Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Francis Wolff Jazz Photoprints
Cuscuna, Michael
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
NMAH.AC.1238
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Cubic feet
1 box
1953-1966
Collection consists of photographic prints from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists.
English
.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into one series.
Series 1: Photoprints, 1953-1966
Scope and Contents
Twenty-five silver gelatin photographic prints (on fiber-based paper, 20" x 16") from negatives by the eminent jazz photographer Francis Wolff, depicting such greats as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and other important artists. Descriptions of prints supplied by the donor, Michael Cuscuna.
Preferred Citation
Francis Wolff Jazz Photoprints, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. Gift of Michael Cuscuna.
Conditions Governing Use
Michael Cuscuna retains copyright. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Images, June 3, 2011.
Biographical / Historical
Wolff (born 1907 or 1908 in Berlin, Germany, died March 8, 1971 in New York City) was a record company executive, photographer and record producer. After a career as a commercial photographer in Germany, Wolff emigrated to the United States in 1939. In New York his childhood friend Alfred Lion, had co-founded Blue Note Records in the same year, and Wolff joined Lion in running the company. During Lion's war service, Wolff worked for Milt Gabler at the Commodore Music Store, and together they maintained the company's catalog until Lion was discharged. Until Lion retired in 1967, Wolff concentrated on the financial affairs of the business and only supervised occasional recording sessions produced during his visits to Europe. For the last four years of his life, when Blue Note was no longer an independent label, Wolff shared production responsibilities with pianist and arranger Duke Pearson. Wolff took photographs during the recordings sessions, usually shot during session rehearsals, throughout the period of Lion's involvement in Blue Note Records. They were used on publicity material and LP album sleeves, and have continued to be used in CD reissue booklets. [Redacted from Wikipedia entry.]
Processing Information
Collection processed by David Haberstich. 12 prints shown in the "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," Archives Center exhibition space, National Museum of American History, April 1-July 1, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Jazz
Black-and-white photographic prints -- Silver gelatin -- 1950-2000
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Blue Note Records
Coltrane, John, 1926-1967
Cuscuna, Michael
Monk, Thelonious
Davis, Miles
Photoprints
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
1953-1966
Art Blakey at his January 24, 1962 session for "The African Beat" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Archival Resource Key
1962 January 24
1
1
Art Blakey at his January 24, 1962 session for "The African Beat" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Art Blakey at his January 24, 1962 session for "The American Beat" at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1962
English.
1
Art Blakey at his January 24, 1962 session for "The American Beat" at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Drums
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Blakey, Art, 1919-1990
Blue Note Records
Clifford Brown at his August 28, 1953 session for "The Clifford Brown Sextet (Blue Note) at Audio-Visual Studios, New York City
Archival Resource Key
1953 August 28
1
2
Clifford Brown at his August 28, 1953 session for "The Clifford Brown Sextet (Blue Note) at Audio-Visual Studios, New York City
Clifford Brown at his August 28, 1053 session for "The Clifford Brown Sextet (Blue Note) at Audio-Video Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1953
English.
1
Clifford Brown at his August 28, 1053 session for "The Clifford Brown Sextet (Blue Note) at Audio-Video Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Trumpet
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Brown, Clifford
Blue Note Records
Ron Carter at Sam Rivers's May 21, 1965 session for "Contours" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1965 May 21
1
3
Ron Carter at Sam Rivers's May 21, 1965 session for "Contours" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Ron Carter at Sam Rivers's May 21, 1965 session for "Contours" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1965
English.
1
Ron Carter at Sam Rivers's May 21, 1965 session for "Contours" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Carter, Ron, 1937-
Blue Note Records
Paul Chambers at John Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1957 September 15i
1
4
Don Cherry and Henry Grimes at Cherry's December 24, 1965 session for "Complete Communion" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1965 December 24
1
5
Ornette Coleman at his Sept. 9, 1966 session for "The Empty Foxhole" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1966 September 9
1
6
Ornette Coleman at his Sept. 9, 1966 session for "The Empty Foxhole" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Ornette Coleman at his September 9, 1966 session for "The Empty Foxhole" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1966
English.
1
Ornette Coleman at his September 9, 1966 session for "The Empty Foxhole" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Scope and Contents
Coleman playing violin.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Violin
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Coleman, Ornette
Blue Note Records
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's Sept. 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1957 September 15
1
7
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's Sept. 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis at Davis's session of April 20, 1953 for "The Miles Davis All Stars" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City.
Archival Resource Key
1953 April 20
1
8
J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis at Davis's session of April 20, 1953 for "The Miles Davis All Stars" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City.
J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis at Davis's session of April 20, 1953 for "The Miles Davis All-Stars" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.5 cm. on
1957
English.
1
J.J. Johnson and Miles Davis at Davis's session of April 20, 1953 for "The Miles Davis All-Stars" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Davis, Miles
Johnson, J.J., 1924-
Blue Note Records
Eric Dolphy at his Feb. 25, 1964 session for "Out to Lunch" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1964 February 25
1
9
Curtis Fuller at his June 16, 1957 session for "The Opener" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J. This became the album's cover image. (Missing)
Archival Resource Key
1957 June 16
1
10
Curtis Fuller at his June 16, 1957 session for "The Opener" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J. This became the album's cover image. (Missing)
The Opener [Curtis Fuller] [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
June 16, 1957
1957
English.
1
The Opener [Curtis Fuller] [black-and-white photoprint], June 16, 1957.
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Scope and Contents
Curtis Fuller at his June 16, 1957 session for "The Opener" at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey. Recording session with Mobley, Timmons, Chambers, Taylor. Fuller plays trombone and smoke curls above his head. This photograph became the album's cover image.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Smoke
Trombone
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Fuller, Curtis, 1934-
Blue Note Records
Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard at Gordon's May 6, 1961 session for "Don' All Right" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, N.J
Archival Resource Key
1961 May 6
1
11
Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard at Gordon's May 6, 1961 session for "Don' All Right" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, N.J
Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard at Gordon's May 6, 1961 session for "Doin' All Right" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1961
English.
1
Dexter Gordon and Freddie Hubbard at Gordon's May 6, 1961 session for "Doin' All Right" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Trumpet
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Saxophone
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Hubbard, Freddie, 1938-
Gordon, Dexter, 1923-1990
Blue Note Records
Joe Henderson at the Blue Note offices, New York City in October 1963. This became the cover image for his album "Our Thing" (Blue Note).
Archival Resource Key
1963 October
1
12
Joe Henderson at the Blue Note offices, New York City in October 1963. This became the cover image for his album "Our Thing" (Blue Note).
Joe Henderson at the Blue Note offices, New York City in October 1963 [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1963
English.
1
Joe Henderson at the Blue Note offices, New York City in October 1963 [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Scope and Contents
Henderson is shown smoking a cigarette, with curling smoke.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Biographical / Historical
This became the cover image for Henderson's album "Our Thing" (Blue Note).
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Smoking -- 1930-1980
Cigarettes -- 1950-2000
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Henderson, Joe, 1937-
Blue Note Records
Freddie Hubbard at Andrew Hill's October 8, 1965 session for "Compulsion" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1965 October 8
1
13
Kiane Zawadi and Howard Johnson at Hank Mobley's March 18, 1966 session for "A Slice of the Top" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1966 March 18
1
14
Philly Joe Jones at an August 1957 rehearsal for "John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell" (Blue Note). He did not appear on the album.
Archival Resource Key
1957 August
1
15
Hank Mobley and Pepper Adams at Mobley's Oct. 20, 1957 session for "Poppin" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1957 October 20
1
16
Hank Mobley and Pepper Adams at Mobley's Oct. 20, 1957 session for "Poppin" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Hank Mobley and Pepper Adams at Mobley's October 20, 1957 session for "Poppin" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1957
English.
1
Hank Mobley and Pepper Adams at Mobley's October 20, 1957 session for "Poppin" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Saxophone
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Adams, Pepper
Mobley, Hank
Blue Note Records
Alfred Lion and Thelonious Monk at Monk's May 30, 1952 session for "Genius of Modern Music" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City.
Archival Resource Key
1952 May 30
1
17
Alfred Lion and Thelonious Monk at Monk's May 30, 1952 session for "Genius of Modern Music" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City.
Alfred Lion and Thelonious Monk at Monk's May 30, 1952 session for "Genius of Modern Music" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
36.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1952
English.
1
Alfred Lion and Thelonious Monk at Monk's May 30, 1952 session for "Genius of Modern Music" (Blue Note) at WOR Studios, New York City [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Lion, Alfred
Monk, Thelonious
Blue Note Records
Thelonious Monk at Sonny Rollins's April 14, 1957 session for "Sonny Rollins Volume II (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1957 April 14
1
18
Lee Morgan at John Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1957 September 15
1
19
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
35.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1957
English.
1
John Coltrane and Lee Morgan at Coltrane's September 15, 1957 session for "Blue Train" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder studio, New Jersey [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Saxophone
Trombone
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Morgan, Lee
Coltrane, John, 1926-1967
Blue Note Records
Bud Powell and his son John Earl Powell at a December 1958 rehearsal at Birdland, New York City for Powell's "The Scene Changes" (Blue Note). This became the cover image for the album.
Archival Resource Key
1958 December
1
20
Max Roach at Sonny Rollins's December 16, 1956 session for "Sonny Rollins Volume One (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1956 December 16
1
21
Wayne Shorter at Lee Morgan's February 15, 1964 session for "Search for the New Land" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1964 February 15
1
22
Wayne Shorter at Lee Morgan's February 15, 1964 session for "Search for the New Land" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Wayne Shorter and McCoy Tyner at Shorter's April 29, 1964 session for "Night Dreamer" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Archival Resource Key
1964 April 29
1
23
Wayne Shorter and McCoy Tyner at Shorter's April 29, 1964 session for "Night Dreamer" (Blue Note) at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Horace Silver at the November 23, 1955 session for "The Jazz Messengers at Café Bohemia (Blue Note) (Missing)
Archival Resource Key
1958 April 7
1
24
Horace Silver at the November 23, 1955 session for "The Jazz Messengers at Café Bohemia (Blue Note) (Missing)
Horace Silver at the November 23, 1955 session for "The Jazz Messengers at Cafe Bohemia (Blue Note) [black-and-white photoprint]
Archival Resource Key
Wolff, Francis, 1907?-1971
Cuscuna, Michael
Mosaic Images
1 Item
paper 20" x 16".; Silver gelatin on paper
35.5 x 36.0 cm. on
1955
English.
1
Horace Silver at the November 23, 1955 session for "The Jazz Messengers at Cafe Bohemia (Blue Note) [black-and-white photoprint].
Local Numbers
AC1238-0000001 (AC Scan)
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright held by Michael Cuscuna, Mosaic Records.
Exhibitions Note
Displayed in "The Blue Note Photographs of Francis Wolff," National Museum of American History, April 1-June 30, 2016; David Haberstich, curator.
Jazz
Jazz musicians -- 1950-2000 -- United States
Piano
Later prints
Photographs -- 1950-1960 -- Black-and-white photoprints -- Silver gelatin
African Americans
Silver, Horace, 1928-2014
Cafe Bohemia
Blue Note Records
Jimmy Smith and Donald Bailey at Smith's April 7, 1958 session for "Cool Blues" (Blue Note), live at Small's Paradise, New York City.
Archival Resource Key
1958 April 7
1
25
Jimmy Smith and Donald Bailey at Smith's April 7, 1958 session for "Cool Blues" (Blue Note), live at Small's Paradise, New York City.