JACKSON, DELILAH.
Delilah Jackson papers, 1852-2013

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply:Use copies have not been made for all audiovisual material in this collection. Researchers must contact the Rose Library at least two weeks in advance for access to these items. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the Rose Library's ability to provide access to audiovisual material.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Special restrictions apply: The collection contains some copies of original materials held by other institutions; these copies may not be reproduced without the permission of the owner of the originals.

Commercial films located in the audiovisual series may not be reproduced.

Printed or manuscript music in this collection that is still under copyright protection and is not in the Public Domain may not be photocopied or photographed. Researchers must provide written authorization from the copyright holder to request copies of these materials.

Separated Material

The Johnny Hudgins papers were originally part of the Delilah Jackson papers.

Some sheet music originally part of the Delilah Jackson papers has been placed in the African American sheet music collection.

Some material in the Owen Dodson papers were originally part of the Delilah Jackson papers.

Source

Purchase from Delilah Jackson, 2002 with subsequent additions. Additions purchased in 2019 were purchased from Jill Jackson

Custodial History

Jill Jackson is Delilah Jackson's daughter.

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Delilah Jackson papers, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Appraisal Note

Acquired by Curator of African American Collections Randall Burkett as part of the Rose Library's holdings in African American arts and culture.

Processing

Processed by Sarah Stanton, September 2005. Additions processed by Amber L. Moore, Sarah Quigley, Tricia Hersey, Jason Gutierrez, and Ariel Svarch, 2015. Additions received in 2019 (boxes 84-89, AV21, OP12-13, and CLP5) processed by Sarah Quigley, 2019.

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Biographical Note

Delilah Jackson was born and raised in Harlem, New York. She graduated from Wadleigh High School and attended Rapid Computing Business School. The entertainment world of Harlem figured prominently in Jackson's childhood, as her parents were enthusiastic fans of the musicians and performers of the thriving 1930s and 1940s Harlem. Her father was particularly fond of Duke Ellington and his music, and his collection of Ellington ephemera inspired Jackson to become a collector herself. She collected photographs, programs, sheet music, newspaper and magazine clippings, and other ephemera related to Black performers from the Harlem Renaissance to present day.

Besides her interest in the arts and the history of Black entertainers, she forged many friendships with dancers and musicians and dedicated herself to preserving the memories of their accomplishments. She trained with Mary Bruce, the famous Harlem dance teacher, as well as with the Henry Street Settlement's New Federal Theatre. Her true passion, however, lay with the Black Patti Foundation, which she started in 1975. Named for Mme. Sisseretta Jones, famed opera singer of the 19th century, the Black Patti Foundation was created not only to preserve the history of Black dance, music, and theater, but also to produce events that re-introduce and showcase the talents of Harlem's "old timers."

Jackson has served as consultant on numerous documentaries and films, including The Cotton Club. She has lectured at universities, museums, and civic organizations in New York and written for The Amsterdam News. Jackson has one daughter, Jill Theodochia Jackson.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains materials related to the history of African American dance, theater, and music, particularly from the Harlem vaudeville era. The papers include personal correspondence, scrapbooks, subject files on individual performers, photographs, scripts, programs, oral history interviews, short films, and the records of Delilah Jackson's organization, the Black Patti Foundation. There are some early photographs from the turn of the twentieth century, but the bulk of the photographs date from the 1920s through the 1940s. Of particular note are the rare photographs of little known vaudeville performers, dancers, and singing groups. The oral history interviews are also a very notable part of the collection. There are over 300 recorded interviews with Cotton Club dancers, singers, musicians, photographers, and other performers who recall the culture of Harlem and their own experiences as Black performers over the years.

Arrangement Note

Organized into eight series: (1) Correspondence, (2) Photographs, (3) Subject files, (4) Black Patti Foundation, (5) Printed material, (6) Scripts, (7) Scrapbook pages, and (8) Audiovisual materials.