Performance contract between Fletcher Henderson and The Hollywood Cotton Club: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A single sheet pre-printed contract by the American Federation of Musicians for a week of performances by Fletcher Henderson at the Hollywood Cotton Club in March 1949. The details of the contract have been typed into the form in black ink, with additions and signatures added by hand in blue ink. The "place of engagement" is given as [Cotton Club, 5955 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif.] with the dates of employment [Starting March 28, 1949, continuing for 2 consecutive weeks]. The "2 consecutive weeks" has been struck out in blue ink and [(1) week] added by hand in blue ink. The hours of employment are given as [9:30 P.M. til 1:30 A.M.]. The "price agreed upon" is [$150.00], to be paid [At the close of each week]. "Each" has been struck out in blue ink with [the] added above it. At the bottom, the "Name of Employer" is typed as [THE JUBILAIRS], with signatures by Freddy Henderson and Willie Johnson, both in blue ink.

The reverse side of the contract is a pre-printed chart with the headings [NAMES OF EMPLOYEES], [LOCAL NUMBER], [S.S. NUMBER], and [WAGES] with a full page of lines underneath to make entries. On the top line, which is marked with [(Leader)], is written [Fletcher Henderson], [767], [$150.00]. At the bottom right corner is a [DATE RECEIVED] stamp in black ink with [4-7-49] handwritten in black ink.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: March 29, 1949
• Printed by: American Federation of Musicians, founded 1896
• Subject of: Fletcher Henderson, American, 1897 - 1952
• Subject of: The Jubilairs, American, active 1940s
• Type: contracts
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: 11 15/16 x 8 1/2 in. (30.3 x 21.6 cm)
• Place used: Hollywood, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Band (Music)
• Topic: Business
• Topic: Composers (Musicians)
• Topic: Conductors (Musicians)
• Topic: Instrumentalists (Musicians)
• Topic: Jazz (Music)
• Topic: Labor
• Object number: 2011.57.36.1
• 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: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.