Research Catalog

Title

Frederick D. Murphy photograph collection.

Author

Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993

Publication

[between 1940 and 1989?]

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Abbott, Waring
• Andrews, Bert
• Dejean, A.
• Espara, Tony
• Kriegsman, James J.

Found In

p1tc Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993 Frederick D. Murphy papers, 1970-1992 (OCoLC)80934084

Description

• 1,675 items (3.6 cubic ft., 10 boxes); 28 x 36 cm
• 2 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white ;
• 1,628 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white ;
• 45 photographic prints : color ;

Summary

• The collection documents aspects of the professorial career of publicist and writer Frederick D. Murphy from the 1940s to the 1980s. The collection consists primarily of individual and group studio portraits, views of performances, and candid shots of mainly African American entertainers collected by Murphy. Also included are head shots of mostly male African American models; film and television stills and publicity photographs; publicity photographs of theatrical performances; and views of nightclubs and discotheques. Murphy is depicted in individual studio portraits, and group portraits, mostly with entertainers. Depictions of Murphy's personal life are limited.
• The Frederick D. Murphy series consists of studio portraits of Murphy, some of which may have been used for publicity purposes, probably from the 1970s; individual candid shots of Murphy; and candid shots and group portraits with Murphy attending events and other social gatherings. Among the individuals depicted with Murphy are Al Jarreau, Patti La Belle, Millie Jackson, Flip Wilson, New York City Mayor David Dinkins, and members of the vocal groups the Pointer Sisters and the Staple Singers. Also included are snapshots of Murphy as a youth, and as an adult with unidentified friends or family.
• The Entertainer series consists mostly of studio portraits, used for publicity purposes, of mainly African American music recording artists; studio portraits of actors, authors, comedians, dancers, songwriters and producers; group portraits with entertainers; and views of musical performances. Of note in this series are Murphy's clients Roberta Flack, Tamiko Jones, Patti LaBelle (individually and with her group Labelle), and vocal group Ashford & Simpson.
• The Miscellaneous series contain studio portraits of fashion models; film stills; publicity photographs from film, television, and theatrical productions; and views of nightclubs and discotheques. Most of the studio portraits of models depict male models represented by the Grace del Marco Agency; model Beverly Johnson is shown in several portraits. Film stills and publicity photographs consist of productions from the 1970s and 1980s, notably publicity photographs from the 1975 Broadway production of "The Wiz," and views of rehearsals and stills from the 1978 film version. Notable in the nightclubs and discotheques series are the Earth, Wind and Fire party at Studio 54, New York City (1978); views of basketball player Earl Monroe at Club Zanzibar in Newark, New Jersey (1981); and a costumed "Seven Deadly Sins" ball in Paris (1980).

Alternative Title

• Airplane! (Motion picture)
• Coolie High.
• Ganja & Hess.
• The Wiz (Motion picture)
• The Wiz.
• Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.
• The Marva Collins Story.
• Mama I want to Sing.

Subjects

• Inscriptions > 1970-1989
• Dye coupler prints > 1960-1989
• Cole, Natalie, 1950-2015
• Flack, Roberta
• Franklin, Aretha
• Houston, Thelma
• Hyman, Phylis
• Jackson, Michael, 1958-2009
• Jones, Tamiko
• Kendricks, Eddie
• Khan, Chaka
• Knight, Gladys, 1944-
• LaBelle, Patti
• Mills, Stephanie, 1957-
• Washington, Grover
• Ashford & Simpson (Musical group)
• Dixie Hummingbirds
• Earth, Wind & Fire (Musical group)
• Graham Central Station (Musical group)
• Jacksons (Musical group)
• Kool & the Gang
• Tymes (Musical group)
• Village People
• War (Musical group)
• Studio 54 (Nightclub)
• Press agents > New York (State) > New York City
• African American singers
• African American musicians
• Vocal groups
• Musical groups
• African American jazz musicians
• Blues musicians
• Rhythm and blues musicians
• Soul musicians
• Funk musicians
• Disco musicians
• African American entertainers
• African Americans in the performing arts
• African American models
• Male models
• Discotheques > United States
• Nightclubs > United States
• Portrait photographs > 1960-1989
• Group portraits > 1960-1989
• Gelatin silver prints > 1960-1989

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1960-1989.
• Group portraits – 1960-1989.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1960-1989.
• Dye coupler prints – 1960-1989.
• Inscriptions – 1970-1989.

Note

• Title taken from Frederick D. Murphy Papers.
• Some photographs bear photographer's hand stamp on verso; some items bear photographer's name printed on recto. Some items bear handwritten and/or printed captions on recto and/or verso. Some items bear handwritten notations on verso. Some items bear autographs or inscriptions.
• Some publicity portraits are accompanied by resumes or press releases. Some items bear record label logo on recto. Some items are composite photographs. Some items are duplicates
• Collection contains work by Waring Abbott, Bert Andrews, A. Dejean, Tony Espara, and James J. Kriegsmann, among others.

Terms of Use (note)

• Some items are under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• Frederick D. Murphy (1940-1993) was an African American publicist for Black recording artists in the 1970s and 1980s. As the sole proprietor of Frederick D. Murphy Communications, Inc. in New York City, he was the public relations consultant for such clients as Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Miles Davis, Roberta Flack, Tamiko Jones, Patti LaBelle and Melba Moore. Murphy published articles for entertainment-oriented newspapers and magazines, such as "Black Star" and "Variety." He died of AIDS-related complications.

Indexes/Finding Aids (note)

• Finding aid

Linking Entry (note)

• Forms part of the Frederick D. Murphy Papers, 1970-1992.

Call Number

Sc Photo Frederick D. Murphy Collection

OCLC

1311085838

Author

Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993, collector.

Title

Frederick D. Murphy photograph collection.

Production

[between 1940 and 1989?]

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Terms Of Use

Some items are under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

Frederick D. Murphy (1940-1993) was an African American publicist for Black recording artists in the 1970s and 1980s. As the sole proprietor of Frederick D. Murphy Communications, Inc. in New York City, he was the public relations consultant for such clients as Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson, Miles Davis, Roberta Flack, Tamiko Jones, Patti LaBelle and Melba Moore. Murphy published articles for entertainment-oriented newspapers and magazines, such as "Black Star" and "Variety." He died of AIDS-related complications.

Indexes

Finding aid: folder level control.

Linking Entry

Forms part of the Frederick D. Murphy Papers, 1970-1992.

Local Note

Sc MG 651

Added Author

Abbott, Waring, photographer.

Andrews, Bert, photographer.

Dejean, A., photographer.

Espara, Tony, photographer.

Kriegsman, James J., photographer.

Added Title

Airplane! (Motion picture)

Coolie High.

Ganja & Hess.

The Wiz (Motion picture)

The Wiz.

Ceremonies in Dark Old Men.

The Marva Collins Story.

Mama I want to Sing.

Found In:

p1tc Murphy, Frederick D., 1940-1993 Frederick D. Murphy papers, 1970-1992 (OCoLC)80934084

Research Call Number

Sc Photo Frederick D. Murphy Collection