2019-07-24 Preliminary Inventory of the International Al Jolson Society Records, 1912-circa 2000 SPEC.TRI.IAJ Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Hubbard Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2019 July This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2019-07-30T15:52-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard International Al Jolson Society Records SPEC.TRI.IAJ Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 0.72 Cubic feet 1912-circa 2000 The International Al Jolson Society was founded in 1950 to promote and perpetuate the memory of Al Jolson, an entertainer who was popular in early 20th-century vaudeville and films. Jolson performed at the 1911 opening of the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, helping to launch his career. He later starred in films, including those where he appeared in blackface. As of 2019, the International Al Jolson Society has over 1,000 members. The International Al Jolson Society Records contains administrative records and memorabilia produced or collected by the society, such as an anniversary calendar, membership applications, and copies of the Al Jolson Papers held by the Warner Brothers Archives. The collection also contains materials related to Al Jolson, including a first-day Al Jolson envelope and stamp, photograph prints of Jolson, clippings, VHS videocassettes, and original musical scores of Jolson songs. The collection materials are dated 1912-circa 2000. (1) oversize flat box; (2) 2.5" legal document boxes English International Al Jolson Society. Arrangement of Materials

This collection is unprocessed. Materials are preliminarily arranged in two runs: Materials other than sheet music are listed first chronologically, and alphabetically within the same date. The sheet music is listed next, arranged alphabetically by the song's title.

 Acquisitions Information

Donated by Al Jolson International Society, date unknown

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], International Al Jolson Society Collection, SPEC.TRI.IAJ, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Contains VHS videocassettes.

 Access to Materials

Audio/visual materials may need a use copy produced before access is allowed. Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed. Finding aid written by: Elizabeth Hubbard, 2019 June

 Historical Note

The International Al Jolson Society was founded in 1950 to promote and perpetuate the memory of Al Jolson, an entertainer who was popular in early 20th-century vaudeville and films. Al Jolson (1886-1950) was born as Asa Yoelson in Russia. He won a part in "La Belle Paree," a musical revue that was performed at the opening of the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City in 1911, helping to launch his career in theatre. Jolson later starred in films, including the first talkie feature film in 1927, The Jazz Singer, and often appeared in blackface. During Word War II and the Korean War, he was the first star to go abroad to entertain American troops. As of 2019, the International Al Jolson Society has over 1,000 members, and holds yearly conventions in both the United States and United Kingdom. The society runs publications about Jolson and his contemporaries, as well an online shop of Jolson memorabilia.

 Scope and Contents

The International Al Jolson Society Records contains administrative records and memorabilia produced or collected by the society, such as an anniversary calendar, membership applications, and requested photocopies of the Al Jolson Papers from the Warner Brothers Archives. The collection also contains materials related to Al Jolson, including a first-day Al Jolson envelope and stamp, photograph prints of Jolson, clippings and a report on the American Theatre and the Winter Garden Theatre, VHS videocassettes of films featuring Jolson, and original music scores of Al Jolson's songs. The collection materials are dated 1912-circa 2000.

 International Al Jolson Society. Jolson, Al, 1886-1950 Winter Garden Theatre (New York, N.Y.). Actors--United States--20th century Blackface entertainers--United States--20th century Dramatists, American--United States--20th century Male singers--United States--20th century Motion picture actors and actresses--United States--20th century Sheet music VHS Photographs and clippings in photographic copies 1 1 circa 1925-1963 Landmark Preservation Commission, Winter Garden Theater report photocopy 1 2 circa 1980s International Al Jolson Society 40th anniversary calendar 1 3 1990 Warner Brothers Al Jolson papers photocopies 1 4 1993 July International Al Jolson Society membership applications 1 5 1994 April American Music Stamp Festival first day of issue Al Jolson stamp 1 6 1994 September 1 "Jolson: The Musical" promotional pamphlet 1 7 1995 October 22-26 "Go Into Your Dance" (1935) 3 1 circa 2000 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements VHS videocassette; Color; Sound; Approximate run time: unknown "The Jazz Singer" (1927) 3 2 circa 2000 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements VHS videocassette; Color; Sound; Approximate run time: unknown "The Singing Fool" (1928) 3 3 circa 2000 Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements VHS videocassette; Color; Sound; Approximate run time: unknown "Anniversary Song" sheet music 1 8 1946 "Everybody Rag with Me" sheet music 2 1 1914 "Good-Bye Boys" sheet music 2 2 1913 "It All Depends on You" sheet music 1 9 1926 "I Wonder What's Become of Sally" sheet music 1 10 1924 "Just Try to Picture Me Back Home in Tennessee" sheet music 2 3 1915 "Little Pal" sheet music 1 11 1929 "Morning Will Come" sheet music 1 12 1923 "My Buddy" sheet music 1 13 1922 "My Mammy: The Sun Shines East - The Sun Shines West" sheet music 1 14 1921 "My Sumurun Girl" sheet music 2 4 1912 "'N' Everything Song" sheet music 2 5 1918 "Oh! How I Wish I Could Sleep Until my Daddy Comes Home" sheet music 1 15 1918 "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" sheet music 1 16 1918 "So Long, Mother" sheet music 2 6 1917 "Sonny Boy" sheet music 1 17 1928 "Swanee" sheet music 2 7 1919 "There's a Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder" sheet music 1 18 1928 "This is the Life" sheet music 2 8 1914 "Toot, Toot, Tootsie! (Good-bye)" sheet music 1 19 1949 "Why Do I Dream Those Dreams" sheet music 1 20 1934 "Yaka Hula Hickey Dula (Hawaiian Love Song)" sheet music 2 9 1916 "Yankee Doodle Blue" sheet music 1 21 1922 "Yoo-Hoo" sheet music 1 22 1921 "You're a Dangerous Girl" sheet music 2 10 1916