Booking contract signed by Billie Holiday: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

An Associated Booking Corp. document signed by Billie Holiday, detailing Holiday's summer 1954 musical engagements as well as an agreement for debt repayments.

The document is typewritten in black ink on white paper, with the Associated Booking Corp blue letterhead at the top and Holiday's signature in blue ink at bottom right.

The document reads: [It is hereby understood that on my engagements at the Downbeat, / Frisco Aug. 9-22 and at the Oasis, Los Angeles, Aug. 24-Sept.5 / that in addition to the customary sum of 10% commission on each / engagement which is to be deducted, $100 per week will be deducted / on my past-due indebtedness plus a minimum sum of $50 per week / which is to be paid Arthur Schneider an attorney for ? Gown, / as per understanding and agreement until this account is paid in full. / Sincerely, / Billie Holiday].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: April 30, 1954
• Created by: Associated Booking Corporation, American, founded 1940
• Signed by: Billie Holiday, American, 1915 - 1959
• Type: documents
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W: 11 × 8 1/2 in. (27.9 × 21.6 cm)
• Place depicted: Los Angeles, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Frisco, Texas, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Blues (Music)
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Entertainers
• Topic: Finance
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Music
• Topic: Musicians
• Object number: 2021.59.3.3
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: No known copyright restrictions Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.