, agreed to pay the claim against the museum (i.e., the monies owed to Fisher) in return for the assets of the museum being turned over to the Schomburg Center. With the funds received and the collection protected by the Schomburg Center, the financial case was settled. The museum was then dissolved.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The New York Jazz Museum records date from 1928 to 1990 (bulk dates 1961-1977), and consist of materials related to the administration of the museum. These materials include minutes and agendas of Board of Directors meetings; correspondence of Howard Fischer and Ann Ruckert; fundraising records; and membership records. Also included are legal papers documenting the turbulent times before, during, and after the dismissal of Howard Fischer.</p> <p>The Programs and Projects series includes information used in the preparation of exhibits sponsored by the museum, most of which were about jazz greats and other aspects of the history of jazz. Other records pertain to a special \"Jamathon\", which was an emergency fundraising jazz performance and the museum film program, which includes printed matter and correspondence.</p> <p>Subject files include correspondence, lists, notes, and printed material gathered as resource information about such topics as acquisitions, collection management, and photographs.</p> <p>Printed matter includes press releases and biographical information regarding jazz musicians; newsletters; programs of events held at the New York Jazz Museum and elsewhere; an international magazine clippings file of jazz musicians; and other news clippings. There are also flyers, booklets, catalogs, and some issues of magazines. Of particular interest are three sets of jazz discographies compiled by Walter Bruyninckx of Belgium, covering the period from 1917 to 1980, with information regarding both known and lesser known jazz artists.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The New York Jazz Museum records are arranged in three series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20616#c1877057'>Series I: Board of Directors</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1967-1990</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>1.83 linear feet (3 boxes)</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Board of Directors series dates from 1971 to 1990 and documents the dealings of the museum's board. Held here are minutes, agendas, and by-laws set by the board. Also present is the original certificate of incorporation for the museum; various resumes for the board and other positions at the museum; and resignation letters from members of the Board.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20616#c1877079'>Series II: Administrative</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1960-1987</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>19.5 linear feet (30 boxes)</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Administrative series dates from 1960 to 1987 and details the internal workings of the New York Jazz Museum. The series is arranged into five subseries documenting correspondence of the executive directors, fundraising endeavors, membership files, financial records, the museum facilities, reorganization of the museum and legal issues, and a general file of administrative documents. Files are represented by correspondence, memoranda, financial documents, legal documents, and printed matter.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/scm/20616#c1877427'>Series III: Programs and Projects</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1928-1980</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>27.63 linear feet (59 boxes)</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>The Programs and Projects series dates from 1928 to 1980 and details various programs and initiatives undertaken by the museum. The series is arranged into seven subseries that document exhibits presented by the museum, events and programs, film programming, subject files, index card files, printed matter, and discographies. Files are represented by correspondence, programs, flyers, and ephemera.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Purchase from Board of Directors of the New York Jazz Museum, January 1991.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>See the Art and Artifacts Division for artifacts.</p> <p>See the Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division for audio recordings.</p> <p>See the Photographs and Prints Division for the New York Jazz Musem photographs, Sc Photo New York Jazz Museum.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Janice Quinter in January 1991. Additions processed by Christopher Arena in 2026.</p>"}
- sponsor
-
{"value"=>"Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project"}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Finding aid updated by Lauren Stark in", "date"=>"2021."}
{"value"=>"Boxes 33-90 processed by Christopher Arena in ", "date"=>"2026."}
- date_start
-
1928
- keydate
-
1928
- date_end
-
1990
- date_inclusive_start
-
1928
- date_inclusive_end
-
1990
- date_bulk_start
-
1961
- date_bulk_end
-
1977
- extent_statement
-
54.83 linear feet (90 boxes)
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"[Item], New York Jazz Museum records, Sc MG 346, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library"}