MC 107

The Annie Ross Collection, 1934-2001

By Anders Griffen

Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University Libraries

Finding aid encoded in EAD, version 2002, by Anders Griffen, January 2014
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: Ross, Annie, 1930-
Title: The Annie Ross Collection
Dates: 1935-2001
Quantity: 9 boxes (6.5 linear feet)
Abstract: The Annie Ross Collection contains printed music, various publicity materials, photographs, correspondence, business and personal files, documenting her life and career as a performing artist.
Collection No.: MC 107
Language: English
Repository: Rutgers University Libraries. Institute of Jazz Studies

Biographical Sketch of Annie Ross

Annie Ross is a performer who has acted in film and television and on the stage, but is best known as a jazz singer. Born Annabella Short into a vaudevillian family in 1930, she has been singing since the age of 3. She became famous for her contribution to the vocalese style of singing with her song "Twisted," and for her part in the popular jazz vocal group, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross.

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Scope and Content Note

Comprised of printed music, various publicity materials, photographs, correspondence, business and personal files, the unique materials in the Annie Ross Collection provide an overview of her life and career as a performing artist.

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Arrangement Note

The Annie Ross Collection is divided into seven series:

Series 1. Music
Series 2. Photographs
Series 3. Publicity
Series 4. Correspondence
Series 5. Business & Personal Files
Series 6. Oversized
Series 7. Sound Recordings

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

The Annie Ross Collection (MC 107), 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. Music
Arrangement: The Music series is separated by type, arrangements, sheet music, and music books, and arranged alphabetically.
Summary: The series of Music consists primarily of sheet music, but there are a few arrangements and music books as well. There are a lot of songs from the standard repertoire and Cy Coleman is the composer of a number of the selections.
Box Folder
1 1 "Glocca Morra," arranged by Lindsey, stamped "Merv Griffin."
2 "Little Girl Blue," arrangement for Ella Logan.
3 "Too Many Chiefs," arrangement for Ella Logan.
4 Sheet music: Autumn Leaves -- The Ballad of the Sad Young Men -- Big Fat Heart -- Body and Soul -- Bouncing Back for More -- Bye Bye Blackbird -- Confession -- Cry Me A River -- Do It Again -- Ellenville -- Everything I Want Is In Manhattan -- For Heaven's Sake -- Here I Go Again.
5 Sheet music: I Found A New Baby -- I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good -- If He Walked Into My Life -- I'll Pay the Check -- I'm All Smiles -- In the Dark -- I'm Watching You -- It Had To Be You -- Just For A Thrill -- Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now -- The Lady Is A Tramp -- Let's Be Buddies -- Let's Get Lost -- Love Is Here to Stay -- A Love Like This -- Lucky Day.
6 Sheet music: Mad About the Boy -- Marahuana -- Moon Country -- Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love -- Music Is Forever -- My Old Flame -- Nightingale, Foggy Day -- No Orchids For My Lady -- Pick Up the Pieces -- The Pixie of the Eighty-Eight (The Errol Garner Love Song) -- The Rhythm of Life -- Small World -- Somebody -- Summer Night -- Then Was Then and Now Is Now -- Top of the Town -- Through the Windows of Cars -- The Way I See It -- You're In A Highly Emotional State -- You're Looking At Me.
7 Song collections: Ella Logan, In a Wee Bit o' Scotch Song; Five, [ten songs]; and Great Songs by Sam Coslow.
8 Lyrics, pronunciation guides, song lists and set lists.
Series 2. Photographs
Arrangement: The series of Photographs is arranged chronologically and by category. The date is unidentified on a number of photographs, but these are separated between photos of Ms. Ross, sets of travel photos, and unidentified subjects.
Summary: The series of Photographs consists primarily of pictures of Annie Ross. Many of these were intended for publicity and professional purposes, but there are personal photographs as well.
Box Folder
2 1 1930s-1940s
2 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, by Lee Tanner, 1950s
3 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, and others, 1960s
4 Performance photos, 1970s
5 Performance photos, November 1979
6 Sondheim, 1984
7 Bahrain and Dubai, 1984
8 Portraits, candids, and performance photos, 1980s
9 Sydney, including a letter from an unidentified sender, Dance Darling Dance 1995
10 Performance photos by David Sinclair, 1996
11 Masterclass at the Manhattan School of Music and Hendricks & Ross, 1997-1999
12 Photos of Annie Ross, portraits and publicity photos
13 Photos of Annie Ross, portraits and candids
14 Photos of Annie Ross, performance, stage, film and television
15 Photos of Annie Ross among others: Tony Bennett, Lenny Bruce, Maria Muldaur, Elvis Costello
Box Folder
3 1 Photos of Annie Ross among unidentified others
2 Travel photos, Australia, Peter Gaudion's Jazz Lane, and various unidentified
3 Travel photos, Singapore
4 Travel photos, Barcelona and others
5 Travel photos, various
6 Unidentified photos of others
Series 3. Publicity
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically, undated materials last.
Summary: The series of Publicity consists primarily of news clippings from a range of sources. Also collected are programs, fliers and other information about various appearances, press releases and biographical information for publicists, discographies, and a Portrait of Annie, by Maurice Dunn.
Box Folder
3 7 Clippings, 1953, 1956, 1958-1960, 1962, 1965
8 Clippings, 1972, 1976, 1978
9 Clippings, 1979-1985
10 Clippings, 1986-1989
Box Folder
4 1 Clippings, 1990-1993
2 Clippings, 1994-1997
3 Clippings, 1998
4 Clippings, 1999-2001
5 Clippings, undated articles
6 Clippings, undated performance ads
7 Articles, unpublished copy
8-9 Programs and fliers
10 Portrait of Annie, by Maurice Dunn
Box Folder
5 1 Biographies and press releases
2 Discographies
3 Bibliography, Music Index entry, and credits
Series 4. Correspondence
Arrangement: Arranged alphabetically by name (last name first unless no last name could be identified), and then chronologically by date.
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. Ross.
Box Folder
5 4 Sent—including personal letters originally sent by Ms. Ross and Kenny Clarke to Charlie Parker re-collected at auction
5 Received, A-N
6 Received, S
7 Received from Helena Van Vuuren—includes documentation related to Leon Pollock and The Red Mill
8 Received, V-W
9 Received, unidentified
Series 5. Business & Personal Files
Arrangement: The series of Business & Personal Files is arranged chronologically.
Summary: The series of Business & Personal Files contains awards and assorted business papers as well as personal papers including funeral programs, personal notes and ephemera.
Box Folder
5 10 Down Beat Award: Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross, Vocal Group, First Place, 1959
Box Folder
6 1 Down Beat Award: Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross, 1960
2 Down Beat Award: Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross, Vocal Group, First Place, 1961
3 Artwork for Kennedy's Children starring Annie Ross, 1974
4 Assorted business papers: AFM contract with Ned Pierce; ABC pilot for "Maverick Square"; British Film Institute, associated title list; 1985-1999
5 Assorted personal papers: American Academy of Dramatic Art evaluation; visa papers for work in Canada; guest pass Investiture at Buckingham Palace , 1947, 1992-1996
6 funeral programs, 1990-2001
7 ephemera
8 notes
Series 6. Oversized
Arrangement: Arranged by size and shape. Box 7 consists of legal sized files and box 8 contains larger items of various size.
Summary: The series of Oversized materials contains items that could be included in any of the previous series in terms of their content but, due to their size and shape, require different housing than those other related materials. Box 7 consists mostly of personal memoirs as well as some professional correspondence and other papers. Box 8 contains collected periodicals, performance posters, large photographic prints, and a Japanese silk.
Box Folder
7 1 Correspondence and contracts related to Chicago Jazz Festival, August 31, 1985
2 Ella Logan, excerpts from a book by Jack Short and a New York Times article from March 21, 1937
3 Personal writings: Lenny Bruce, Chicago and Lenny Bruce, the Shakespeare of our time; Lady (Billie Holiday); Lady at the Apollo
4 Personal writings: Mahalia Jackson; Carmen McRae; Anita O'Day; Charlie "Bird" Parker; Tony Richardson; Dinah Washington
5 Personal writings: Cranks; Paris, Pittsburgh, and the projects; It Was the Worst of Times; Pound for Pound; She Was a Headliner
6 Personal writings: four distinct chapters labeled, "I"
7 Personal writings: various
8 Content listing for tapes (held by Ms. Ross) of interviews with Katherine Altman, and other notes
Box Folder
8 1 Japanese silk
2 Collected periodicals containing articles about Annie Ross, 1976-1993
3 Other collected periodicals (mention of Annie Ross not evident)
4 Concert posters
5-6 Photographs
Series 7. Sound Recordings
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically, undated materials last.
Summary: The Sound Recordings series consists primarily of recorded interviews.
Box Folder
9 James Cox meets Annie Ross, 2 cassette tapes, July 19, 1982
Annie Ross, Side 3, cassette tape, October 1986
Annie Ross Interview at the Blue Note set, video tape, September 17, 1992
Annie radio, BBC Scotland, cassette tape, May 14, 1995
Annie Ross BBC, R+B Radio 2, cassette tape, September 14, 1995
Annie Ross Interview, Sing a Song of Basie, at her New York apartment for "Jazz from the Archives," cassette tape, August 9, 2000
Sing a Song of Basie Master, "Jazz from the Archives," cassette tape, August 13, 2000
Annie Ross interview, cassette tape
Annie Ross, side 1, side 2, cassette tape
Chapter 5 reading, cassette tape