Martin Williams papers, 1945-1992 | Center for Black Music Research

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Collection Overview

Title: Martin Williams papers, 1945-1992

Predominant Dates:1954-1992

ID: 1000/WILLM_1015

Primary Creator: Williams, Martin (1924-1992)

Extent: 7.0 Boxes

Date Acquired: 00/00/1992

Forms of Material: Jazz

Abstract

Papers, 1945-1992, including published articles, unpublished manuscripts, files and correspondence, and music scores of jazz compositions.

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Martin Williams preferred to retain his writings in their published form: there are many clipped articles but few manuscript drafts of published materials in his files. Neither did he usually retain correspondence after a project was completed. Nevertheless, the one foot of papers received after his death contains interesting documentation of his dealings with his publishers, and with other critics and scholars. There are also uncompleted and unpublished articles and reviews.

The files were retained in their original order, with their original file headings. In a few cases, materials or files were added or interpolated, and these additions are marked as such. Periodicals are arranged by title and date: in most cases Williams kept only issues containing his writings or issues in which he had some particular interest. The music, consisting mainly of stock arrangements of Jelly Roll Morton tunes, was collected for an intended project on Morton. The last series consists of individual articles by Williams, arranged by periodical title.

Appended is a list of books that were part of the Williams bequest. (His will stipulated that all of his jazz-related materials should come to the CBMR.) The list serves as a record of the jazz books from his library.

Collection Historical Note

Martin Williams was born in Richmond Virginia and educated at the University of Virginia (BA 1948), the University of Pennsylvania (MA 1950) and Columbia University. He was a nationally-known critic, specializing in jazz and American popular culture. He wrote for major jazz periodicals, especially Down Beat, co-founded The Jazz Review and was the author of numerous books on jazz. His book The Jazz Tradition won the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for excellence in music criticism in 1973. From 1971-1981 he directed the Jazz and American Culture Programs at the Smithsonian Institution, where he compiled two widely-respected collections of recordings, The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, and The Smithsonian Collection of Big Band Jazz. His liner notes for the latter won a Grammy Award.

Biographical Note

Martin Williams was born in Richmond Virginia and educated at the University of Virginia (BA 1948), the University of Pennsylvania (MA 1950) and Columbia University. He was a nationally-known critic, specializing in jazz and American popular culture. He wrote for major jazz periodicals, especially Down Beat, co-founded The Jazz Review and was the author of numerous books on jazz. His book The Jazz Tradition won the ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for excellence in music criticism in 1973. From 1971-1981 he directed the Jazz and American Culture Programs at the Smithsonian Institution, where he compiled two widely-respected collections of recordings, The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, and The Smithsonian Collection of Big Band Jazz. His liner notes for the latter won a Grammy Award.

Administrative Information

Repository: Center for Black Music Research

Access Restrictions: None

Use Restrictions: None

Acquisition Source: Williams, Martin

Separated Materials: The books have been added to the CBMR’s Black Music Research Collection. His sizable collection of recordings, many donated before his death, is shelved separately.

Finding Aid Revision History: Minor edits made to finding aid by Adam Melville, April 19, 2018.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Papers],
[Series 2: Single articles by Martin Williams],
[Series 3: Printed music and manuscripts],
[All]

Series 3: Printed music and manuscripts

Box 3

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Papers],
[Series 2: Single articles by Martin Williams],
[Series 3: Printed music and manuscripts],
[All]