Scope and arrangement
The "Fats" Waller collection, 1932-1943, is comprised of materials generated and kept by Philip L. Ponce, Inc., Waller's management company during the last ten years of his life and career. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, 1932-1942, and other documentation that provide details of Ponce's business relationship with Waller, such as bookings, tours, contracts, and other financial matters. Of particular interest are the reports by Waller's road trip managers, Ed Kirkeby and Eddie Melsher. Other materials in the collection include scripts, manuscripts, and printed scores, 1932-1941; biographical sketches, promotional materials, flyers and playbills, and financial papers, 1932-1942; engagement reports; and newspaper clippings.
The Fats Waller collection is arranged in five series:
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ca. 1930s-1940s
This series consists of biographical sketches that include several drafts of "Radio's Harmful Little Armful; 'Fats' Waller and His Columbia Broadcasting Orchestra", prepared by the Columbia Artists Bureau. For Waller's European tour, Philip L. Ponce Inc. strongly promoted Waller's appearances with press releases, publicity blurbs, and radio broadcasts. Of note is a history of the Ponce/Waller relationship, including a chronological sketch of Waller's appearances and grossed earnings.
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1932-1941
This series contains letters primarily to or from Waller's management company, Philip L. Ponce Inc., which includes Ponce and his secretary Janet Holmes; and his road managers, Ed Kirkeby and Eddie Melsher, Waller's road managers. The correspondence documents the engagements, booking details, travel arrangements, and problems that arose involving Waller and his band while on the road, such as appearing in the wrong city or not at all. The letters also discuss Waller's poor financial management skills and his alcoholism, both of which impacted his ability to perform and honor contracts.
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1934-1938
This series consists primarily of typed scripts for Waller's performances on The Rhythm Club, The Radio Row, Radio City Matinee, and The Shell Show. There is also a list of Waller's compositions, noting the title of each piece, the lyricist, and the publisher; a list of pieces (submitted to Ben Selvin, 1938) of Waller's compositions recorded by Victor Records (1937-1938); a few music scores, including "Hopeless Love Affair", "How Ya Baby", and "The Joint is Jumping"; and sheet music for "Honeysuckle Rose", "Only a Broken Heart", and "Fraction Fingering". Additionally, there are programs and playbills, including some from his international appearances and the film King of Burlesque.
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1933-1942
This series holds contracts, signed by Waller (and a few by J.P. Johnson and Andy Razaf) for personal appearances, performances, vaudeville engagements, and royalty and songwriters' agreements. There are also booking statements and receipts describing the nature of the orchestra's engagements (in some instances, the location, venue, and promoter are listed), grossed revenue, commissions paid, and orchestra and individual salaries. The daily venue or orchestra reports give a broader account of tickets sold, broken down by gender and percentages. The daily and weekly reports are more detailed than the venue reports; they include expenses as well as income. A descriptive report of the European tour in 1938 is available as well as accountant statements and an audit. The general financial folder contains some of Waller's bank statements, personal account information, invoices, rail ticket stubs and itineraries, mileage amounts, financial matters concerning the Yacht Club, advances on songs, and tax returns.
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1934-1943
This series is comprised of newspaper clippings from the U.S. and abroad, highlighting Waller's performances. Most of the clippings have been glued onto sheets of paper that have been annotated, noting the name of the newspaper and the date. Many of the clippings are from Boston, New York, and Los Angeles newspapers. Of note are reviews and publicity for Waller's shows and performances including the Rhythm Club, Hooray for Love, Connie's Inn Revue, King of Burlesque, and the Famous Door Club, 1935-1937. Additionally, there are clippings from 1935 relating to mob threats; a clipping from Waller's 1938 European tour with Otto Lingto, the Scandinavian bandleader; and reports showing the top best songs selling for the months of June, July, August, and November in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, 1936-1937.