Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Shirley Leonard Papers
Jones, Shirley May, 1922-2004
Connick, Kathleen D.
Leonard, Shirley, 1922-2004
NMAH.AC.0919
Archival Resource Key
4 Cubic feet
16 boxes
1931-1998
bulk 1938-1957
Papers documenting the life and career of Shirley May Jones, stage name Shirley Leonard, an exotic dancer from Cincinnati, Ohio. The papers, photographs, and clippings document her childhood, early life, and professional career.
Collection is in English. Some clippings and a newspaper in Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Physical Access: Researchers must handle unprotected photographs with gloves. Researchers must use reference copies of audio-visual materials. When no reference copy exists, the Archives Center staff will produce reference copies on an "as needed" basis, as resources allow. Researchers must use photocopies of scrapbooks due to the fragility of the originals, unless special access is approved.
Technical Access: Viewing film and listening to audio disc recordings is only possible by special arrangement, please inquire.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased by the National Museum of American History from Cowan's Historic Americana Auction in 2005. Addendum donated to the Archives Center in 2006 by Kathleen D. Connick, a relative of Shirley May Jones.
Arrangement
The papers are divided into five series.
Series 1: Personal Papers
Series 2: Business, Financial, and Legal Records
Series 3: Performance Materials
Series 4: Photographs
Series 5: Audiovisual Materials
Biographical / Historical
Exotic dancer, active during the 1940s and 1950s.
Preferred Citation
The Shirley Leonard Papers, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Processing Information
Processed by C. Jeremy Barney, intern, July-August, 2007; supervised by Franklin A. Robinson, Jr., archives technician.
Scope and Contents
Papers documenting the life and career of exotic dancer Shirley May Jones, stage name Shirley Leonard, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Leonard performed primarily throughout the Midwest but also worked in Florida, California, and Louisiana. The collection includes family, performance, venue, and publicity photographs, photographs of other entertainers (some inscribed), correspondence, clippings, a childhood scrapbook, sheet music, recorded music, printed materials, home movies, and financial and business records such as contracts and wage slips.
Conditions Governing Use
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Separated Materials
The Division of Culture and the Arts (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) holds artifacts related to this collection including some of Jones' costumes and accessories.
Burlesque shows -- 1920-1970
Burlesque (Theater) -- 1920-1970
Striptease -- 1920-1970
Motion pictures (visual works)
Audiotapes
Photographs -- 20th century
Correspondence -- 20th century
Scrapbooks -- 20th century
Stripteasers -- 1920-1970
Sheet music
Personal Papers
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1931-1980
undated
Childhood scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
undated
1931
1
1
Conditions Governing Access note
Restricted – see Box 1 Folder 1 for reference photocopies (TO BE PHOTOCOPIED)
Childhood scrapbook, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
undated
1931-
2
1
Childhood scrapbook, loose clippings
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
2
Childhood scrapbook, loose clippings, oversized
Archival Resource Key
1935
undated
8
1
Childhood scrapbook, loose clippings, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
undated
1936-1937
8
3
Childhood scrapbook, Curious World by William Ferguson, loose clippings, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
undated
1934
2
4
Childhood scrapbook, Curious World of Ours, The, by William Ferguson, loose clippings, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
1934
2
5
Childhood scrapbook, Ripley's Believe It or Not, loose clippings, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
1934-1936
undated
2
6
The Loom, Sewing Vocational High School publication, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1936
undated
2
7
The Forget-Me-Not, Sewing Vocational High School yearbook, Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1938
2
8
Cartoon
Archival Resource Key
undated
2
9
Graduation announcement, Sewing Vocational High School
Archival Resource Key
1938
2
10
Diploma, Sewing Vocational High School
Archival Resource Key
1938
8
2
School address and autograph book
Archival Resource Key
1937
2
11
Handwritten statement
Archival Resource Key
1940
2
12
Correspondence to Margaret Connick Jones
Archival Resource Key
1939-1950
undated
3
1-0
Western Union money order messages to Margaret Connick Jones
Archival Resource Key
1947-1950
3
3
Correspondence to Walter Jones, Jr.
Archival Resource Key
1940-1952
3
1-0
Correspondence written, general
Archival Resource Key
1939-1980
3
7
Blank specialty Christmas and New Year's Day cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
3
8
Correspondence from Walter Jones, Jr.
Archival Resource Key
1944-1953
3
9
Correspondence from friends and fans
Archival Resource Key
undated
1938-1957
3
10
Correspondence from Edward J. Barry
Archival Resource Key
1946-1949
3
11
Correspondence from Robert A. Deal
Archival Resource Key
1945-1946
3
12
Correspondence from Lois Davis
Archival Resource Key
1949
3
13
Correspondence from Harold J. Maupin
Archival Resource Key
undated
1945
3
14
Correspondence from William A. Perry
Archival Resource Key
undated
1944-1945
3
15
Correspondence from Len Wahl
Archival Resource Key
1947
3
16
Correspondence from Margaret Connick Jones to Mr. and Mrs. Harold C. Scudder
Archival Resource Key
1951
4
1
Correspondence from Leonard Jones to Margaret Connick Jones
Archival Resource Key
1938-1940
4
2
Correspondence from WSAI, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Margaret Connick Jones
Archival Resource Key
1951
4
3
Correspondence, death of Leonard Jones
Archival Resource Key
1946
4
4
Address books
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
5
Addresses, loose
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
6
Horoscope books
Archival Resource Key
1942-1944
4
7
Hollywood Star Diet Book
Archival Resource Key
1956
4
8
Humor materials
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
9
Religious materials
Archival Resource Key
1949
undated
4
10
Louis Armstrong autograph
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
11
Personal ephemera
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
12
Business, Financial, and Legal Records
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
undated
1939-1959
Request for Appearance, Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, Cincinnati, Ohio, to Margaret Connick Jones and Shirley Leonard
Archival Resource Key
1938
4
13
Venue contracts, numbered
Archival Resource Key
1947-1953
4
14
Venue contracts, A-D
Archival Resource Key
1945-1953
undated
4
15
Venue contracts, E-L
Archival Resource Key
1946-1953
4
16
Venue contracts, M-Q
Archival Resource Key
undated
1946-1953
4
17
Venue contracts, R-Z
Archival Resource Key
undated
1945-1955
4
18
Payroll, wages, and deductions
Archival Resource Key
1943-1945
4
19
IRS forms
Archival Resource Key
1944-1953
4
20
Social Security records
Archival Resource Key
1942-1959
4
21
Identification cards, licenses, and permits
Archival Resource Key
undated
1950-1953
4
22
American Guild of Variety Artists records
Archival Resource Key
1941-1957
4
23
Agency records, general
Archival Resource Key
undated
1942-1947
4
24
Business cards
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
25
Hotel statements
Archival Resource Key
undated
1943-1953
4
26
Hotel receipts
Archival Resource Key
1943-1953
undated
4
27
Hotel envelopes
Archival Resource Key
undated
4
28
Railway Express Agency Non-negotiable Live Stock Contract
Archival Resource Key
1949
8
3
Railway Express Agency receipts
Archival Resource Key
1949-1952
undated
4
29
Statements, general
Archival Resource Key
1944-1953
undated
4
30
Receipts, general
Archival Resource Key
1947-1954
undated
4
31
Reference letters for Shirley Leonard
Archival Resource Key
1939
undated
5
1
Business correspondence written
Archival Resource Key
undated
5
2
Business correspondence received
Archival Resource Key
undated
1941-1955
5
3
Business correspondence to Margaret Connick Jones
Archival Resource Key
1939-1941
5
4
Hospitalization Policy, Pioneer Mutual Casualty Company, Cincinnati Hospitalization Agency
Archival Resource Key
1944
5
5
Club Peachtree injury claim
Archival Resource Key
1954
5
6
Travel records
Archival Resource Key
1940-1951
undated
5
7
Travel records, Jaboul's Vest Pocket Directory of Streets and Transportation Guide of Chicago-Suburbs
Archival Resource Key
1950
5
8
Journal
Archival Resource Key
1942-1952
5
9
Calendar book
Archival Resource Key
1946
5
10
Performance Materials
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1939-1996
undated
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Archival Resource Key
1941
5
11
Clippings scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
1940-1944
undated
6
1
Conditions Governing Access note
Restricted - see Box [ ] Folder [ ] for reference photocopies
Clippings scrapbook, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
1940-1944
6
12
Clippings scrapbook, loose clippings, reference photocopies
Archival Resource Key
undated
1941-1950
6
13
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
1940-1996
undated
6
14
Clippings, entertainer Jack Buchanan suicide
Archival Resource Key
undated
6
15
Clippings, Bust-Normalizing Leaflet
Archival Resource Key
1941
9
1
Clippings, Bust-Normalizing Leaflet
Newspaper, El Cristol, Segunda Edicion, Havana, Cuba
Archival Resource Key
1950
9
2
Newspaper print block
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
8
Du Barry patterns catalog
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
4
Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs
Archival Resource Key
undated
1957-1962
5
16-18
Lester Ltd. costume catalog
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
1
Loshin's catalogs
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
2
True Story Pattern Department envelopes
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
3
Spangles and bangles sample card
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
4
Event and performance programs
Archival Resource Key
undated
1950-1952
7
5
City entertainment guides – Florida – Miami
Archival Resource Key
1949
7
6
City entertainment guides – Georgia – Atlanta
Archival Resource Key
1953
undated
7
7
City entertainment guides – Illinois – Chicago
Archival Resource Key
1952
7
8
City entertainment guides – Indiana – Evansville
Archival Resource Key
1950-1952
7
9
City entertainment guides – Michigan – Detroit
Archival Resource Key
1951-1952
7
10
City entertainment guides – Ohio – Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo
Archival Resource Key
1944-1946
undated
7
11
State entertainment guides – Kentucky
Archival Resource Key
1948
7
12
Other performers, Boots King
Archival Resource Key
undated
1939-1967
7
13
Other performers
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
14
Venue materials and advertisements
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
15
Photography advertisements
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
16
Perfume advertisement, John A. Oya & Company
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
17
Brochure, Pink Pussy Cat College of Strip Tease
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
18
Popular Album News, Monthly Magazine of the RCA Victor Popular Album Club
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
19
Membership cards
Archival Resource Key
1949
undated
7
20
Television appearance, Truth or Consequences
Archival Resource Key
1960
7
21
Sheet Music
3.1
Archival Resource Key
undated
1939-1950
7
"A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
4
"And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine"
Archival Resource Key
1944
9
5
"Begin the Beguine" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1939
9
6
"Birth of the Blues, The"
Archival Resource Key
1941
9
7
"Black and Tan Fantasy"
Archival Resource Key
1944
9
8
"Bugle Call Rag" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1940
9
9
"Charleston"
Archival Resource Key
1950
9
10
"Chopin's Polonaise"
Archival Resource Key
1950
9
11
"Dance With a Dolly"
Archival Resource Key
1944
9
12
"Dawn on the Desert"
Archival Resource Key
1939
9
13
"Deep Purple"
Archival Resource Key
1939
9
14
"Doll Dance, The"
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
15
"Five O'clock Whistle" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1940
9
16
"Five O'clock Whistle", "That Old Black Magic" (annotated), 1940-1942
Archival Resource Key
1940-1942
9
17
"Heat Wave" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1946
9
18
"Holiday For Strings"
Archival Resource Key
1943
9
19
"I'm a Big Girl Now"
Archival Resource Key
1946
9
20
"Indian Love Call" (artist's copy)
Archival Resource Key
1939
9
21
"Irving Berlin's Musical Comedy Medley"
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
22
"Jalousie (Jealousy)" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
undated
9
23
"Jersey Bounce" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1941
9
24
"Jungle Drums (Canto Karabali)"
Archival Resource Key
1941
10
1
"Knock Me a Kiss", "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1942
10
2
"Lazy River"
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
3
"Me and My Shadow"
Archival Resource Key
1945
10
4
"Oh, Brother!"
Archival Resource Key
1945
10
5
"Old Piano Roll Blues, The" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1950
10
6
"Over There"
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
7
"Prisoner of Love"
Archival Resource Key
1946
10
8
"Saint Louis Blues"
Archival Resource Key
1942
10
9
"Saint Louis Blues March" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1948
10
10
"Song of India" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1940
10
11
"Song of India" (artist's copy)
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
12
"Song of the Islands (Na Lei O Hawaii)" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1942
10
13
"Song of the Islands" / "Hawaiian War Chant" / "Ahhohaoe," (artist's copy)
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
14
"Sophisticated Lady" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
15
"Strip Medley" (artist's copy)
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
16
"Taboo" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1941
10
17
"Temptation"
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
18
"That Old Black Magic" (annotated)
Archival Resource Key
1942
10
19
"That Old Black Magic" (artist's copy)
Archival Resource Key
undated
20
"Third Man Theme, The"
Archival Resource Key
1950
10
21
"You Never Say Yes You Never Say No!"
Archival Resource Key
1944
10
22
Sheet Music, unidentified
Archival Resource Key
undated
10
23
Photographs
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
undated
1937-1998
Youth, family, and friends
Archival Resource Key
1938-1998
undated
11
Performances
Archival Resource Key
1951
undated
11
Performances
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
5
Publicity
Archival Resource Key
1937-1945
11
Publicity
Publicity
Archival Resource Key
undated
12
Publicity, 8x10
Archival Resource Key
undated
7
22
Publicity
Archival Resource Key
1940
8
6
Publicity
Venues
Archival Resource Key
undated
1947-1949
13
Venues, Beverly Country Club
Archival Resource Key
undated
8
7
Other entertainers, identified
Archival Resource Key
1941-1948
undated
14
Other entertainers, identified
Other entertainers, unidentified
Archival Resource Key
undated
1941-1942
14
Photograph scrapbook
Archival Resource Key
undated
1939-1941
9
3
Photograph album
Archival Resource Key
undated
1941-1946
15
Audiovisual materials
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
undated
Audio disc cover, Barth, Belle, If I Embarrass You-Tell Your Friends
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
1
If I Embarrass You-Tell Your Friends
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound recording
Duration: 44:00
33 1/3 RPM, 12 inch vinyl disc
undated
16
OD 919.1
Scope and Contents note
Copyright:
Creator: Barth, Belle
Corporate Creator: After Hour Records
Content Description: Live recording of two performances (midnight and four a.m.) by comedienne Belle Barth at Belle Barth's Pub, Miami, Florida
Audio disc cover, Paderewski, Jan, Let's Have a Party (inscribed)
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
2
Let's Have a Party
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound recording
Duration: 40:00
33 1/3 RPM, 12 inch vinyl disc
undated
16
OD 919.2
Scope and Contents note
Copyright:
Creator: Paderewski, Jan
Corporate Creator:
Content Description: Jan Paderewski plays piano and tells jokes before an audience in this live recording. Music played includes "Malaguena", "Moon River," "Autumn Leaves," "Warsaw Concerto," and "Voodoo Moon."
Audio disc cover, Wray, Jay, Have a Funderful Evening with Jay Wray (inscribed)
Archival Resource Key
undated
16
3
Have a Funderful Evening with Jay Wray
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound recording
Duration: 40:00
33 1/3 RPM, 12 inch vinyl disc
undated
16
OD 919.3
Scope and Contents note
Copyright:
Creator: Wray, Jay
Corporate Creator: Jacco Records
Content Description: Live recording of a Jay Wray comedy performance at the Tale O'The Tiger Lounge, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Truth or Consequences television appearance
Archival Resource Key
1 Sound recording
1960
17
OT7 919.1
17
OT7 919.2
17
OT3 919.1
Scope and Contents
Includes 7 inch open reel audio tape, [length] and 3 inch open reel audio tape, [length]
Christmas on Saybrook, Cincinnati, Ohio
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
black and white, silent, camera original reversal
8mm, 50 feet
undated
17
OF 919.1
Scope and Contents note
Footage of a Christmas celebration with Shirley Leonard, Walter Jones, Jr. (brother), and Margaret Connick Jones (mother) at the family home on Saybrook Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. Includes shots of a set table, Shirley Leonard opening a refrigerator, the family cat, and outside scenes of dogs and parked automobiles.
Cookout and Christmas with family and friends
Archival Resource Key
1 Film reel
color, silent, camera original reversal
8mm, 120 feet
circa 1957
17
OF 919.2
Scope and Contents note
A compilation reel depicting scenes at a cookout and during a Christmas celebration, including many shots of a decorated Christmas tree and presents.