Ephraim Goldberg Collection on Benny Goodman
Abstract
This collection is comprised of sound recordings and other materials related to American jazz and swing clarinetist Benny Goodman (1909-1986), collected by Ephraim Goldberg. Benny Goodman had a notable career lasting from the 1920s into the 1980s. The collection contains over 800 LP Records, as well as cassettes, CDs, open reel tapes, and VHS videotapes. There are also several books, posters, discographies, recording catalogues, and assorted Benny Goodman memorabilia.
Important Information for Users of the Collection
There are no restricted files in this collection.
Ephraim Goldberg Collection on Benny Goodman, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact
This collection is PROCESSED.
Historical Note
Ephraim Goldberg was a World War II veteran and accountant who worked and lived in Long Beach, New York. A Benny Goodman enthusiast, he amassed a comprehensive collection of Benny Goodman recordings and other memorabilia.
Benny Goodman (19091986), the American clarinetist and bandmaster, was an influential musician during the twentieth century. Known also as The King of Swing, Benny Goodman was born into a poor family of immigrants in Chicago. He began his performing career early, establishing himself as a leading performer and session musician by his late teens. He neglected his education to work full time as a musician. Goodman performed at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall the first time jazz had ever been performed there. He is credited as helping to bring jazz and swing, formerly seen as an underground art form, to the mainstream American public.
Over the course of his life, Goodman became increasingly interested in classical music. He began taking lessons from the British clarinetist Reginald Kell. Kell required that Goodman change his embouchure, permanently changing his sound. As a result, Goodman lost some of his former popularity. He put out several recordings of classical pieces and also commissioned works to perform, including Belá Bartóks Contrasts for clarinet, violin, and piano. Though his popularity had declined in his later years, he continued practicing until his death in 1986.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Ephraim Goldberg Collection contains materials pertaining to the career of Benny Goodman spanning from as early as 1927 to the mid-1980s. This collection includes recordings on LPs, CDs, cassettes, open reel tapes, and VHS videotapes. This collection also includes extensive discographies of both live and studio Benny Goodman recordings, as well as seventeen books, three magazines, several posters, record dating guides, and a medal.
Custodial History and Acquisition Information
Gifted in April 2010 by Ephraim Goldbergs daughter, Judith Goldberg-Strassler, and her husband Robert.
Processing Information
Processed by Adam Gallob, June 2011.
EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Nicole Horstman, October 2012.
Arrangement of Collection
This collection is organized into six series.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Discographies, 1972-1994 (.50 linear feet)
This series contains discographies, record store catalogues, and receipts/order forms pertaining to Benny Goodman recordings. These materials are arranged by record store.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts, order forms, McCoys Recordings Catalogue, 1972-1990 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 1 | |
| Golden Age Radio discography, 1972-1973 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 2 | |
| McCoys Recording catalogue supplements, 1972 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 3 | |
| Two discographies, 1994 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 4 | |
| Radio Reruns catalogues, order forms, receipts, and correspondence, 1972-1977 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 5 | |
| Stereo review discography, order forms, and receipts, 1972-1979 | series 1 | box 1 | folder 6 | |
Series 2: Biographical Materials, 1985-2002 (2 folders)
This series contains assorted Benny Goodman biographies and online record store catalogues. These materials are arranged in their original order.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biographical Materials: Benny Goodman, 1998-2002 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 1 | |
| Benny Goodman biographical information found inside Series V books. Labeled by book name, 1985-1998 | series 2 | box 2 | folder 2 | |
Series 3: Clippings, 1957-1981 (1 folder)
This series contains assorted Benny Goodman clippings from magazines and newspapers.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clippings, 1957-1981 | series 3 | box 2 | folder 3 | |
Series 4: Memorabilia, 1973-1982 and undated (2 folders)
This series contains assorted Benny Goodman memorabilia including posters, programs, postcards, and a medal.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorabilia, 1973-1982 and undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | ||
| Commemorative medal of Benny Goodman, undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 1.0 | |
| Postcard (2), undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 2.0 | |
| Intermezzo, the Magazine of Carnegie Hall, February 1976. Program and artist information for Benny Goodman performance, February 13, 1976 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 3.0 | |
| Stagebill program, Carnegie Hall. Benny Goodman performance, March 24, 1979 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 4.0 | |
| Postcard advertising Benny Goodman performance at the Rainbow Grill in New York, May 31-June 16, 1973 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 5.0 | |
| Letter, from Benny Goodman to Ephraim Goldberg, June 1, 1982 | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 6.0 | |
| Sheet music, Memories of You, by Andy Razaf and Eubie Blake. Front cover reads, Featured in the Benny Goodman Story. Incomplete music., undated | series 4 | box 2 | folder 4 | item 7.0 | |
| Benny Goodman Posters, undated | series 4 | box 4 | folder 1 | ||
Series 5: Subject Files, 1970-1999 and undated (.50 linear feet)
This series contains subject files about various musicians and performers. The files do not contain information about Benny Goodman.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject File: Harold Arlen, 1977 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 5 | |
| Subject File: David Allyn, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 6 | |
| Subject File: Frank Sinatra, 1981 and undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 7 | |
| Subject File: Jonathan Schwartz, 1981-1983 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 8 | |
| Subject File: Rod McKuen, 1970 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 9 | |
| Subject File: Judy Holliday, 1982 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 10 | |
| Subject File: Jane Harvey, 1988 and undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 11 | |
| Subject File: Roy Eldridge, 1985 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 12 | |
| Subject File: Sweeney Todd, 1979 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 13 | |
| Subject File: Leonard Bernstein, 1997 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 14 | |
| Subject File: Sunday in the Park with George", 1983-1991 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 15 | |
| Subject File: Marry Me a Little, 1993-1999 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 16 | |
| Subject File: The Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 17 | |
| Subject File: Anyone Can Whistle", undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 18 | |
| Subject File: Anita Ellis, 1979 and undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 19 | |
| Subject File: Tony Bennett, undated | series 5 | box 2 | folder 20 | |
| Subject File: Bill Evans, 1980 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 21 | |
| Subject File: Bobby Hackett, 1977 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 22 | |
| Subject File: Shirley Horn, 1982 | series 5 | box 2 | folder 23 | |
Series 6: Books, 1961-1996 (3 items)
This series contains books pertaining to Benny Goodman. These materials are organized alphabetically by author.
| Description | Series | Box / Reel | Folder / Frame | Item | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Books, 1961-1996 | series 6 | box 3 | folder 1 | ||
| Baron, Stanley, ed. Benny: King of Swing. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1979. Benny Goodman autograph on cover page., 1979 | series 6 | box 3 | folder 1 | item 1.0 | |
| Connor, D. Russell and Warren W. Hicks. BG on the Record: A Bio-Discography of Benny Goodman. New York: Arlington House. Marked heavily by Ephraim Goldberg, 1969 | series 6 | box 3 | folder 1 | item 3.0 | |
| Connor, D. Russell. The Record of a Legend. New York: Lets Dance Corporation.. Marked heavily by Ephraim Goldberg., 1984 | series 6 | box 3 | folder 1 | item 2.0 | |
Series 7: Recordings, 1927-1984 (838 items)
This series contains over 800 recordings of Benny Goodman. These recordings include both live and studio performances. There are recordings on open reel tapes, LPs, cassettes, CDs, and VHS. An inventory of these items is available upon request.
The box inventory for this series is not currently available online. Please refer to the series description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.
Related Material
Benny Goodman: A Supplemental Discography/ David Jessup. 2010.
For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.