Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels photograph collection, 1870s-1980 | Amistad Research Center

By Rhondalyn K. Peairs and Diane Galatowitsch

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Collection Overview

Title: Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels photograph collection, 1870s-1980

Predominant Dates:1930s-1960s

Creator: Daniels, Jimmy (1908-1984)

Extent: 1.75 Linear Feet

Date Acquired: 02/01/1987

Languages: English, French

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels photograph collection documents the life of Jimmy Daniels and his career as a a nightclub host and entertainer during the Harlem Renaissance and into the 1950s and 1960s. The collection measures 1.75 linear feet and is comprised mainly of photographs from circa 1870s-1970s. Many of the photographs are from Daniels' years at the Bon Soir nightclub in Greenwich Village during the 1950s. Additional items include musical scores, invitations, postcards, and additional ephemera.

The majority of the photographs document Daniels' life as an entertainer, cabaret singer, and nightclub host. While a great many of the photographs picture Daniels either in portraits or in candid and posed shots with others, the collection also presents a "who's who" of African American and White entertainers, musicians, and society figures. Besides Daniels, other individuals represented in the collection include: Pearl Bailey, Josephine Baker, Tullula Bankhead, Richmond Barthe, Harry Belafonte, Tony Benson, Phil Black, Helen Broderick, Marian Bruce, John Butler, Cab Calloway, Karen Chandler, Aileen Cook, Katherine Cornell, Carmen De Lavallade, Phyllis Diller, Blanche Dunn, Annie Winifred Ellerman (Bryher), Alice Ghostley, Eddie Hodges, Geoffrey Holder, Langston Hughes, Alberta Hunter, Maria Eva Isadegna, Herbert Jacoby, Lotte Lenya, Joe Louis, Rex Madsen, Fania Marinoff, Paul Meeres, Mabel Mercer, Ona Munson, Rose Murphy, Cole Porter, Millicent Rogers, Diana Sands, Joan Shaw, Bobby Short, Ada "Bricktop" Smith, Norene Tate, Edna Thomas, Tom Tryon, Carl Van Vechten, Elisabeth Welch, Ethel Waters, Josh White, Roy Wilkins, Billie Dee Williams, Jimmy Wright, Olivia Wyndam, and Ted Yates. Nightclubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues in New York from the 1920s to the 1950s are represented in the collection. The collection also documents, to an extent, gay and lesbian circles in New York and England during the early 20th century. The nineteenth century photographs include a tintype and cabinet cards; little documentation accompanies these images, but they may be photographs of Daniels' family.

Of interest are over 50 photographs by Carl Van Vechten, as well as sixteen photographs depicting sculptures by Richmond Barthe. Additional materials within the collection include musical scores and printed ephemera for musical performances. Some descriptions of the photographs in this collection are derived from a transcription of an oral narrative provided by Rex Madsen, which is housed in the accession file for this collection.

Biographical Note

James Lesley Daniels, Jimmy (Jimmie) Daniels, 1908-1984, was a gay African American nightclub host and cabaret singer who was widely known as a general host and singer at the Bon Soir nightclub in Greenwich Village, New York. Daniels' music primarily included the songs of the Gershwins, Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter, as well as Harold Arlen.

Jimmy Daniels was born in Laredo, Texas, in 1908, but he grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Daniels left Arkansas and came to New York in the 1920s to go to Bird's Business College in the Bronx to become a secretary. After finishing school, Daniels returned to Little Rock to become a secretary for A.E. Bush, the president of Century Life Insurance Company.

However, not long after, he returned to New York in 1928 with a desire to leave the office-world and go on stage. After someone he knew introduced him to Katherine Cornell's manager, he landed a part in Cornell's Broadway hit, "Dishonored Lady." Following his start on Broadway, Daniels performed briefly with "Savage Rhythm" and the Chamberlain-Brown Stock Company in Mt. Vernon.

Leaving Broadway, Daniels found his first professional singing job at the Hot Cha nightclub in Harlem, but he quickly became a part of the European music scene. In the summer of 1933, he became popular at the Summer Sporting club in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Between 1933 and 1934, he accompanied the internationally famous Reginald Forsythe at Ciro's in London. Not long after, Daniels returned to New York and became the premier entertainer at Marian Cooley's Sunday night suppers at the Ship Grill.

In 1935, Daniels went out on his own and sponsored a series of parties for three seasons at the Bronze Studio. During this time, he met Herbert Jacoby, who convinced him to come to Paris to entertain at his Le Reubon Blue in 1936 and 1937. When Jacoby opened a spot in New York, Jimmy Daniels became a popular attraction. However, Daniels returned to Paris in 1938 to perform at Le Reubon Blue.

After singing throughout Europe during the thirties, Daniels became popular in New York nightlife. In 1939, he opened Jimmie Daniels' Nightclub at 114 West 116th Street, an establishment that the New Yorker described as the "model of dignity and respectability" by "Harlem standards." Daniels owned and operated the Harlem supper club from 1939 to 1942. He left the club to go into the military.

Around 1950, Daniels became the host at the Bon Soir on West 8th Street, a chic supper club. Known as a place where African Americans and Whites, as well as gay and straight clientele, interacted without tension, the club was described as having a balance of elegant, intimate, risque, and respectable ambiance. Jimmy Daniels was a popular figure at the Bon Soir for ten years as the host/singer/emcee. The club hosted a variety of rising stars, such as Barbra Streisand, Phyllis Diller, and Kaye Ballard. The Bon Soir was Barbra Streisand's first engagement in New York. When the owners of the Bon Soir let Daniels go after ten years, the club lost substantial business and they begged him to return, but he did not. During the 1950s, Daniels shared a house on Banks Street with fashion designer Rex Madsen.

Circa 1960, after Daniels left the Bon Soir, he hosted what he called "a spring series of supper soirees" at the L'Etang Supper Club in lower Manhattan. Daniels continued to perform around the city at clubs, parties, and festivals until his death. Daniels died at age 76 in the summer of 1984 at St. Clare's Hospital in Manhattan after suffering from a stroke.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: The Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels Photograph Collection is open and available for use.

Use Restrictions: Copyright to these papers has not been assigned to the Amistad Research Center. It is the responsibility of an author to secure permission for publication from the holder of the copyright to any material contained in this collection.

Acquisition Source: Rex Madsen

Acquisition Method: Gift

Appraisal Information: The Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels Photograph Collection documents Jimmy Daniels' career as a singer/host for night clubs in Europe and Harlem, primarily between 1930-1960, with the majority from his time at the Bon Soir nightclub in Greenwich Village in the 1950s.

Separated Materials:

The Center also houses the following artwork in its Fine Arts Collection, both of which are depicted in photographs within the Madsen-Daniels collection and were donated at the same time. as the photograph collection.

Richmond Barthe. Shoeshine Boy, 1938. Bronze, height 10 in.

Riohmond Barthe. Portrait of Kenneth MacPherson, circa 1938. Bronze, height 12 in.

Related Materials: The Amistad Research Center also holds the papers for the Harlem Renaissance sculptor Richmond Barthe and poet/playwright Countee Cullen.

Related Publications: Lewis, David L. When Harlem Was in Vogue. New York: Knopf, 1981.

Preferred Citation: Rex Madsen and Jimmy Daniels Photograph Collection, Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, New Orleans, LA

Processing Information: The processing of this collection was completed between September-October 2002 and April-May 2003.

Finding Aid Revision History: Reprocessed July 2011.

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1],
[Box 2],
[Box 3],
[All]

Box 1

Folder 1

Item 1: Harold Jackman: Portrait (photographic copy); 8 x 10 inches, black and white, 1929: Portrait of Harold Jackman drawn by Richmond Barthe in 1929 and given to Daniels

Folder 2

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels and Elisabeth Welch. Daniels is looking through a magnifying glass and seems amused by something in a newspaper.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels and Elisabeth Welch. Daniels is looking through a magnifying glass at a newspaper.
Item 3: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified African American woman sitting in a chair posed.
Item 4: Cab Calloway: Photograph; 3.55 x 5.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Cab Calloway singing with conductor baton in hand. The photo also has his signature and "Hi-de-Ho" superimposed on it.
Item 5: Millicent Rogers: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Millicent Rogers standing posed against the side of Daniels' fireplace with her head propped against the palm of her right hand and holding the base of Richmond Barthe's sculpture, The Shoeshine Boy, with her left hand.
Item 6: Millicent Rogers: Photograph; 5 x 6.8 inches, black and white, undated: A copy of a photograph of Millicent Rogers standing posed against the side of Daniels' fireplace with her head propped against the palm of her right hand and holding the base of Richmond Barthe's sculpture, The Shoeshine Boy, with her left hand.
Item 7: Millicent Rogers: Photograph; 8 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Millicent Rogers standing in living room of Daniels' apartment posing by Richmond Barthe's The Shoeshine Boy. She is wearing a necklace and a scarf. Rogers was the Standard Oil heiress and was a great designer of 24K jewelry. The painting on the wall is by Eugene Berman of his wife Ona Munson.
Item 8: Tullula Bankhead: portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Headshot of Tullula Bankhead.
Item 9: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified African American couple stands posed in an embrace and laughing.
Item 10: Lotte Lenya: photograph; 7.5 x 10 inches, black and white, 1962 February 13: Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 3

Item 1: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white (5 copies), undated: Conversation at a table. From left to right in photograph: Olivia Wyndom, Lotte Lenya, and Kenneth MacPherson. The lady on the right is the actress Faye Emerson, who was married to one of the Roosevelt sons and Skitch Henderson.
Item 2: Postcard; 5.75 x 4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph postcard of indentified group by S. Bernt. Verso reads: "you'll find the "old fly" in the middle of the pail of milk - being very gay - in fact almost yodeling! Can't you hear? Belle"
Item 3: Herbert Jacoby: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, 1963 January 29: Herbert Jacoby was the owner of the Blue Angel Night Club on East 54th Street, one of the chicest clubs in Manhattan. Pearl Bailey was first seen after Harlem in the Blue Angel. Harry Belafonte got his big break at the Blue Angel. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Herbert Jacoby: Photograph; 8 x 9.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Herbert Jacoby in a dark suit and a light-colored shirt standing in front of a white mesh and partial fabric background. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of a gentleman kneeling beside a chair with his arm around an African American woman seated in the chair. Both are smiling and looking at the camera.
Item 6: Phyllis Diller: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Publicity shot of Phyllis Diller in fur shawl by General Artists Corporation. Diller wrote: "Mon Chere - Jimmie xxx" and signed her name across the lower left half of picture. Diller played at a small club in California and was discovered at the Bon Soir.
Item 7: Phyllis Diller: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Publicity shot of Phyllis Diller by General Artists Corporation. Diller wrote: "Phyllis thinks Jimmie is the greatest!!!, Love Phyllis."
Item 8: Phyllis Diller: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Signed publicity short of Phyllis Diller in a light colored silk or satin dress with pearls and white gloves. The front reads: "But James - Of Course!!!, Phyllis." Photograph by General Artists Corporation.
Item 9: Photograph; 4.6 x 3.5 inches, black and white: Unidentified African American woman looks up into camera with an open book and cigarette in hand.
Item 10: Alice Ghostley: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Alice Ghostly was discovered at Bon Soir and became a fixture of the place. She used to have an accompanist, G. Wood, who would write most of her material. Inscribed: "For my dear Jimmy whom I dearly love (who?) you don't know how great the pleasure working with you. Love Alice."
Item 11: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified group with Jimmy Daniels standing slightly stooped over and smiling. Possibly taken in Daniel's club.
Item 12: Photograph; 5.75 by 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Len Hanna with two young men.

Folder 4

Item 1: Photograph; 6 x 4 inches, black and white, undated: White man with bowtie sits posed on chair under two framed paintings in a dimly lit room in Jimmy Daniels' townhouse.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.8 x 6 inches, black and white: White man with bowtie sits posed on chair under two framed paintings in a dimly lit room in Jimmy Daniels' townhouse.
Item 3: Photograph; 4 x 6 inches, black and white, undated: White man with bowtie sits posed on chair under two framed paintings in a dimly lit room in Jimmy Daniels' townhouse.
Item 4: Richmond Barthe: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Richmond Barthe posed with a cigarette in front of his sculpture Stevedore. Photograph by William Kahn.
Item 5: Ona Munsen: Portrait; 7.5 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Ona Munsen with an inscription that reads: "To Jimmy, My Special favorite always, Ona"
Item 6: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 6.75 x 5.75 inches, black and white, undated: Edna Thomas seated in a chair looking towards the left with a set of stacked books on a table in the background. The back of the photograph has the following written on it upside down: "Car Insurances Payment a chicken for Edna."
Item 7: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Edna Thomas sitting and holding her hair with her eyes closed and turned away from the camera.

Folder 5

Item 1: Katherine Cornell: Portrait; 7.75 x 8.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Katherine Cornell seated with her hands in her lap. Dressed in a black v-neck dress with a strand of pearls. She lived on the Hudson. In the 1940s she was on Broadway in "Dishonored Lady" and Daniels had a walk-on part in her show. The front reads: "To Jimmy with best wishes always. Katherine Cornell". Photograph by Vandamm(y).
Item 2: Photograph; 5.5 x 3.55 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an African American women posed standing against a wall with her left hand on her hip and her right hand resting on her left shoulder smiling.

Folder 6

Item 1: Bricktop: Photograph; 7 x 9 inches, undated: Photograph of Bricktop . She was always known for her red hair; that's the reason she was called Brick Top [sic]. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Tallula Bankhead: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Bankhead in black frock and hat with feathers. She is turned all the way to the left.
Item 3: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.75 x 8 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Blanche Dunn posed in a light colored chair in Daniels' dimly lit living room. Her hands are crossed in her lap and her head faces the left away from the camera. She is wearing a necklace designed by Millicent Rogers that is 24K gold.
Item 4: Photograph; 4.75 x 6.0 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels sitting at Bon Soir having a drink with an African American woman. The two are smiling and the woman has Daniels' chin in between her thumb and index finger.
Item 5: Mabel Mercer: Portrait; 7.6 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Headshot of Mercer in a dark v-neck dress and pendant necklace around her neck. Photograph by Marcus (last name not fully visible).
Item 6: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels seated in a booth with Marian Bruce and Jimmy Wright surrounded by two unidentified men having a drink, laughing, and talking.

Folder 7

Item 1: Lotte Lenya: Photograph; 7 x 10 inches, black and white, 1962 February 13: Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels standing behind a table with four guests. From left to right: Charlotte Ray, who appeared at Bon Soir and who had a TV show for several years; Lee Goodman, who was part of Kirkwood and Goodman; and Jimmy Kirkwood. Jimmy Kirkwood wrote "Chorus Line" and "P.S. Your Cat is Dead." Jimmy Daniels is standing in the back, behind Nancy Walker. Photograph was taken at the Bon Soir.
Item 3: Photograph; 10 x 7.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Josh Logan, Helen Hayes, Edna Thomas, and Sherrill Crawford at a restaurant. Photogrtaph by Friedman-Engeler.
Item 4: Rex Madsen: Photograph; 4.55 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Rex Madsen with left hand on his knee and looking downward to his right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Photograph; 4.5 x 1.25 inches, black and white, undated: A strip of three separate photos. Photographs of a white male and two women. The women on the right appears to be Lotte Lenya.
Item 6: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 4.75 x 6.75 inches, black and white, undated: Jimmy Daniels seated at the table with three others, two white men and a woman. The men are all smiling at the camera, but the woman's eyes are closed. Mirrors and a painting of piano keys being played is directly behind them on the wall.

Folder 8

Item 1: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Young lady posed with her eyes closed and head slightly bowed. She is seated on the floor and has her bent arm on the edge of the bed.
Item 2: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified woman seated on the floor looking diagonal and with her arm in her lap and the other hanging off the bed.
Item 3: Bryher: Portrait, 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of the lesbian writer, Bryher (Annie Winifred Ellerman). She married Kenneth MacPherson and they were great for making up off-scenes, not dirty, but small-type scenes for the underground people in the United States and in Europe. Her father was the richest man that England had ever known. I believe his name was Edelson [sic] in the shippping business. She is also famous for lots of books. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Blonde woman dressed in white seated in the middle of a booth having drinks and a conversation with two gentlemen. Photograph includes name of Thomas D. Sanford on verso.
Item 5: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: A photograph of Jimmy Daniels seated with Van Johnson and Rosalind Russell at the Bon Soir.
Item 6: Photograph; 8.75 x 7.75 inches, black and white, undated: A photograph of Jimmy Daniels seated with Van Johnson and Rosalind Russell at the Bon Soir.
Item 7: Postcard; 5 x 7.25 inches, black and white, 1972: A postcard of thanks sent to Jimmy Daniels by Dan (Smith?) with a picture of Martha Graham doing a dance step, titled "Martha Graham-Letter to the World." Photograph by Barbara Morgan, 1940.
Item 8: Signed photograph of The Three Riffs; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Signed photograph of The Three Riffs given to Jimmy Daniels. They played at the "Bon Soir" and were a very popular team.

Folder 9

Item 1: Olivia Wyndam: Photograph; 7.5 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Olivia Wyndam. She went with Edna Thomas for years and she was the niece of "The Three Graces" by Sergeant that hangs in the Metropolitan Museum in New York. The family had a large castle in England. Inscribed "To my darling Brother. O." Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Photographs; 4.55 x 1.25 inches, black and white, undated: A strip of three photographs of members of a family seated on a low wall with foliage behind them.
Item 3: Rose Murphy: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of Rose Murphy, a Decca recording artist. Photograph by Bruno of Hollywood.
Item 4: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an older Daniels, who is sharing drinks at a club with three others. Photo taken at small club on 9th Street in Greenwich Village where Jimmy appeared at, but it didn't last very long. The other man in the photo is John Whyte, the owner of the Yacht Club at Fire Island Pines. On his right is Mabel Mercer.
Item 5: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of a townhouse owned by Jimmy Daniels in Greenwich Village in the 1950s.
Item 6: Photograph; 6.75 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Jimmy Daniels having a drink with young blonde woman, last name possibly Merryweather, from England. She was a friend of Sara Churchill.
Item 7: Photograph; 3.5 x 5.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of the interior view of Daniels living room in his townhouse.

Folder 10

Item 1: Souvenir Photograph Frame; 8.5 x 6.5 inches, undated: Paper souvenir photograph holder stamped for use at Jack's Place in New York City. Bernat Press.

Folder 11

Item 1: Photograph; 5.125 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Two white men sitting on a couch with Daniels (sitting on the right). They seem to be in a home library. The man in the middle is looking at Daniels and the other man is looking down.
Item 2: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.65 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a striped blouse with a cigarette in her right hand and her left hand on her hip looking up.
Item 3: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.6 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas wearing a shiny striped blouse. Her head is tilted and she is looking to the left. There is a diagonal square around her head, which may or not be original.
Item 4: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph by Edna Thomas in a striped tunic standing against a wall beside a fabric wall hanging looking off to the right.
Item 5: Photograph; 9.6 x 6.75 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels stands by a piano cupping his right ear with his right hand as he listens to Norene Tate playing piano, likely at the Bon Soir. Photograph by Talbot.
Item 6: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, 1946 January: A signed photograph from Daniels for Edward. The photograph shows Daniels performing on stage accompanied by two pianists, Garland Wilson (left) and Eddie Steele.
Item 7: Photograph; 10 x 7.75 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels is sitting with a group of others drinking and conversing at an event. Photograph by Ted Yates, Indepedent Press Service.
Item 8: Photograph; 5.35 x 3.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of the interior view of Daniels' living room.

Folder 12

Item 1: Carol Boyd: Photograph; 2.45 x 4 inches, black and white, 1930 June: Back Reads: "June '30 Carol Boyd, Pianist"
Item 2: Photograph; 9.6 x 6.75 inches, undated: Photograph of a party. Jimmy Daniels is holding a cake at the far right of the photograph. The lady wearing the hat and holding a glass is Edna Thomas. The next woman is Blanche Dunn. Just below Daniels is Len Hanna of Cleveland.
Item 3: Pearl Bailey: Portrait; 7.5 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of Pearl Bailey inscribed to Jimmy Daniels: "To Jimmy. My landlord. My own dear friend - I love you. Pearl". Bailey is pictured in a dark dress with a padded white background. Photograph by Seawell-Paul A. Hesse Studios.
Item 4: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: A close-up photograph of Daniels pictured with Joe Louis and two other African American men. One of the other men is his manager. Photograph by M. Smith.
Item 5: Photograph; 9.9 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels with Joe Louis and two other African American men. Photograph by M. Smith.
Item 6: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.6 inches, black and white, circa 1920s: Photograph of Blanche Dunn. Dunn is pictured in a dark floral print dress looking down and to the right. The backdrop for the photograph is a light blank wall.
Item 7: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 6.75 x 8.5 inches, black and white, circa 1920s: A photograph of Blanche Dunn dressed in a dark off the shoulder dress and dark shawl with an elegant necklace and unswept hair. The picture is taken in a dimly lit room. Photograph by George Platt Lynes.
Item 8: Photograph; 5 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Interior view of Daniels' living room to the right of fireplace.
Item 9: Photograph; 5 x 4 inches, black and white, undated: Interior view of Daniels' living room.

Folder 13

Item 1: Marian Bruce: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Signed portrait to Daniels from Marian Bruce: "To Jimmy - with adulation and deep appreciation for your kindess. Fondly, Marian B." Bruce was a singer in night clubs who later married Dr. Logan in Harlem. Photograph by Bruno of Hollywood.
Item 2: Phil Black: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, 1949: A signed collage of photos of Phil Black, female impersonator. Every Thanksgiving he would host a drag ball at his night club in Harlem. According to Rex Madsen, drag balls were legal on Thanksgiving and the police could not arrest them. Phil Black was also famous for his clothes. Photograph by Moss Photo.
Item 3: Alice Ghostly: Photograph; 3.5 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Alice Ghostley camping at her Gay Street apartment. She is in dark suit with a wreath on her head posed under a mask of a cat hung on door.
Item 4: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified lady smiling in sweater and black hat.
Item 5: Photograph; 8.5 x 7.5 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified African American man looking up with coat on and blurred trees in the background.

Folder 14

Item 1: Photograph: 8 x 10 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels sitting backwards in a chair looking directly into the camera. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Photograph: 8 x 10 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels sitting backwards in a chair looking to the left. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Photograph: 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels sitting backwards in a chair looking to the right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Photograph; 9.75 x 7.75 inches, black and white, undated: Jimmy Daniels with Alex Fogarty, a pianist and song writer in Manhattan.
Item 5: Jimmy Daniels: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Headshot of Daniels in a pin stripe suit and his head tilted. Photograph by Robert McAfree.
Item 6: Photograph; 2.5 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels in a dark short sleeve shirt and pants standing by and holding onto a tree.

Folder 15

Item 1: Photograph; 4.4 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Unidentified middle aged white woman lounges on pillows in a sequined dress holding a rose and cirgarette in her right hand and propping her head with her left hand.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young African American woman smelling magnolia flowers.
Item 3: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young African American woman smelling magnolia flowers.
Item 4: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.8 inches, black and white, undated: Young African American woman is wearing sweater and black hat tilted to the side with her right index finger resting on her chin. She is looking away from the camera to the right and at an angle.
Item 5: Photograph; 3 x 5.25 inches, black and white, undated: A young Jimmy Daniels posed with two other men shaking hands under trees.
Item 6: Billie Dee Williams: Portrait; 7 x 9.5 inches, black and white, 1963 September 29: Photograph of Billie Dee Williams in a white t-shirt and dark pants looking to the camera. The back reads: "Bille Dee Williams in a Taste of Honey." Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 7: Billie Dee Williams: Portrait; 7.9 x 9.9 inches, black and white, 1963 January 29: Photograph of Bille Dee Williams in light colored long sleeve shirt with dark pants. His right elbow rests upon the respective knee with his fist against his chin and mouth. Back reads: "Billie Dee Williams in Tiger, Tiger." Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 16

Item 1: John Butler: Photograph; 3.6 x 4.4 inches, black and white, undated: Butler, a dancer and choreographer, with embroidered hat pulls at his collar with both hands and look down at the floor to his left.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.4 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of unidentified young man who is seated with a dark outfit on with a light striped shirt on underneath. The man is pictured in front of a bust smiling downwards towards the floor.
Item 3: Photograph; 7 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels in a military uniform receiving a carton of milk from an unidentified woman in a striped dress. At the USO in New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Photograph; 7.25 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels and others in uniform gathered around a table with Edna Thomas looking at them. At the USO in New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Photograph; 3.5 x 5.5 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels in a military uniform receiving a carton of milk from an unidentified woman in a striped dress. At the USO in New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 6: Photograph; 6.75 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels and others in uniform gathered around a table with Edna Thomas. At the USO in New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 7: Marco Carson: Photograph; 6 x 3.8 inches, black and white, undated: Marco Carson sits in a lounger in a patio area at his country house in Strawberry Hill, New Jersey. Carson worked for Vogue Magazine and many other magazines as a food editor. He has dark hair and is wearing a sweater with dark cuffs and collar.
Item 8: Elisabeth Welch: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, 1946 June 12: Photograph of Elisabeth Welch, an entertainer from London, in a dark dress with white open blossom earrings. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 9: Elisabeth Welch: Portrait; 6 x 8 inches, black and white, 1946 June 12: Photograph of Elisabeth Welch, an entertainer from London, in a dark dress with white open blossom earrings. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 10: Diana Sands: Portrait; 7.125 x 9.6 inches, black and white, 1963 January 29: Photograph of Diana Sands standing in front of light color fabric curtain with hands on hips looking off to the right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 11: Diana Sands: Portrait; 7.5 x 9.5 inches, black and white, 1963 January 29: Photograph of Diana sands standing in front of light color fabric curtain with hands on hips looking off to the right. Sands is wearing dark boots, pants, and a reddish leather belt and blouse. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 12: Rex Madsen: Photograph; 4.6 x 6.6 inches, 1949 March 26: Rex Madsen in blazer, dark tie, and white hankerchief and shirt with head tilted. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 13: Rex Madsen: Photograph; 4.6 x 6.8 inches, black and white, 1949 March 26: Photograph of Rex Madsen seated facing the right amid a backdrop of textiles. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 17

Item 1: Photograph; 4.5 x 2.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of young Jimmy Daniels and three other African American men. The first man on the left is facing away from the camera and squatting, while Jimmy Daniels and the other men squat forming a line by sitting on the thigh of the man behind them and looking towards to camera.
Item 2: Joe Louis: Photograph; 6.55 x 9.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Joe Louis taking his shirt off in a boat at his training camp in upstate New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Pearl Bailey: Photograph; 6.75 x 10 inches, black and white, 1946 July 5: Photograph of Pearl Bailey in character. The back reads: "Pearl Bailey: St. Louis Woman." Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Daniel eating with two men at a booth, one African American and one white man. The wall is wallpapered with musical scores and publicity shots of various entertainers.

Folder 18

Item 1: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a white man and woman taken as they recline on some pillows. The woman has her left hand resting on her head and her right resting on the gentleman's shoulder.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.2 x 3.3 inches, color, undated: Photograph of an older white woman with gray hair in a multi-colored floor length gown standing by a vase of white flowers that rests on a bookcase in front of a window.
Item 3: Pearl Bailey: Portrait Transparency; 6.8 x 8.8 inches, color, 1950: Pearl Bailey in New York. According the Rex Madsen, she had been appearing at the Greenwich Village Inn. Transparency of Pearl Bailey in light colored evening gown with a necklace.
Item 4: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Crowd scene, likely from the opening of something in Harlem. Second man on left is Lloyd Thomas, Edna Thomas' husband, Kenneth MacPherson is in the center, and Jimmy Daniels in on the right.

Folder 19

Item 1: Edna Thomas: Portrait; 5.75 x 6.8 inches, black and white, 1948 March 8: Photograph of Edna Thomas as the Flower Lady in Tennesse Williams' Streetcar Named Desire with her head draped and wearing mourning clothes with flowers in her hand. The front reads: "Flores los muertos Terrible! Edna" (Flowers of the Dead, Terrible, Edna). Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Edna Thomas: Portrait, 7.3 x 9.3 inches, black and white, 1948 March 8: Photograph of Edna Thomas with her head draped and wearing mourning clothes with flowers in her hand. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.5 x 8.8 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels in near darkness with his body facing right, but his face looking towards the camera. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.6 x 8.75 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels in near darkness with his body facing right, but his face looking to the left. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Photograph; 6.75 x 8.75 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of young African American man with textured shirt looking down to the left. Picture is in near darkness. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 6: Photograph; 6.75 x 8.75 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of a young African American man wearing a textured shirt and leaning back, looking into the camera, but not smiling. The man is posed in front of a speckled backdrop. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 7: Photograph; 6.6 x 8.75 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of a young African American man wearing a textured shirt and leaning back, looking down and to the left. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 8: Jimmy Daniels: Portrait; 6.6 x 8.25 inches, black and white (2 copies), 1933 June 26: Photograph of Daniels facing the left in front of a floral fabric background. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 9: Photograph; 4.2 x 5.4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a white man seated in chair in front of ornate drapes and beside ornate candelabra. He appears in other photos in the collection as well. He has pinky rings on both hands and has dark hair and eyes.
Item 10: Postcard; 4.25 x 6 inches, black and white, 1980 June 4: Postcard is addressed to Harry Watkins of 626 Riverside Dr. in New York City. The postcard is dated June 4, 1980. The photo on the postcard of Adele and Fred Astaire is dated 1926. Photograph by Nickolas Muray.

Folder 20

Item 1: Aileen Cook: Portrait; 7.8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of Aileen Cook that she signed for Jimmy Daniels in the top left corner. Photograph by Bruno of Hollywood.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 7.8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels without his shirt and standing along side of a bust of Daniels by Richmond Barthe. Daniels is facing off to his right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 7.75 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels without his shirt and standing along side of a bust of Daniels by Richmond Barthe. Daniels is facing the bust. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Photograph; 7.5 x 9.55 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of young unidentified blonde woman in white evening dress with dark polish on nails. Photograph by Madame Yevonde.

Folder 21

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 8.75 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels standing posed and looking off to the left and dressed a dark robe, a long striped tunic, sash, and cap.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels wearing an embroidered cap looking to the left not smiling.

Folder 22

Item 1: Photograph; 8.125 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Movie still from "Bus Stop" with Marilyn Monroe. The still is numbered 939-66.
Item 2: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Movie still from "Bus Stop" with Marilyn Monroe. The still is numbered 939-182.
Item 3: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.8 x 9 inches, black and white, 1934 January 9: Photograph of Daniels seated in chair with tuxedo on and hands clasped in his lap. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Karen Chandler: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Signed portrait of Karen Chandler, a nightclub singer and TV personality. Photograph by Kerr.

Folder 23

Item 1: Photograph; 7.5 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photo of young white man wearing a striped shirt with the first three buttons open against a black background.

Folder 24

Item 1: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, 1950s: Cardinalle Brothers and Katharine Cornell in the basement entertainment room of the Delsomma Restaurant on West 47th Street in New York. Photograph by Tomas Photographers.
Item 2: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 7.5 x 9.75 inches, black and white, circa 1930s: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a dark dress with buttons on the sleeve and an embroidered collar. Thomas is posed sitting in a chair backwards with her elbow propped on the chair's back and holding the side of her face in her right hand. Photograph by Stella S. Simon.
Item 3: Photograph; 9.9 x 8.125 inches, black and white, undated: From left to right are: May Barnes, who used to be at the Bon Soir as a tap-dancer and singer; Mabel Mercer, and Bricktop. Photograph was taken in Jimmy Daniel's apartment on West 22nd Street in Manhattan.
Item 4: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photo of an older Daniels with Bricktop, Roy Wilkins, and his wife. Numbers on the back may indicate that it was taken in 1977. Photograph was taken in Jimmy Daniel's apartment on West 22nd Street in Manhattan.
Item 5: Photograph; 8.125 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of May Barnes, Mabel Mercer, and Bricktop seated at Jimmy Daniels' party.
Item 6: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of May Barnes, Mabel Mercer, and Bricktop seated at Jimmy Daniels' party.
Item 7: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels with Bricktop, Roy Wilkins and his wife at his party.
Item 8: Photograph; 9.8 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Wilkins and Bricktop. Wilkins has his arm around her shoulder.
Item 9: Photograph; 9.8 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: A candid shot of Bricktop and Roy Wilkins caught in conversation at Daniels' party.
Item 10: Photograph; 9.8 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Roy Wilkins and his wife at Daniels' party.
Item 11: Joan Shaw: Portrait; 8 x 9.9 inches, black and white, undated: Publicity photo of Joan Shaw, an MCA recroding artist. Photo is signed: "To Jimmyie, the greatest guy I know, Love Always Joanie." Shaw used to sing at the Bon Soir. Photograph by James J. Hegsman.

Folder 25

Item 1: Photograph; 7 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Daniels is pictured seated with two other African American men at a table. The man to the far right has a hankerchief, glasses, and a bowtie, while the man in the middle has on a pinstripe suit and holds a cigarette in his left hand while holding the side of Daniels head with his right hand. A mirror is in the background.

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