Scope and arrangement
The collection consists primarily of portraits of jazz musicians. The bulk of the photographs date from the 1960s and 1970s, but some photographs are earlier. Folders generally contain between one and ten prints.
The People series contains mainly photographs of performances, as well as promotional photographs issued by record labels. Some of the performance photographs have crop and/or other marks on the surface, indicating prior editorial use.
Musicians who are notably well-represented in the collection include Louis Armstrong, Albert Ayler, Count Basie, Marion Brown, Ornette Coleman, John and Alice Coltrane, Larry Coryell, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, and Archie Shepp.
Some performance photographs are credited to notable photographers, including Katsuji Abe, Joe Alper, Bert Andrews, Jack Bradley, George Klabin, Fred Seligo, Charles Shabacon, Moneta Sleet, and Charles Stewart.
The Programs and Activities series depicts programs held by the Museum, including exhibitions and concerts.