Alberta Hunter papers, 1919-1986.

Links

• View catalog record

Creator

Hunter, Alberta.

Location

Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division

Extent

• 10 lin. ft.

Access Restrictions

Lyrics, may not be hand copied or photocopied.

Music, may be handcopied or photocopied by obtaining written permission of the publisher and/or executor of theHunter estate.

Scope/Contents Notes

The Alberta Hunter Papers consist of personal and professional papers documenting Hunter's singing and nursing careers. Her personal papers consist of reminiscenses, family correspondence (1964-1985), personalcorrespondence (1924-1985), passports, financial records and address books.

Hunter's singing career is documented by correspondence including letters from Ethel Waters, Eubie Blake and bluespianist Lovie Austin with whom Hunter recorded in her early years. The soundtrack album from the film, "RememberMy Name" featuring Alberta Hunter is represented by correspondence and songs. There are contracts for performances, recordings, publication of her songs, television, radio, royalties and copyright registration. Her popularity is documented by fan mail (1937 and 1952, 1977-1984). The collection also contains a large body of holograph lyrics by Hunter in addition to some manuscript music by Hunter and other composers such as Eubie Blake. There are programs and broadsides (1931-1940, 1979-1985), printed material, lists of Hunter's unpublished and published songs, notes on issues and sales of her recordings and schedules of performances. Abundant news clippings discuss her singing career (1924-1986). One of two scrapbooks provides information on her activities of the early 1920's as well as on her European career in general, USO Camp Show tours, her 1930's NBC radio series and her appearances with Ethel Waters in the 1954 revival of "Mamba's Daughters," Another scrapbook is devoted to the 1923 musical revue "How Come?" in which Hunter appeared at both the Apollo and Lafayette Theaters.

Her twenty-year career as a licensed practical nurse is represented by her school examination papers and several notebooks.

Biographical/Historical Notes

Blues singer Alberta Hunter debuted in Chicago at age fifteen in 1912, toured throughout the world and sang leading roles in Europe and on Broadway. Born in 1895 in Memphis, Tennessee, she appeared in top Chicago nightclubs,including the Dreamland Cafe, where she shared the spotlight with the King Oliver Band. In 1921 Hunter made her first recording on the Black Swan label with her own song, "Down Hearted Blues." She replaced Bessie Smith in the leading role of the musical, "How Come?," and shortly thereafter she toured in Europe, which included a leading role in the London production of "Showboat" (1927) along with Paul Robeson. This marked the beginning of a very successful European career which encompassed recordings aswell as a role in England's first color film, "Radio Parade of 1935." From this time on Hunter made her home inEngland and France and developed a sophisticated cabaret act which she took throughout Europe and the Middle East.

With the advent of World War II Hunter returned to the United States and volunteered to headline a 1945 United Service Organizations (USO) tour to Europe, Japan and Korea. After appearances in a 1954 revival of "Mamba's Daughters" with Ethel Waters, and the unsuccessful production of "Mrs. Patterson," starring Eartha Kitt, Hunter retired from the entertainment field.

In 1955, at the age of 60, she began working as a volunteer at the Joint Diseases Hospital in Harlem, then embarked on her second career as a practical nurse at the Goldwater Hospital on Roosevelt Island in New York City, where she worked for twenty years before retiring.

Hunter returned to music in 1977, in her eighties, and again recorded extensively, appeared on radio and television programs, sang on film tracts, filled long engagements in New York nightclubs, and travelled to Paris,London and Brazil. Alberta Hunter died in 1984, six monthsbefore her ninetieth birthday.

Controlled Access Terms

• Hunter, Alberta.
• African American singers.
• Blues musicians.
• Blues (Music)
• Women singers.
• African Americans in the performing arts.
• Lyricists.
• Practical nurses.
• African Americans in medicine.
• Scrapbooks.
• Songs.

Additional Creator Names

• Blake, Eubie, 1883-1983.
• Waters, Ethel, 1896-1977.
• Austin, Lovie.
• Schomburg NEH Automated Access to Special Collections Project.