Overview

Administrative/Biographical Note

Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. was founded by Vernon L. Welsh (10 February 1919- 8 August 2002) and Benny Kearse (16 MArch 1930- 29 June 1999) in 1964. Welsh recorded hundreds of jazz performances at the Famous Ballroom during the 1960s and 1970s. Kearse was president of the group, which sponsored 47 concerts per season at its peak. The Left Bank’s first gig was held at the Al- Ho Club, in the 2500 block of Frederick Ave., the year it was founded. The society established a long run at the Famous Ballroom in 1967.

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Scope & Content

Arrangement

The Left Bank Jazz Society Inc. Collection is organized depending on the series and subseries. Series 1 subseries 1 and 2 are organized chronologically. Series 1 is organized alphabetically and Series 1 subseries 3 and Series 2 is alphabetically by last name. Series 1: Society Files A: Administrative Files B: Artists' Files C: Promotional Materials and Publications Series 2: Photographs Series 3: Scrapbook

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Provenance Information

Provenance and Acquisition Information

Accessions MSS2020-07 and MSS2020-09.

Processing Note

Materials were initially housed with Second Story Books Inc., who obtained the items from the estate of Mr. Kearse.. The collection was initially housed in clear sleeves, loose papers, and three ringed binders. An additional accretion was transferred to the archive soon after and was consolidated with the collection. Items were separated by and rehoused into archival grade sleeves and folders.

Descriptive Rules Used

Describing Archives: a Content Standard (DACS)

Archives Processing Manual: Description (2015): The processing manual used in Special Collections for all descriptive platforms, including PastPerfect.

Access & Use

Finding Aids

Finding aid available.

Access Conditions

This collection is open for research. There are no restricted materials.

Conditions Governing Reproductions and Use

Permission is required for all reproduction requests. Copyright maintained by the creator.

Subject Headings

Creators

Welsh, Vernon L., (1919-2002)

Kearse, Benny, 1930-1999

Subjects

Left Bank Jazz Society--Archives

Jazz--Maryland--Baltimore

Jazz musicians

Series Description & Container List

1. Series I: Society Files

   Date: 1953-1992

   Description: This series contains the administrative records, publicity materials, and various files kept on many musical artists that performed as headliners for the Left Bank Jazz Society members.

   1. Sub-series 1.A Adminitrative Records

      Date: 1971-1973

      1. Folder Title/Description	Date	Box #	Folder #	Additional Info.
         Articles of Incorporation of Left Bank Jazz Society, Inc.	February 23, 1965	1	1
         DB Associates Letter to Benny Kearse	July 18, 1966	1	2
         Left Bank Jazz Society News Release	July 20, 1971	1	3
         Senate Resolution No. 163	April 7, 1971	1	4
         Left Bank Jazz Society Summer Education Program	July-August 1972	1	5
         Left Bank Concert Accounting Sheets	January-May 1973	1	6
         Left Bank Concert Planning Documents	1976-1977	1	7
         Left Bank Membership Calls and Constitution	undated	1	8
         Proclamation of "Left Bank Jazz Society Week" in Baltimore Draft	undated	2	1

   2. Sub-series 1.B Promotional Materials and Publications

      Date: 1964-1992

      1. Folder Title/Description	Date	Box #	Folder #	Additional Info.
         Left Bank Business Cards	undated	1	9
         Left Bank Concert Programs	1964-1974	1	10
         Left Bank Concert Tickets (various)	1965-1976	1	11
         Left Bank Jazz Society Presents The Studio Band of the United States Army Field Band Concert Tickets	1970-1972	1	12
         Left Bank Presents The Naval Jazz Ensemble Tickets	May 10, 1974	1	13
         Left Bank Flyers	1965-1967	1	14
         Left Bank Flyers	1970-1979	1	15
         Left Bank Flyers	1980-1988	1	16
         Left Bank Flyers	1990-1992	1	17
         Left Bank Flyers	undated	1	18
         Left Bank Folded Flyer	January 1967	1	19
         Left Bank Folded Flyer	March-July 1967	1	20
         Left Bank Folded Flyer: Duke Ellington	February 21\, 1971	1	21
         The Baltimore Jazz Scene	1968	1	22
         The Baltimore Jazz Scene	1970	1	23
         The Baltimore Jazz Scene	1971	1	24
         The Baltimore Jazz Scene	1972-1973	1	25
         Oversized Posters and Bumper Stickers	undated	2	2

   3. Sub-series 1.C Artists Files

      Date: 1953-1982

      1. Folder Title/Description	Date	Box #	Folder #	Additional Info.
         The Airmen of Note	1971-1973	1	26
         Toshiko Akiyoshi/ Lew Tabakin Big Band	1976-1977	1	27
         Joe Albany	1980	1	28
         Gato Barbieri	1970-1972	1	29
         Warren Chaisson	1976-1982	1	30
         Chris Connor	May 1905	1	31
         Count Basie and His Orchestra with Jimmy Ricks	undated	1	32
         The Duke Ellington Orchestra	1974, undated	1	33
         Don Ellis	1961-1977	1	34
         Marynard Ferguson	undated	1	35
         Woody Herman	1968-1978	1	36
         Bobby Hutcherson	1975	1	37
         The Creative World of Stan Kenton	undated	1	38
         Rahsaan Roland Kirk	1968-1977	1	39
         Azar Lawrence	1975	1	40
         Dave Liebman	1973-1974	1	41
         Barry Miles	1969-1971	1	42
         James Moody	1979	1	43
         Gerry Mulligan	undated	1	44
         New Orleans Heritage Hall Jazz Band	1975	1	45
         Oregon	1973-1975	1	46
         Buddy Rich	1976	1	47
         William Schmidt	1953-1954	1	48
         The United States Navy Band	undated	1	49
         Phil Woods	December 14, 1976	1	50

2. Series II: Photographs

   Date: undated

   Description: This series contains various photographs of Left Bank Jazz Society performers.

   1. Folder Title/Description	Date	Box #	Folder #	Additional Info.
      Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and Nat Adderley	undated	1	51
      The Dave Akins Trio	undated	1	52
      Lin Biviano	undated	1	53
      Beryl Booker Trio	undated	1	54
      The Brecker Brothers	undated	1	55
      Bob Brookmeyer	undated	1	56
      Lenny Bruce	undated	1	57
      Charles Byrd	undated	1	58
      Norman Connors	undated	1	59
      Willis Conover with Duke Ellington	undated	1	60
      The Crusaders	undated	1	61
      The World of Ted Curson	undated	1	62
      Raul Desouza	undated	1	63
      Charles Eckstein	undated	1	64
      Gil Evans and Tadd Dameron	undated	1	65
      Sonny Fortune	undated	1	66
      Funk Inc.	undated	1	67
      Erroll Garner	undated	1	68
      Luis Gasca	undated	1	69
      Dizzy Gillespie	undated	1	70
      Art Gore	undated	1	71
      Dick Griffin	undated	1	72
      Chico Hamilton	undated	1	73
      Johnny Hammond	undated	1	74
      Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra	undated	1	75
      Sir Roland Hanna	undated	1	76
      Al Henderson	undated	1	77
      Eddie Henderson	undated	1	78
      Freddie Hubbard	undated	1	79
      Stafford James	undated	1	80
      The Thad Jones- Mel Lewis Orchestra	undated	1	81
      Lee Konitz	undated	1	82
      Yusef Lateef	undated	1	83
      Ronnie Mathews	undated	1	84
      Mary Ann McCall	undated	1	85
      Jimmy McGriff	undated	1	86
      Carmen McRae	undated	1	87
      The Modern Jazz Quartet	undated	1	88
      Pleasure	undated	1	89
      Sonny Red	undated	1	90
      Max Roach	undated	1	91
      Charles Rouse	undated	1	92
      Don Shirley	undated	1	93
      Jimmy Smith	undated	1	94
      Warren Smith	undated	1	95
      Sonny Stitt	undated	1	96
      Supersax	undated	1	97
      Buddy Terry	undated	1	98
      Clark Terry	undated	1	99
      McCoy Tyner	undated	1	100
      Dinah Washington, Jimmy Cobb, and Keter Bettes	undated	1	101
      The Cecil Youn Quartet	undated	1	102
      Art Blakey and Benny Kearse in the Famous Ballroom Office	undated	2	3

3. Series III: Scrapbook

   Date: 1934-1934

   Description: This series contains the Gingham Club Scrapbook, featuring the Les Colvin Band, which was a dedicated space for jazz performers.

   1. Folder Title/Description	Date	Box #	Folder #	Additional Info.
      Gingham Club Scrapbook: Les Colvin Band	1934	1	103