Contents


Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Organization of the Edward Jablonski Papers

Selected Search Terms

Container List

Project Files, 1950-2000

Miscellany, 1942-2003

Edward Jablonski Papers

Processed by the Music Division of the Library of Congress

2012

Collection Summary

Creator Jablonski, Edward
Title Edward Jablonski Papers
Span Dates 1942-20031950-2000
Abstract: Edward Jablonski (1922-2004) was an author and biographer of American songwriters Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Alan Jay Lerner. The collection includes drafts, project files, articles, liner notes, research materials, business papers and correspondence related to his literary projects.
Extent: 21,050 items72 containers36 linear feet
Language: Collection material in English
Identification: ML31.J25

Biographical Note

Date Event
1922, Mar. 1 Born, Bay City, Michigan
1942-1946 Served with the U.S. Army Field Artillery Corp.
1949 Founding member of Walden Records with Peter Bartok
1950 Graduated from the New School for Social Research, New York, N.Y.
1958 Published with Lawrence D. Stewart The Gershwin Years. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday
1961 Published Harold Arlen: Happy With the Blues. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday
1962 Published George Gershwin. New York: Putnam
1965-1980 Focused research on aviation history and published over 10 books on the subject
1981 Published Encyclopedia of American Music. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday
1987 Published Gershwin. New York: Doubleday
1989, Jan. 11 Received the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Gershwin
1992 Published Gershwin Remembered. Portland, Or.: Amadeus Press
1996
1999 Published Irving Berlin: American Troubadour. New York: Henry Holt
2004, Feb. 10 Died of heart failure in Manhattan

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Scope and Content Note

The Edward Jablonski Papers span the period of 1942-2003, with the majority of the materials dating from 1950-2000. The collection includes book project materials, articles, liner notes, drafts, and related correspondence and business papers. All research, correspondence, and business papers pertaining to a given project are filed with its draft materials.

The Project Files series chiefly consists of materials used in the preparation and publication of Jablonski’s books on such American composers and songwriters as Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin. Drafts, notes by chapter, research materials, and correspondence are present for each biographical work. These works include Harold Arlen: Happy With the Blues, Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues, Gershwin Remembered and most extensively, Gershwin. Articles, liner notes, and other miscellaneous project material for each composer are then filed chronologically by date.

Other major compositional projects follow in alphabetical order, including The Encyclopedia of American Music, and the Music Lover's Encyclopedia. Materials for miscellaneous articles, liner notes, and other writings focusing on a particular composer or a general broader topic such as American musical theater, can be found filed chronologically by date.

Jablonski was also an author of aviation history, and there are several articles and correspondence related to his work in this field. These are compiled together with his other writings on various non-music related subjects.

Correspondence in the Miscellany series consists of personal letters and business papers, arranged either by last name of correspondent or by date. Notable individuals represented include Abe Berman, Peter Clay, Alan Dashiell, and David Cunard. The series also contains a small amount of miscellaneous personal items.

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Selected Search Terms

People

  • Arlen, Harold, 1905-1986.
  • Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989.
  • Gershwin, George, 1898-1937.
  • Gershwin, Ira, 1896-1983.
  • Jablonski, Edward--Correspondence.
  • Jablonski, Edward.
  • Jablonski, Edward.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Alan Jay Lerner : a biography.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Alan Jay Lerner : a biography.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin remembered.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin remembered.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin years.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin years.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Gershwin.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Harold Arlen : happy with the blues.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Harold Arlen : happy with the blues.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Harold Arlen : rhythm, rainbows, and blues.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Harold Arlen : rhythm, rainbows, and blues.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Irving Berlin : American troubadour.
  • Jablonski, Edward. Irving Berlin : American troubadour.
  • Lerner, Alan Jay, 1918-1986.

Subjects

  • Aeronautics--History.
  • Biographers--United States.
  • Composers--United States--Biography.
  • Librettists--United States--Biography.
  • Lyricists--United States--Biography.
  • Musical theater--United States--20th century.
  • Musicals.
  • Popular music--United States.

Form/Genre

  • Articles.
  • Correspondence.
  • Drafts (Documents)
  • Photographic prints.
  • Programs (Documents)
  • Research notes.
  • Scripts (Documents)

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Organization of the Edward Jablonski Papers

The Edward Jablonski Papers are organized in two series:

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Container List

Project Files, 1950-2000

Biographical Works

Arlen, Harold

Materials for Harold Arlen: happy with the blues

Materials for Harold Arlen: rhythm, rainbows, and blues

Articles, program notes, and liner notes

Correspondence, tributes, iconography

Programs, scripts, sheet music, books

Bartók, Béla

Articles and liner notes

Research materials

Correspondence with Peter Bartók, 1962-2003

Materials for Turkish folk music from Asia Minor

Estate documents

Berlin, Irving

Materials for Irving Berlin: American troubadour

Writings, correspondence, iconography

Gershwin, George and Ira

Materials for Gershwin

Materials for Gershwin Remembered

Materials for The Gershwin Years

Unpublished book, co-author Milton Caine

Articles

Liner notes

Program notes

Walden Records

Projects

Porgy and Bess

Correspondence

Iconography

100th anniversary celebrations

Lerner, Alan Jay

Biography, writings, correspondence

Serly, Tibor

Writings, correspondence, research materials, photographs

Vaughan Williams, Ralph

Writings, correspondence, research materials, photographs

The American Musical

Encyclopedia of American Music

Masters of 20th Century Music

Music Lover's Encyclopedia

Miscellany

Articles

Liner notes

Projects

Subject files

Walden Records

Non-Music Writings

Miscellany, 1942-2003

Correspondence

Personal effects

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