Collection: The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers (original) (raw)

Collection

Call Number: MSS 21

Scope and Contents

The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers document Johnson's varied career as a composer, actor, vaudeville performer, and administrator. The Papers contain sketches, manuscript scores, and published editions of Johnson's musical compositions and arrangements. The correspondence includes letters to and from Johnson and family members, musicians, writers, and political figures. Johnson's life and work are further documented by: programs, newspaper clippings, and advertisements; diaries and scrapbooks; photographs; business and financial records; and miscellaneous items.

Researchers may also wish to consult the papers of Johnson's brother, James Weldon Johnson, at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of Yale University. (Beinecke also has several other collections relating to the Johnsons.) Researchers interested in Rosamond Johnson's daughter, Mildred Louise Johnson Edwards, and her work with the Modern School may wish to consult The Modern School Collection at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture as well as the Ethical Culture Fieldston School Records at the New-York Historical Society.

Dates

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials chiefly in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open to researchers by appointment. There are no restricted materials in the collection. Please contact the Special Collections staff to schedule an appointment.

Some of the materials may be stored at the Library's off-campus shelving facility, so researchers should allow at least two business days to have the appropriate boxes paged.

Conditions Governing Use

The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers are the physical property of the Irving S. Gilmore Music Library of Yale University. Copyrights belong to the composers and authors, or their legal heirs and assigns.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The J. Rosamond Johnson Papers were established in the Music Library of Yale University by Johnson's daughter, Mildred Louise Johnson Edwards, in 1977. Series XXIV, Additions, consists of materials purchased from J. Rosamond Johnson’s great-granddaughter, Melanie Edwards, in 2011.

Arrangement

In 24 Series as follows: I. Correspondence. II. Programs. III. Newspaper Clippings. IV. Advertisements. V. Biographical Notes. VI. Diaries. VII. Documents. VIII. Business and Calling Cards, etc. IX. Rules and Regulations for Professional Organizations. X. Books. XI. Photographs. XII. Items Transferred to Other Collections. XIII. Miscellaneous Items. XIV. Lyrics. XV. Vaudeville Sketches, etc. XVI. Radio Sketches? XVII. Poetry. XVIII. List of Music, etc. XIX. Musical Works by Johnson. XX. Musical Works Arranged or Edited by Johnson. XXI. Microfilm of Johnson's Works. XXII. Indices By Show. XXIII. Musical Works by Others. XXIV. Additions

Extent

8 Linear Feet (9 boxes)

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/music.mss.0021

Additional Description

Abstract

Music, correspondence and other papers, photographs, and additional materials by and about the African-American musician, writer, actor, and educator J. Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954).

Biographical / Historical

John Rosamond Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 11, 1873. He was a composer, pianist, actor, singer, lyricist, author, and educator. Rosamond began playing the piano at the age of four under the tutelage of his mother, Helen Louise Dillet Johnson. His musical training continued with enrollment at the New England Conservatory of Music and with special instruction in piano, organ, composition, and voice. He studied piano with Charles Dennée and Mme. Dietrich Strong, organ with George Whiting, harmony with Carl Reissman and Davenport Kerrison, and voice with William and Clarence B. Ashenden. He also received an honorary M.A. from Atlanta University in 1917.

Rosamond collaborated with his brother James Weldon Johnson and with Bob Cole on more than 200 songs during their seven years of existence as the Cole and Johnson Brothers. Songs such as "Under the Bamboo Tree," "The Maiden with the Dreamy Eyes," "Congo Love Song," and "My Castle on the Nile," were interpolated into several shows and sung by such people as Bert Williams, Anna Held, Marie Cahill, and Lillian Russell. Rosamond and his brother James Weldon composed and wrote the lyrics to "Lift Every Voice and Sing," considered to be the "black national anthem." Rosamond is also the author of two books containing his arrangements of spirituals, which he popularized in his recitals with Taylor Gordon in 1925/1926.

Rosamond appeared in vaudeville with various circuits, and in 1933 he, as well as W.C. Handy, returned in Joe Laurie, Jr.'s, "Memory Lane" review. His acting career sky-rocketed in the 30s and 40s with roles in Porgy and Bess, Mamba's Daughters, Cabin in the Sky, and A Young American.

Johnson held two administrative positions in educational institutions. He was Supervisor of Music in the Jacksonville public schools from 1896 to 1898 and was the Music Director and a trustee at the Music School Settlement for Colored People in New York from 1914 to 1918.

Time Line

1873

Born 1873 August 11

1877

Piano lessons with mother begin

1890

To New England Conservatory, Boston

1896

In Oriental America

1896

Supervisor of Music, Jacksonville public schools, 1896-1899

1900

Writes "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" with brother James Weldon, while in Jacksonville.

1901

Cole and Johnson Bros. formed, 1901-1908

1902

"Under the bamboo tree"

1903

Evolution of Ragtime

1904

Campaign song for Roosevelt, "You're all right Teddy"

1906

Shoo-fly Regiment

1906

James Weldon Johnson becomes U.S. consul at Puerto Cabello, Venezuela.

1909

Mr. Lode of Koal with Bert Williams

1910

Bob Cole drowns, suicide?

1912

In the vaudevill circuit with Charles Hart

1912

Director of Oscar Hammerstein's London Opera House

1913

Married to Nora Ethel Floyd

1914

ASCAP formed; 170 members, 6 were black. Rosamond and his brother Jim were among those 6

1914

Returns to the U.S.A. to the New Standard Theatre in Philadelphia

1914

Music Director and trustee at the Music School Settlement for Colored People in New York, 1914-1918

1917

Back with the Orpheum and Keith circuits with the "Rosamond Johnson Quintet"

1918

Becomes 2nd Lieutnant, 15th Infantry, National Guard

1921

Made sub-chief of the Iroquois at Caughawaga, Province of Quebec, Canada

1925

The Book of American Negro Spirituals

1925

Toured with Taylor Gordon, 1925-1926

1926

The Second Book of American Negro Spirituals

1929

Jazz, motion picture including the John Rosamond Johnson Singers

1933

Joe Laurie, Jr.'s, "Memory Lane" review

1935

Plays Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess

1936

Lew Leslie's Blackbirds review, Great Britan tour, 1936-1937

1937

Rolling Along in Song

1939

Plays the Reverend Quintus Whaley in Mamba's Daughters, 1939-1941

1940

Plays Brother Green and directs the J. Rosamond Johnson Singers in Cabin in the Sky

1942

Plays Lawyer Frazier in Porgy and Bess, 1942-1943

1946

Plays Prof. Arnold Harmon in A Young American

1954

Dies 1954 November 11

Processing Information

This finding aid was revised in 2024 to add this processing note to contextualize a racist and sexist term used in file titles in Series XIX Series XXII. This file title contains a transcribed title of a printed work. The use of this description is not an endorsement of the language it contains. This descriptive language has been retained to promote searchability and discoverability of the collections. Previous versions of this finding aid may be available. Please contact the Gilmore Music Library for details or if you have questions or comments about these revisions. For more information on reparative archival description at Yale, see Yale’s Statement on Harmful Language in Archival Description.

Subjects

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title

Register to the J. Rosamond Johnson Papers

Status

Edited Full Draft

Author

Compiled by Adrienne Nesnow. Additions compiled by Emily Ferrigno.

Date

1996-2007

Description rules

Finding Aid Prepared According To Local Music Library Descriptive Practices

Language of description note

Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Gilmore Music Library Repository

Opening Hours