MC 008

The Wilma Dobie Collection, 1942-1953, 1960-2004

By Anders Griffen

Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University Libraries

Finding aid encoded in EAD, version 2002, by Anders Griffen, September 2013
The contents of this finding aid were developed under a grant from Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the CLIR.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Dobie, Wilma
Title: The Wilma Dobie Collection
Dates: 1942-2004
Quantity: 30 boxes (16 linear feet)
Abstract: The Wilma Dobie Collection contains documentation, including various publicity materials, research and writing, correspondence, photographs, and personal files, related to her involvement with jazz music and musicians as a journalist, promoter, advocate, and lifelong jazz enthusiast.
Collection No.: MC 008
Language: English
Repository: Rutgers University Libraries. Institute of Jazz Studies

Biographical Sketch of Wilma Dobie

Wilma Dobie was a journalist and lifelong jazz enthusiast, advocate and promoter. At 12 years old she heard Fate Marable perform on the Riverboat St. Paul and she "knew instantly this was the most exhilarating music [she'd] ever heard in [her] life." Coinciding with her journalism career she organized groups of people to work collectively to make jazz flourish as either as a producer, director, chairman or board member of organizations such as the American Federation of Jazz Societies (AFJS), the Overseas Press Club (OPC), and the House That Jazz Built. She managed public relations for the Statesmen of Jazz and was a correspondent and contributing writer for The Universal Jazz Coalition (UJC) and various publications, among them Jazz Forum, Off-Beat Jazz, Jersey Jazz, The American Rag, The Mississippi Rag, Jazz Ambassador Magazine, Planet Jazz, Jazz Notes, and The New York Times.

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Scope and Content Note

The Wilma Dobie Collection contains documentation related to her involvement with jazz music and musicians, The Statesmen of Jazz, The American Federation of Jazz Societies, The Overseas Press Club, as well as various correspondence, photographs, and other personal files. There are collected writings by Ms. Dobie and others covering a range of artists and concerts.

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Arrangement Note

The Wilma Dobie Collection is divided into seven series:

Series 1. Jazz Files
Series 2. Writings & Research
Series 3. Correspondence
Series 4. Photographs
Series 5. Personal Files
Series 6. Oversized
Series 7. Recordings

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

The Wilma Dobie Collection (MC 008), Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University Libraries.

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Detailed Description/Container List

This section provides descriptions of the materials found within each series. Each series description is followed by a container list, which gives the titles of the folders and their locations in the numbered boxes that comprise this collection.

Series 1. Jazz Files
Summary: The series of Jazz Files preserves files similar to the way they were kept by Ms. Dobie. Their contents have been arranged.
Arrangement: The series of Jazz Files is divided into five subseries.
Subseries 1.A. Musicians
Subseries 1.B. Statesmen of Jazz
Subseries 1.C. American Federation of Jazz Societies
Subseries 1.D. Overseas Press Club
Subseries 1.E. Other individuals and organizations
Subseries 1.A. Musicians
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by artist's last name or by group name (boxes 1-6).
Summary: The subseries of Musicians contains published articles, press releases, and other publicity as well as photographs and correspondence. Artists or groups with large quantities of photographs have those items stored in Series 4, Photographs.
Box Folder
1 1 Amram, David, 1968-1976
2 Armstrong, Louis
See also, Box 3, Folder 12-13: Marable, Fate
3 Ashby, Harold
4 Berner, Bill and the Tin Roof Jazz Band
5 Bernhardt, Clyde and his Harlem Blues and Jazz Band; Princess White; Miss Rhapsody
See also, Box 2, Folder 10: Harlem Blues & Jazz Band
6 Berry, Bill
7 Blake, Eubie
See also, Box 2, Folder 12: Hines, Earl
8 Braff, Ruby
See also, Box 4, Folder 4: Pizzarelli, Bucky and John
9 Broadway Brass and Jay Brower
10 Calloway, Cab. Overseas Press Club (OPC) benefit concert October 27, 1976
11 Carter, Benny
12 Cheatham, Doc
See also, Box 2, Folder 2: Folds, Chuck
13 Chiasson, Warren
14 Clayton, Buck
15 Dean, Peter
16 Donegan, Dorothy
17 Eldridge, Roy
18 Fennimore, Linda
Box Folder
2 1 Flanagan, Tommy
2 Folds, Chuck
For writings authored by Chuck Folds, see the file under his name in Series 2, Writings & Research
3 Francis, Panama
4 Fuller, Walter
5 Grey, Al
6 Grosz, Marty, Wayne Wright and Dick Meldonian
7 Hackett, Bobby
8 Hampton, Lionel
9 Handy, W.C.
See also, Box 1, Folder 7: Eubie Blake; and Box 3, Folder 6: Emme Kemp
10 Harlem Blues & Jazz Band
11 Hendricks, Jon
12 Hines, Earl
See also: Dick Sudhalter; Maxine Sullivan; Fate Marable; Stanley Dance
13 Hines, Earl. Honoring Earl Hines at the Overseas Press Club, September 23, 1983
14-15 Hinton, Milt
Box Folder
3 1-2 Jarvis, Jane
3 Jazz à Cordes
4 Jerome, Jerry
5 Jones, Etta
6 Kemp, Emme
See also, Box 1, Folder 7: Eubie Blake
7 King, Teddi
8 Kirk, Roland
9 Kustbandet
10 Leggio, Carmen
11 Lopez, Manny
12-13 Marable, Fate
14 Marsalis, Wynton
See also, Box 12, Folder 12: Lincoln Center
15 Maxwell, Jimmy
16 McGee, Charles and Dona Carter
Box Folder
4 1 McPartland, Marian
2 Mosley, Snub
3 No Gap Generation Band
4 Pizzarelli, Bucky and John Pizzarelli
5 Polcer, Ed
6 Powell, Benny
7 Reinhardt, Django and The Django Reinhardt Society
8 Scott, Shirley
9 Shaw, Arvell
See also, Box 4, Folder 12: Sullivan, Maxine
10 Snowden, Elmer
11 Sudhalter, Dick
12 Sullivan, Maxine
13 Sullivan, Maxine and the House That Jazz Built
Box Folder
5 1 Sutton, Ralph
2 Taylor, Billy
3 Terry, Clark
See also, Box 1, Folder 4: Berner, Bill
4 Waller, Fats and Maurice
5 Waters, Benny, 1977-1995
6 Waters, Benny, 1996-1997
7 Waters, Benny—obituaries, 1998
8 Waters, Benny, 1998-2001
9 Waters, Benny—Certificate of Appreciation from the American Ambassador, Copenhagen, Denmark.
10 Wilber, Bob
11-12 Williams, Claude
Box Folder
6 1-4 Williams, Mary Lou
6-7 Wooding, Sam
8 The World's Greatest Jazz Band
9 Other musicians—Allen-Lang (limited to single or few documents)
10 Other musicians—Lateef-Zottola (limited to single or few documents)
Subseries I.B. Statesmen of Jazz (SOJ)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically (boxes 7-8).
Summary: The subseries for The Statesmen of Jazz (SOJ) contains published articles, press releases, and other publicity as well as correspondence and other documentation. Their photographs can be found in Series 4, Photographs.
Box Folder
7 1 1993-1994
2 1995
3 1996
4 1997 January-August
5 1997 September-December
6 1998 January-August
7 1998 September-December
Box Folder
8 1 1999—Gold Coast Jazz Society; United Nations
2 1999—Duke Ellington
4 2000-2005
5 Undated - or dates without years
6 Board members and business papers
7 History and Publicity
8 Mailing lists
9 Musicians only (title and contents as kept by Ms. Dobie)
Subseries 1.C. American Federation of Jazz Societies (AFJS)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically (boxes 8-9).
Summary: The subseries of the American Federation of Jazz Societies (AFJS) contains correspondence and other documentation.
Box Folder
8 10 1987-1994
11 1995-1999
Box Folder
9 1 2000-2004
2 Press releases, undated
3 Federation Jazz, incomplete issues, 1985-2004
4 Mission statement and other organization documentation
5 Board and membership lists
6 Annual board meetings
7 AFJS publications: How Jazz Societies Operate ; How to Form a Jazz Society ; How to Present Jazz Concerts ; How to do Jazz Publicity ; How to do Jazz Fundraising ; How to Produce a Jazz Newsletter ; How to Produce a Jazz Festival
8 AFJS publications: How to Conduct a Jazz Education Program ; Proceedings of the American Federation of Jazz Societies 8th Annual Convention, "The Business of Jazz," April 16-18, 1993
9 Up with Jazz, draft
Subseries 1.D. Overseas Press Club (OPC)
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically (boxes 10-11).
Summary: The subseries for the Overseas Press Club (OPC) contains correspondence and other documentation.
Box Folder
10 1 Publicity, information for applicants
2 Press
3 Events: invitations and press releases
4 Off Beat Jazz: volumes 1-4
5 Off Beat Jazz: business certificate, subscriber list, stationery, "Back Page Parfait,"
6 Overseas Press Bulletin, 1970-1979
Box Folder
11 1 Overseas Press Bulletin, 1980-2004
2-3` Photographs
4 Jazz Club correspondence 1970-1971
5 OPC correspondence 1972-2002
6 Public meeting of the Advisory Panel on folk music, jazz and popular music sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Dept. of the Department of State, January 17, 1978
7 Overseas Jazz Club Awards, Tom Valvo, Cab Calloway, and blank certificates of recognition
8 OPC business papers
Subseries 1.E. Other individuals and organizations
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically (boxes 11-13).
Summary: The subseries for the contains correspondence and other documentation.
Box Folder
11 9 America's Youngest Jazz Band, Sonny LaRosa
10-11 Arbors Jazz March of Jazz, 2000-2002
Box Folder
12 1 Armstrong Records
2 Duke Ellington—Duke Ellington International Festival; Duke Ellington Society; Ellington High School; and other Ellington-related documents
See also, Box 17, Folder 15: Jan Byrczek
3 Gabler, Milt
4 Gensel, Reverend John Garcia
5 Hamilton College
6 Jazz Education; Sarasota Jazz Club; Nancy Boucher
7 Jazz Festivals: Atlanta ; Boston Globe ; Cape Cod ; Connecticut ; Costa Mesa ; Festival on the River ; Grande Parade du Jazz
8 Guinness ; Jazz Festival Zürich ; JVC ; Newport ; Sacramento Jazz Jubilee ; San Francisco ; Tanglewood.
9 Jazz Journalists Association (JJA)
10 Keep the Beat; Bill Meyers
11 Kleinsinger, Jack
12 Lincoln Center
Box Folder
13 1 Lowe, Jacques and Suzi Reynolds. Also includes Hugues Panassié obituary from the New York Times, December 9, 1974
2 National Jazz Museum in Harlem
3 New Amsterdam Musical Association (NAMA)
4 New York Jazz Museum
5 Nightlife Awards
6 Paris Publicity Associates. Hugues Panassié 1947-1949
7 Rigby, Paul. Jazz cartoons and other artwork
8 Smithsonian Institute
9 Universal Jazz Coalition (UJC), Cobi Narita
10 University of Wyoming
11 White House
See also: Overseas Press Club
12 World Jazz Association
13-14 Other individuals and organizations: publicity, programs, societies and solicitations (limited to single or few documents)
Series 2. Writings & Research
Arrangement: Collected writings are arranged by author in Box 14 and including the first two folders of Box 15. Collected articles and complete issues are arranged by publication name for the remainder of the series (boxes 14-18). Books are alphabetical by title in Box 32.
Summary: The series of Writings & Research contains articles authored by Wilma Dobie and by others, both published and non-published. Writings separated by author may also contain correspondence. There is also a collection of clippings from a range of publications about various jazz subjects. Articles about particular jazz artists can be found in Series 1 under the subseries, "Musicians." Copies of OPC Bulletin and Off Beat Jazz are collected in Series I, subseries D: Overseas Press Club.
Box Folder
14 1 Wilma Dobie, published writings 1945, 1961, 1972-2003
2 Wilma Dobie, Jazz Forum editorial copy—includes correspondence and information about Wilma Dobie as a freelance writer as well as a press card, and contains writings by Wilma Dobie including articles and press releases. 1973-1976
3 Wilma Dobie, manuscripts by title, untitled last. undated
4 Wilma Dobie, fragile writings, and one authored by John Dougherty, M.D.
5 Writings about or mentioning Wilma Dobie 1975-1977
6 Wilma Dobie, notes
7 Dan Bied
8 Nat Brown, Dance Darling Dance
9 Stanley Dance
10 Chuck Folds
Box Folder
15 1 Art John
2 Articles arranged by author
3 The American Rag, "Dan's Dixie Dictionary, A Glossary of terms for the average Dixieland jazz fan.
4 Al Cohn Memorial Jazz Collection-Jazz Forum
5 Jazz Notes-Jazz World Index
6 Jersey Jazz
7 Jersey Jazz (covers only)
Box Folder
16 1 Jet-New York Review
2 New York Times, 1966-1995
3 New York Times, 1996-2004
4 The New Yorker-The Palm Beach Post
5 Pelican Press-World Refugee Report
Box Folder
32 The Best of 1992: A Compilation of Articles written and selected by the Jazz Journalists Association
Crazy Fingers: Claude Hopkins' Life in Jazz, signed "To Willie" by the author, Warren W. Vache, Sr.
Fats Wallerby Maurice Waller with aletter and notes
Hot Jazz: The Guide to Swing Musicby Hugues Panassie
Box Folder
16 6 Press releases by Ms. Dobie and others
7 Radio Scripts, 1940s
Box Folder
17 1 Radio Scripts, 1940s
2 German language publications 1955-1956, 1965
3 Untitled publications
4 Fragments: incomplete articles by unknown authors and/or publications
5 Collected comics and jokes
Series 3. Correspondence
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by name (last name first unless no last name could be identified), and then chronologically by date (boxes 17-18).
Summary: Consisting of personal and professional content, the series of Correspondence contains letters, post cards, and greeting cards from various senders, and a smaller number of letters sent by Ms. Dobie.
Box Folder
17 6 Sent
7 Received: A-G
8 Received: H-P
9 Received: Q-Y
10 Received: greeting cards
11 Family correspondence
12 E-mails. Arranged chronologically. The addresses are identified but the names are not.
13 Received: Unidentified senders
Box Folder
18 1 Albrecht, Mireille
2 Arbors Records: Mat and Rachel Domber; Maurice Lawrence; Claudia Florczyk; Jean-Pierre Battestini
3 Byrczek, Jan. International Jazz Federation. Swinging Newsletter. Duke Ellington World Jazz Competition. 1974-1978, 1985, 1995-2000
See also, Box , Folder : U.S. State Department
4 Dance, Stanley
5 Dantzler, Russ
6 Heaney, Jack
7 Jones, Don and The American Rag
8 Marable, Fate. Also contains Marable's writings about steamboats in 1907-1910. 1942-1945
9 Planet Jazz 1997-1998
10 U.S.S.R. Correspondence. Nicolas Loginov. Alexander P. Evstafiev. 1972-1973
11 U.S. State Department
See also, Box 17, Folder 5: Byrczek, Jan
12 Vollmer, Albert A.
13 Waters, Benny
14 Weissman, George. Philip Morris Companies, Inc.
15 Fragments, stationery, and holiday letterheads
16 Contacts: fax lists, press info, celebrities.
Series 4. Photographs
Arrangement: The series of photographs mirrors somewhat the order of subseries in Series 1: Jazz Files. After files with portarits of Ms. Dobie and photos of her with various musicians, friends and family, there are photographs of The Statesmen of Jazz and The Overseas Press Club, followed by an alphabetical listing of musicians' photos and unidentified images, contact sheets and negatives at the end.
Summary: The series of Photographs contains images of Wilma Dobie and various artists she worked with as wellas friends and family. There are also photos from many jazz events she was involved with in one capacity or another.
Box Folder
18 17 Wilma Dobie, her brother, Bill, and unidentified
18 Wilma Dobie and musicians: Warren Vache, Dick Hyman, Eubie Blake, Earl Hines, Maxine Sullivan, and others. Photographs by Helen Mandel, Herman Johnson, F. Roy Kemp, and unidentified
Box Folder
19 1 Wilma Dobie Bash. Bucky Pizzarelli, Carline Ray, Jane Jarvis, Grady Tate, Peter Dean, Jack Kleinsinger, Doc Cheatham, Barbara Lea, John Bunch, Bobby Rosengarden, Jack Lesberg, Jim Lowe, Richard Sudhalter, and others. Eddie Condon's, March 19, 1981
2 Salute to Willie Dobie and All That OPC Jazz. Jazz All Stars in tribute. Eddie Condon's, February 17, 1985
3 Wilma Dobie, personal photos. Friends and family. Mary Jane King.
4 Contact sheet and negatives
5 Statesmen of Jazz, 1993-1994
6 Statesmen of Jazz—Earl May's 70th birthday, rehearsal with Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, and the Hub, Japan, 1997-1998
7 Statesmen of Jazz—Clark Terry, Tokyo Embassy, and The Hub, Japan, 1998
8 Statesmen of Jazz—Clark Terry, Tokyo rehearsal, 1998
Box Folder
20 1 Statesmen of Jazz—Tokyo and Osaka rehearsal, and Boca Raton, 1998-2000
2 Statesmen of Jazz—Ralph Bunche Tribute, United Nations, November 14, 2000
3 Statesmen of Jazz—Arbors Jazz
4 Statesmen of Jazz—various photographs with Earl May, Jerry Dodgion, Benny Powell, George Masso, Bob Kindred, Jane Jarvis, Eddie Locke, Milt Hinton, Red Holloway, Benny Powell, Clark Terry, Benny Waters, Bob Wilber, and Claude "Fiddler" Williams. Jersey JazzFest and unidentified.
5 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—Tribute to Earl "Fatha" Hines with Henry Allen, Eddie Barefield, Warren Chiasson, Dick Katz, Ed Polcer, Bobby Pratt, Dick Sudhalter, and Bob Wilber, September 23, 1983
6 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—Tribute to Elmer Snowden with Doc Cheatham, Pete Clarke, Sonny Greer, Charles McGhee, Luis Metcalf, Dicky Wells, and Ray Whittam, November 17, 1972
7 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—various photos with Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Eubie Blake, Benny Carter, Al Hall, Elmer Snowden, Atilla Zoller, and others
8 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—various photos with Warren Vache, Dick Sudhalter, Jane Jarvis, and others
9 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—jazz photos
10 Overseas Press Club (OPC)—contact sheets and negatives with Eubie Blake, Jo Jones, Maxine Sullivan, and Billy Taylor
11 Arbors Jazz—March of Jazz, Flip Phillips 85th Birthday, March 26, 2000
12 Doc Cheatham Tribute at Sweet Basil with Theo Croker, Spanky Davis, Chuck Folds, Benny Powell, Carlene Ray, and others. Photos by Mat Domber.
13 Raymond Clement exhibit, Warsaw, 1976
14 Heritage Hall Jazz Band. Maurice Waller.
15 Highlights in Jazz, backstage with Benny Waters, Claude "Fiddler" Williams, and Doc Cheatham, November 9, 1995
16 Earl Hines
Box Folder
21 1 Hubert Humphrey, Vice President of the United States
2 Helen Madel photographs, including Helen Humes, Kenny Davern, Dick Sudhalter, and others
3 Peabody Ragtime Ensemble (PRE)
4 Maxine Sullivan and The House That Jazz Built
5-6 Benny Waters photos
7-8 Mary Lou Williams photos
9 Sam Wooding and Rae Harrison
10 Benny Waters photos
11 Jazz Artists, A-L, including "A Great Day in Harlem"
12 Jazz Artists, M-Z and various
13 various unidentified photos
14 contact sheets and negatives, including Bill Watrous, Tyree Glenn, Vick Dickenson, Bob Wilber, Arvell Shaw, Jo Jones, and others
Series 5. Personal Files
Arrangement: The series of Personal Files is arranged chronologically.
Summary: The series of Personal Files contains awards received by Ms. Dobie, personal notes and date books. There are also various personal documents and financial papers, career information, collected articles (on mostly non-jazz subjects), documentation of "Dobie Day," March 19, 1981, and family information. There is also the European Jazzmen's Reference Book and Ms. Dobie's binder of publicity outlets.
Box Folder
22 1 Wilma Dobie appointed Arkansas Traveler, January 1, 1971
2 In recognition of outstanding contribution to the New Amsterdam Musical Association, May 1975
3 In appreciation for artistic contribution to the musical legacy of "Father of the Blues," W.C. Handy Memorial Scholarship Club, 1977
4 Highlights in Jazz salutes Wilma Dobie, March 19, 1981
5 Overseas Jazz Club tribute to Wilma Dobie, March 19, 1981
6 Universal Jazz Coalition (UJC) salutes Wilma Dobie, March 19, 1981
7 Award presented by The New Jersey Jazz Society (NJJS), February 17, 1985
8 Presidential Commemorative Print presented to Wilma Dobie by the Democratic National Committee, July 20, 2000
9 Various Awards, 1972-1981
Box Folder
23 1 wedding announcement ; Radiodiffusion Francaise, Service Amerique du Nord, Wilma Dobie, editor-in-chief 1944, 1946-1947, 1966-1967
2 Paris, 1951-1953
3 Notebook, 1953
4 Notebooks, 1953-1956
5 Date book, 1967
6 Date book, 1969
Box Folder
24 1 Date book, 1973
2 My Life in Jazz, autographed to Ms. Dobie by the author, Max Kaminsky, September 27, 1974
3 Date book, 1975
4 Dobie Day March 19, 1981
See also, Box 22, Folder 4-5, and Box 30, Folder 4.
Box Folder
25 1 Date book, 1991
2 Date book, 1993
3 Date book, 1994
4 Date book, 1995
5 Date book, 1996
Box Folder
26 1 Date book, 1997
2 Date book, 1998
3 Date book, 2000
4-5 Notebooks, undated
Box Folder
27 1-4 Notebooks, undated
5 Personal documents including wedding announcement, last will and testament, and documentation of birth certificate search.
6 Financial papers
7 Career information including résumé application materials
8 "Willie's Whiffs of Memory"
9 Costello's, 699 Third Avenue, New York
10 Collected articles non-jazz subjects
11 The Dobie Connection, published by the Dobie Clan of North America
12 The Women's Division of the Scarsdale Democratic Club
13 Music: Adeste Fidelis; America, The Beautiful; Doctor John; J'ai De La Veine; Orville's Prayer; Woody's Lament; ukulele fingerboard chart
Box Folder
28 1 European Jazzmen's Reference Book, Jazzman's Reference Book II, Booking: Who & Where Worldwide, Jan Byrczek, editor
2 Jazz Contacts; Jazz Festivals in USA Directory; Body & Soul, Inc., licensing
3 New York Publicity Outlets
Series 6. Oversized
Arrangement: Arranged by size and shape (boxes 29-30).
Summary: The series of Oversized materials contains items that could be included in any of the previous series in terms of their content -- including writings, photographs, business and personal files, awards and posters -- but, due to their size and shape, require different housing than those other related materials.
Box Folder
29 1 First International Jazz Festival February 22-28, 1948
2 various artists
3 collected articles and periodicals
4 Musica e Dischi
5 Our Town December 2-9, 1942
6 Saturday Evening Post August 17, 1957
Box Folder
30 1 Hugues Panassie party, February 28, 1949
2 collected articles
3 Contact sheets. Helen Humes & Brooks Kerr and the Statesmen of Jazz (SOJ)
4 Testimonial from The New Jersey Jazz Society (NJJS) and signatures of friends and family present at Wilma Dobie Day at Eddie Condon's, March 19, 1981
Series 7. Recordings
Summary: The Sound Recordings series contains two tapes.
Box Folder
28 4 Earl Hines Birthday Tribute at OPC, Swedish Broadcasting cassette tape, October 25, 1974
5 New Sam Wooding Band, 1/4-inch open reel tape