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Creator
Glenn, Willam H.
Call number
Sc MG 599
Physical description
1 vol
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Glenn and Jenkins scrapbook, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library

Repository
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

William H. Glenn and Walter Jenkins (Glenn & Jenkins) were a popular comedy team who performed on the vaudeville circuit and toured the United States, Canada, and London during the 1920s and 1930s. They became renowned for their black face routines, "Working for the Railway" and "The Broom Dance.". The contents of the scrapbook includes reviews and advertisments of their comedy routines dating from 1922 to 1949 and 1962. The scrapbook also contains notes, flyers, photographs, telegrams, greeting cards, and copies of their pay stubs.

Biographical/historical information

Glenn and Jenkins were a popular comedy team who performed on the vaudeville circuit during the 1920s and 1930s. Both were from South Carolina and met in 1916 when each was touring the circuit. They subsequently decided to team up and toured the United States, Canada, and London. Glenn and Jenkins were best known for their black face routines, "Working for the Railway" and "The Broom Dance" which included the playing of the harmonica and guitar and stepping with a broom. During World War II they also performed for USO camps, and benefits as well as at the Cotton Club. Earlier in their career, during the 1920s and 1930s, the partners suffered from racial epithets from theatre owners.

Scope and arrangement

The William H. Glenn and Walter Jenkins Scrapbook dates from 1922 to 1949 and 1962 and forms part of the Helen Armstead-Johnson Theater Collection. Most of the items are pasted into the scrapbook and adequately document the performances and tours of the pair. The scrapbook's contents include reviews and advertisements for their comedy routines, "Working For the Railway" and "The Broom Dance" from the following newspapers: New York Post, Boston Travelor, K-C Times, Vaudeville News and Star, Variety, London Coliseum, and Big Time Vaudeville. The scrapbook also contains notes, flyers, photographs, telegrams, greeting cards, and carbons of their pay stubs. Letters from their manager, Thomas J. Fitzpatrick, an agent at the Rialto Vaudeville Representative Inc., are also pasted into the album. There is no discernible arrangement to the scrapbook except that early dates are usually on the recto page while later dates are on the verso page. There are photographs of Glenn and Jenkins in the Photographs and Prints Division.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The collection was acquired by Ulysses S. Thompson. It was subsequently donated by Helen Armstead-Johnson along with other theater related collections to the Schomburg Center.

Source of acquisition

The Glenn and Jenkins scrapbook was acquired by Ulysess S. Thompson. It was subsequently donated by Helen Armstead-Johnson, along with other theater-related collections to the Schomburg Center.

Processing information

Processed by Paula Williams, September 2000

Processed as part of the Blacks on Stage: African- American Theater Arts Collection Project. Funding was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the City and State of New York.

Using the collection

Location

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division
515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor