- Creator
- Drayton, Thaddeus
- Call number
- Sc MG 389
- Physical description
- 1 folder
- Preferred Citation
- [Item], Thaddeus Drayton collection, Sc MG 389, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, 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.
Thaddeus Drayton (1893-1964) together with Rufus Greenlee (1893-1963), pioneered the "class act" tap style, which combined grace and elegance with precision soft-shoe tap dancing. Known as "Drayton and Greenlee," they wore top hats and tails, adding monocles and canes to their costume. They were among the few African Americans to play at the Palace Theater in New York on the vaudeville circuit during World War I. Their act broke up in 1930; Drayton then formed a dance act with Lucille Smith in the 1940s known as "Teddy Drayton and Lucille.". The Thaddeus Drayton collection documents portions of his career as a member of the tap dance team of Drayton and Greenlee (Rufus). Included are letters from W.C. Handy concerning a tribute honoring him and with song lyrics on the reverse (1950-1951), letters from composer/conductor Eva Jessye (1960), and letters from Germany and Russia in 1926. Programs from the Veteran's Camp in Mt. McGregor where Drayton performed in 1950, and from the Negro Actors Guild, mention his name. Of special interest is manuscript music from the Teddy Drayton and Lucille act. There are also song lyrics printed in Italian.
Administrative information
Source of acquisition
Gift, Drayton, Ethel, December 1987
Key terms
Names
- Drayton, Thaddeus
- Greenlee, Rufus
- Handy, W. C. (William Christopher), 1873-1958
- Jessye, Eva, 1895-1992
- Greenlee and Drayton (Dance company)
Subjects
- African American dancers
- African American entertainers
- African Americans in popular culture
- African Americans in the performing arts
- Dancers -- United States
- Tap dancers -- United States
- Tap dancing
Material types
Using the collection
Location
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York, NY 10037-1801
Second Floor