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 2

Folder 1

Item 1: Photograph; 7.75 x 6 inches, black and white, circa 1950s: Photograph of Pearl Bailey and her husband Louis Bellson taken in London when they married in the 1950s. The two were married in Paris because his father did not want them to get married in America. The couple lived in an apartment on the second floor of Jimmy Daniels' town house in Greenwich Village. When they moved out, Mildred Bailey, a famous singer that sang with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra moved in. Photograph by Associated Press Ltd. (London).
Item 2: Photograph; 8 x 5.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels seated in a booth and having drinks with Kenneth MacPherson and Blanche Dunn.
Item 3: Photograph; 6.75 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels seated with Len Hanna and possibly Hanna's sister. All are smiling as they look into the camera.

Folder 2

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 5.6 x 6.6 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph of Daniels without a shirt and wearing a large beaded necklace. His arms are outstretched and he is not smiling. The photo is taken against a dark background. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Jimmy Wright: photograph; 6.5 x 9 inches, black and white, 1933 June 26: Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Photograph; 8 x 6.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels standing with Charlotte Ray and Henny Youngman at the Bon Soir. Photograph by Tiger Haynes.

Folder 3

Item 1: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of a young Marlon Brando holding the hand of Edna Thomas in the door of a trailer on the set of "Streetcar Named Desire."
Item 2: Photograph; 4 x 5.1 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young Marlon Brando holding the hand of Edna Thomas in the door of a trailer on the set of "Streetcar Named Desire."
Item 3: Photograph; 3.25 x 5.6 inches, black and white, 1945 March: Photograph of unidentified woman, possibly Edna Thomas, on Erhel Sissle's lawn in Los Angeles in 1945.
Item 4: Jimmy Wright: photograph; 2.4 x 4 inches, black and white, 1930 June: Photograph of Wright standing with his foot against a building in a suit and hat with his hands in his pockets.

Folder 4

Item 1: Photograph; 7.25 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Small's Paradise in Harlem. From left to right are pianist Garland Wilson, Jimmy Daniels, pianist Dorothy Donegan, Rex Madsen, and Kelsey Pharr of the Delta Ribbon Boys and husband of Mabel Mercer.
Item 2: Photograph; 6.75 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels singing in a crowded ballroom in front of a band, possibly on a transatlantic voyage.
Item 3: Photograph; 6.75 x 4.75 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Daniels singing in a crowded ballroom in front of a band, possibly on a transatlantic voyage.
Item 4: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Blanche Dunn with a floral dress on and flowers in her lap with her eyes closed and downward.
Item 5: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Blanche Dunn with her hand behind a vase of flowers and wearing a floral dress smiling and looking away from the camera to the right.
Item 6: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Blanche Dunn sitting near a vase of flowers and looking downward to her right.
Item 7: Photograph; 4 x 2.4 inches, black and white, 1930 June: Photograph of four African American men. From left to right: Jimmy Daniels, Carol Boyd, and two unidentified men.

Folder 5

Item 1: Photograph; 6.5 x 3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph taken of a diverse crowd of people possibly on the ferry boat that went across the Hudson River from the train station in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Manhattan.
Item 2: Photograph; 7 x 5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels seated with Marian Bruce, and three unidentified individuals (two men and a woman). Daniels is on the left wearing a huge white furry hat. The group is seated in a booth at the Bon Soir.
Item 3: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 3.5 x 4.8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Blanche Dunn wearing a black dress and jeweled clip at the collar. She seems to be seated against a woven couch or settee.
Item 4: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.25 inches, black and white (3 copies), undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels holding Elisabeth Welch in his arms in a mock embrace. Both are looking at each other.
Item 5: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels holding Elisabeth Welch in his arms in a mock embrace. She is looking up. The flower, Welch's lips, and Daniels watch ring and shirt are all hand-painted pink.
Item 6: Photograph; 4.8 x 3.3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels holding Elisabeth Welch in his lap. Daniels is holding a flower in his left hand and gazing down at her smiling. She is looking up at him smiling with a finger on her chin and her legs crossed.
Item 7: Oliver Messel: Photograph; 4.4 x 6 inches, black and white, 1949: Oliver Messel probably in Barbados. He had a house there. He was a famous set designer and costume designer for the theatre, mostly in London, but some in New York. He was also the uncle of the Earl of Snowdon, who married Princess Margaret. The front reads: "To Jimmy, Love Oliver 1949."

Folder 6

Item 1: Program Card: Bon Soir Club, 4.3 x 3.5 inches, undated
Item 2: Announcement Card: Mabel Mercer engagement, circa 1920s: An announcement for Mabel Mercer to appear at Jimmy Daniels' night club on 116th Street in the 1920s.
Item 3: Postcard: Clover Leaf Bar and Cabaret, Small's Paradise, undated: Postcard with a collage of interior and exterior views of Small's Paradise and Clover Leaf Bar and Cabaret in New York City. The postcard has a message typed on the back and a handwritten phrase, "I'm allergic to Lonliness [sic]."

Folder 7

Item 1: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 3.25 x 5.7 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a black shirt and a light colored tie.
Item 2: Postcard; 3.25 x 5.4 inches, black and white, 1955: Postcard sent from Carl Van Vechten to Edna Thomas and Olivia Wyndham that comments on the wedding of Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade. Pictured on the front are De Lavallade and Holder in their wedding attire, along with Carl Van Vechten and his wife, Fania Marinoff.
Item 3: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 2.5 x 4 inches, black and white, 1926: Daniels is wearing a light colored suit and is holding a hat in his hand. A car is driving by in the background of the photograph.
Item 4: Photograph; 5.125 x 3.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels and a man, possibly Louis Bellson, staring intently at each other without shirts on and in front of a fabric backdrop.
Item 5: Ethel Waters: Postcard; 3.5 x 5.45 inches, black and white, 1939: Postcard has a photograph of Ethel Waters as Hagar in Mamba's Daughters. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 8

Item 1: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 3.25 x 4.6 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas smiling in a dark blouse against a plaid fabric background. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 2: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 7.75 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas smiling in a dark blouse against a plaid fabric background. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 3: Photograph; 4.55 x 2.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels and four other people at the beach posing for picture. The back reads: "Ends, Jimmie Daniels and Carol Boyd, N.Y.C. Beach." Photograph taken at one of the beaches in New York City. The man at the far right is Carol Boyd, an accompanist with a lot of the top entertainers in New York night clubs between the 1920s and 1960s.
Item 4: Bobby Short: Postcard; 3.5 x 5.4 inches, black and white, 1963 January 30: Photograph postcard with Bobby Short on the front. The back reads: "Bobby for Jimmie with love Carl, January 30, 1963, New York." Bobby Short played piano and sang at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Jimmy Daniels cooking: Photograph; 2.5 x 2.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels preparing a meal in his kitchen on Banks Street, probably a smaller copy of what appeared in the Ebony article, "A Date with a Dish or Kedergee?"
Item 6: Jimmy Daniels cooking: Photograph; 2.85 x 2.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels grating an ingredient into a salad in his kitchen on Banks Street.
Item 7: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas seated with an arm on a light colored table looking up towards the camera with a vase of magnolias on another table beside her. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 8: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas seated with an arm on a light colored table looking up towards the camera with a vase of magnolias on another table beside her. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 9: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas holding an open book on a white table with a cigarette in her right hand. She is seated and looking up towards the camera. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 10: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 9 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas holding an open book on a white table with a cigarette in her right hand. She is seated and looking up towards the camera. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 11: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a dark blouse posed in front of a filled bookcase with a magnolia plant on top. She is looking towards the magnolia at the right. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 12: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a dark blouse with her left hand resting on a book and her right band placed directly on the white table underneath and holding a cigarette as she looks up and off to the right. Photograph by Macdan.
Item 13: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 9 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas seated at a white table wearing a dark blouse. Her left hand is on a book and her right arm is bent at the elbow as she holds a cigarette with her fingers. Photograph by Macdan.

Folder 9

Item 1: Photograph; 6 x 4 inches, black and white, 1950s-1960s: Blurred photograph of three men staring into the cabin of a boat from outside with a flag behind them. From left to right: Len Hanna, Kenneth MacPherson, and Michael Butler.
Item 2: Photograph; 4.3 x 3.7 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Harold Jackman and an unidentified African American woman seated on a couch smoking and conversing.
Item 3: Photograph; 5.3 x 3.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of unidentified African American woman posing and smiling against a white wall.
Item 4: Edna Thomas: photograph; 4.75 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas in a dark shirt looking to the left with her hands resting on her shoulder and her chin resting on her hands.
Item 5: Photograph; 6 x 4 inches, black and white, circa 1940s: Photograph of Daniels cutting a cake on top of a skirted piano to his right. Meanwhile, singer and pianist Noreen Tate sits at the piano to his right and painist Garland Wilson sits at the piano to his left. May Barnes is standing to the left of Daniels and is wearing a sequined dress, corsage, and a pearl necklace. Photograph was taken in the Little Casino on Sullivan Street in Greenwich Village in the late 1940s.

Folder 10

Item 1: Photograph; 5.7 x 3.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a gathering possibly at the home of Edna and Lloyd Thomas at 1890 St. Nicholas Avenue in New York. Left to right: Jimmy Daniels, Olivia Wyndam, unidentified, Edna Thomas, unidentified couple, Blanche Dunn, and Lloyd Thomas.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.6 x 5.3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an unidentified man in a tweed suit and a striped tie. The man has his hands in his pockets and is standing sideways against a wall.
Item 3: Photograph; 5.3 x 3.3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a man seated in a chair with his legs crossed and smiling at the camera. The man's left hand is laying against his neck and there are flowers on the radiator behind him.
Item 4: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.5 x 2.75 inches, black and white, 1920s: Photograph of Blanche Dunn posed by a car looking at the camera with her right foot propped on the vehicle. She is wearing a fur coat , hat, and gloves. There is an unsigned message on the back that reads: "not very good and taken last year but just ran against it in my desk."
Item 5: Blanche Dunn: Photograph; 4.5 x 2.75 inches, black and white, 1920s: Photograph of Blanche Dunn posed by park bench and metal fence. She is wearing a fur coat , hat, and gloves.

Folder 11

Item 2: Tom Tryon: Photograph; 3.55 x 5.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Tom Tryon kneeling down on a towel or blanket on the beach looking at the camera. He was an actor, but better known as an author.
Item 3: Postcard; 5.5 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Postcard with a photograph of Bricktop seated and having drinks and conversing with two unidentified people, one man and one woman. Taken in a nightclub called "Brick Tops" on Via Benneto in the basement.

Folder 12

Item 1: Photograph; 3.5 x 5.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels' sitting room at 109 Banks Street in Greenwich Village. The painting above the mantle is Eugene Berman's portrait of his wife, Ona Munson. The bust in bronze is of Kenneth MacPherson by Richmond Barthe, and the photograph is of A'Lelia Walker, daughter of Madame C.J. Walker.
Item 2: Edna Thomas: Photograph; 3.5 x 5 inches, color, undated: Photograph of Edna Thomas seated in a lawn chair in a coat with a fur collar and wearing a pair of sunglasses. She appears to be on some type of patio or balcony overlooking the beach and the ocean.

Folder 13

Item 1: Elisabeth Welch: Photograph; 9.5 x 7.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Elisabeth Welch with a black and white outfit that is accented with two large metal square pins at each collar. She is also wearing earrings, a bracelet, and rings. She is holding up a lit cigarette with her left hand and has her head tilted to the left looking towards the camera.
Item 2: Photograph; 5.3 x 3.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an unidentified African American woman photographed with a hat and fur stole and a dark dress. She is standing against the corner of a wall by a white lamp. There is a cluster of magnolia blooms hanging on the wall to her right.
Item 3: Photograph; 3.75 x 5.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an unidentified African American woman wearing a hat and a fur stoke and a dark dress. The woman is standing with a white background.

Folder 14

Item 1: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an unidentified young, fair-skinned African American woman wearing a light colored evening gown and a matching sash. The dress is gathered on both sides with a halter top bodice and thin straps. The woman is weating large hoop earrings and silver shows. She is standing with both of her hands on her hips and is looking confidentally into the camera.
Item 2: Photograph; 9.6 x 6.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a group of fifteen people gathered around a table for a meal.
Item 3: Noreen Tate: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Noreen Tate possibly seated at a piano. She is smiling and is photographed in front of a curtain with an overlapping heart and diamond. Photograph stamped "Vogue Studios-Baker" on verso.

Folder 15

Item 1: Photograph; 6 x 8 inches, black and white, 1938: Photograph taken in a restaurant or banquet hall. There are two smiling men holding hands and posing with two ladies seated at two tables side by side. The woman in the middle is Mabel Mercer. The bottom portion of the photograph has inscriptions to Jimmy Daniels, possibly identifying the other individuals as Nonea, Steve, and Tom.

Folder 16

Item 1: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels sitting with a small group wearing leis at a dinner table.
Item 2: Photograph; 8.2 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a tuxedo and a white gentlemen smiling down at an unidentified woman who has her arms around both of their shoulders.

Folder 17

Item 1: Pearl Bailey: Portrait; 6.75 x 4.75 inches, black and white, undated: Publicity photograph of Pearl Bailey in a silk patterned off-the-shoulder dress with a necklace, earrings, and a hat. Photograph by C.J. Advertising.
Item 2: Mabel Mercer: Photograph of Charcoal Sketch 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a charcoal sketch of Mabel Mercer that is attributed on the back to Lisa Rhana.

Folder 18

Item 1: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: A proof of an unidentified African American man with a wool suit on. He has his left hand under his chin and gently resting against his right shoulder. There is a shiny metallic watch showing on his left arm.
Item 2: Maria Eva Isadegna: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Signed photograph of Marie Eva Isadegna, a performer from England. The photograph is signed in French. She is wearing a short sleeve tight colored sweater with large beads around her neck. She is also wearing rings and bracelets on both hands and arms and holding a cigarette in her right hand. Photograph by Robert McAfree.
Item 3: Photograph; 7.4 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels seated sideways in a chair with a dark checkered suit and tie on. He is looking away from the camera to the right. The backdrop of the photo consists of half vertical stripes and half black.
Item 4: Jimmy Daniels: Portrait; 8 x 10 inches, black and white (2 copies), undated: Headshot of Daniels with him leaning into the photo from the left. He is wearing a small print checkered suit, striped shirt, and a dark tie with chain link print. One copy is signed by Daniels: "To Penny with very best wishes." Photograph by Avery Willard, NYC.

Folder 19

Item 1: Gwenn Saunders [?]: Photograph; 7.3 x 9.4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph possibly of Gwenn Saunders wearing large hoop earrings and painted nails in a dark blouse posing with her head, shoulders, and arms just above a piece of curvy tin material. Saunders ran a number of gay bars during the 1950s in New York.
Item 2: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels against white shutters. He is looking downward and to the right. The photograph shows Daniels from the shoulders up wearing a bowties, light-colored shirt, and a sweater under his sports jacket.

Folder 20

Item 1: Tony Benson and Eddie Hodges: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Autographed copy of a publicity shot from Tony Benson and Eddie Hodges.

Folder 21

Item 1: Photograph; 9.95 x 7.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young unidentified white male with dark hair. The man is reclined on a printed sofa and is wearing a dark suit and a light-colored checkered shirt and tie.
Item 2: Photograph; 8.75 x 11.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young unidentified dark haired man standing with his left shoulder against two intricately carved wooden doors. The man is wearing a dark suit and has his right hand in his right pants pocket. The photograph is signed to Daniels with a symbol rather than a name. Back reads: "To Jimmie, your adoring, unsatisfied." Photograph by Vogue Studios - Baker.

Folder 22

Item 1: Bust of Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 2.75 x 7.75 inches, black and white, undated: Trimmed photograph of the bust of Jimmy Daniels, by Richard Barthe.
Item 2: Bust of Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Mounted photograph of the bust of Jimmy Daniels, by Richard Barthe.
Item 3: Bust of Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 7.5 x 9.4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of the bust of Jimmy Daniels, by Richard Barthe.
Item 4: Bust of Booker T. Washington: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of bust by Richmond Barthe.

Folder 23

Item 1: Sculpture "Come Unto Me": Photograph; 6 x 9.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of sculpture by Richmond Barthe.
Item 2: Bust of George Washington Carver: Photograph; 6.6 x 8.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of sculpture of George Washington Carver by Richmond Barthe.
Item 3: Sculpture "Mary": Photograph; 5.4 x 9.1 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of sculpture by Richmond Barthe.
Item 4: Bust entitled "Sermon on the Mount": Photograph; 8 x 9.25 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of bust by Richmond Barthe.

Folder 24

Item 1: Photograph; 7 x 9.4 inches, black and white, 1936 August: Photograph of woman, Lucien Modest (last name unclear). The woman is wearing a floral frilly dress with matching lace hat and parasol. The photograph is signed by the woman in French to Kenneth and is dated August '36 in the bottom lower right corner. The woman's address is on the back of the photograph. Photograph by Art Moderne Photographique. Rex Madsen identifies this photograph as "A drag queen in the south of France...Butch's High Note."
Item 2: Johnny Ray: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Johnny Ray. Photograph may be a publicity shot (numbered 904S24 in the lower right corner).
Item 3: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph in the basement entertainment room of the Delsomma Restaurant. Man second from left is the restaurant owner; gentleman holding a plate of food is possibly Evelyn Williams, an author from Broadway. Photograph by Tomac Photographers.

Folder 25

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white (2 copies), 1963 January 29: Photograph (slightly out of focus) of Daniels wearing a dark suit and a striped tie smiling and looking to the left. There is a hanging piece of mesh material that is hanging just above him on the left of the photograph. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Sketch of a photograph; 7.6 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Sketch of a photograph of Daniels in a pinstriped suit with his right hand resting in the bed of his left arm while his left index finger is resting against his left ear. There is a miniature figurine of a Trojan horse or a zebra in the lower left corner in the foreground.

Folder 26

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6 x 8.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels wearing a black shirt with his eyes closed and a dark background. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.6 x 8.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a dark room with a black shirt on and his eyes open and looking at the camera. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.5 x 8.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a dark room with a black shirt on and his eyes open and looking at the camera. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6.6 x 8.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a dark room with a black shirt on and his eyes open and looking up and to the right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 27

Item 1: Photograph; 7.5 x 10 inches, black and white, 1947 August 5: Photograph of an unidentified man without a shirt on and his arms stretched out sideways. The man is standing in front of a floral print backdrop looking away from the camera to the right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Photograph; 7.75 x 10 inches, black and white, 1947 August 5: Photograph of an unidentified man without a shirt on. The man's arms are at his side and he is looking down and to the right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

Folder 28

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6 x 8 inches, black and white, 1933: Photograph of Daniels taken in London in 1933. Photograph mounted on paperboard. Daniels is wearing a checkered sports jacket and a polka dot tie with a white shirt. He is looking down and to the left. Photograph by Ker-Seymer.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 6 x 8 inches, black and white, 1933: Duplicate of Item 1. Photograph mounted on paperboard and insribed, "For Mother, with best love, Jimmy."

Folder 29

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 5.25 x 3.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a pinstriped suit looking directly into the camera smiling.

Folder 30

Item 1: Jimmy Daniels: Photograph; 5 x 7 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels in a dark pinstriped suit, a dark shirt, a dark tie striped with white, and a hankerchief in his pocket. He is looking into the camera. Photograph by Robert McAfree.
Item 2: Photograph; 3.5 x 3.5 inches, color, undated: Photograph of Nora Holt and unidentified man. Holt is in a green plaid dress, a white blazer, a scarf, and a hat, and is holding hands with the man, who is wearing a peach colored shirt and blue pants.

Folder 31

Item 1: Edna Thomas: Portrait; 2.5 x 2.5 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of a young Edna Thomas wearing a black and white sweater.
Item 2: Photograph; 10 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels sitting at a table in a restaurant with paneled walls. There are two men in gray suits and a woman in a fur coat sitting with Daniels. Photograph by Lou Layne-Pictures
Item 3: Ted Yates: Portrait; 8.25 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Portrait of Ted Yates that is signed for Daniels. The front reads: "To my boy Jimmie Daniels, Believe me... Sincerely yours, Ted Yates."

Folder 32

Item 1: Photograph; 4.25 x 6.5 inches, black and white, circa 1880s-1890s: Cabinet card with an African American woman seated with a young African American girl on the left and a young white girl on the right of the photo. The children both have an X marked above their heads. The cabinet card is damaged and is missing three of its corners. There is some writing on the back, some of which is difficult to read. Back reads: "This is little Edna...Millie...Sarah..." Last names of individuals are unclear. The verso is also stamped "Roxbury, Mass."
Item 2: Photograph; 3.5 x 5 inches, black and white, circa 1880s-1890s: Cabinet card of a young, unidentified African American woman with a sequined trimmed dress. Card is trimmed to produce rounded corners.
Item 3: Photograph; 3.5 x 5 inches, black and white, circa 1880s-1890s: Mounted photograph of an unidentified African American child in a white christening gown.

Folder 33

Item 1: Photograph; 6 x 3.5 inches, black and white, circa 1880s-1890s: Mounted photograph of an African American woman holding a child on the ground of a garden surrounded by a picket fence.
Item 2: Postcard; 2.55 x 3.25 inches, black and white, undated: Postcard photograph of a woman with blonde hair wearing evening gown, white gloves, and a triple strand of pearls. Photograph is cut into a oval shape.
Item 3: Postcard; 3 x 4 inches, black and white, 1900s-1910s: Postcard photograph taken of the side of an older woman wearing white. Photograph is cut into a oval shape. Paper is AZO with four diamonds pointing up.
Item 4: Photograph; 3 x 4 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of an unidentified middle-aged man with a moustache, glasses, and a dark suit and bowtie. Photograph is cut into a oval shape.

Folder 34

Item 1: Photograph; 7.5 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Mounted photograph of an unidentified African American family on the front porch of a house with a white picket fence in front of it. There are two women, a child, and a man in the photograph.

Folder 35

Item 1: Photograph; 3.9 x 5.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young African American woman posed in a wooden chair sitting sideways in front of a landscape backdrop.
Item 2: Photograph; 8.25 x 5.3 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of two unidentified African American men. The younger man is sitting and playing piano and looking away from the older man, who has white hair and perched on the piano smiling at the pianist. Verso is stamped "Sample Reproduction Strand Panel 8 1/2 x 5 1/2", "Original by Fielding, Leeds", and "Repro. by S. Georges".

Folder 36

Item 1: Alberta Hunter: Portrait; 5.5 x 8.5 inches, color, circa 1970s: Photograph by Don Lynn.

Folder 37

Item 1: Tintype: 2.25 x 3.5 inches, black and white, 1870s-1880s: Tintype of two young unidentified girls, one African American and one white. The girls are posed in front of a floral background. The African American girl has her left arm around the other girl's shoulder, who is holding her arm around the girl's waist.

Folder 38

Item 1: Photograph; 2.75 x 4.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Daniels and Langston Hughes seated side by side on a fallen tree trunk reading a book.
Item 2: Photograph; 2.75 x 4.6 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of a young unidentified African American boy standing beside a porch with his right hand on his hip.
Item 3: Photograph; 4.25 x 6.5 inches, black and white, circa 1880s-1890s: Cabinet card with a young African American girl sitting on an ornate chair and looking directly at the camera, not smiling. The girl is wearing a light-colored dress with stockings and shoes. Photograph by Asa A. Brack of San Antonio, Texas. Note: item is fragile.

Folder 39

Item 1: Josh White: Photograph; 7 x 10 inches, black and white, 1946 August 13: Photograph of Josh White playing the guitar and singing with his eyes closed. He is sitting and weating light-colored pants and shirt and there is a fabric backdrop. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 2: Jimmy Daniels: Portrait; 7.5 x 9.5 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Jimmy Daniels without a shirt. He is looking down and to the left, not smiling. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 3: Ethel Waters: Photograph; 7.75 x 9.75 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Ethel Waters smiling in a sleeveless v-necked dress posed in front of a floral fabric backdrop. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 4: Harry Belafonte: Photograph; 7 x 10 inches, black and white, 1954 February 18: Photograph of Harry Belafonte wearing a light-colored shirt and striped pants sitting sideways facing right. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Item 5: Cole Porter: Photograph; 6 x 8 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph by With. Back of photograph has a menu listed.
Item 6: Joe Louis: Photograph; 8 x 10 inches, black and white, undated: Photograph of Joe Louis wearing white shirt. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.

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