National Association of Negro Musicians: Youth Division Newsletter, 1979, 1981

This series of files contains materials that document Ellis’ educational and professional career. Early records include material from Ellis’ music theory classes at the University of Michigan (1937), including sheet music and songbooks. Additional content includes newspaper clippings (1938-1949) describing Ellis’ work as director of the first Negro Music Festival in Johnson City, Tennessee; and diplomas, certificates, other memorabilia, and graduation programs from Langston High School (1924) and Fisk University (1929). Ellis’ university work as a master’s and Ph.D. student at Indiana University is documented through her notebooks, essays, and examination documents (1942-1963). Letters regarding performances (1954-1956), letters of recommendations (1956), and musicology notations are also included. There are copies of Ellis’ writings within the collection, including her dissertation from Indiana University. The papers also contain Ellis’ exam notes, music recital programs (1950-1966), as well as correspondence from the Graduate Center at Indiana University (1957-1959).

Other materials include Ellis’ work as an associate professor at Federal City College Department of Music (1971); programs for performed concerts at the National Presbyterian Church, Washington, D.C. (1976-1981); and programs and award certificates for Ellis’ students’ music recitals at the D.C. Music Center (1982-1988). These files also include correspondence with Ellis’ professional associations such as the American Association of University Women, MU Phi Epsilon, and the National Association of Negro Musicians in Washington, D.C. (1980-1982).

Of interest are collected ephemera; collected programs; and news clippings of Ellis’ performances in New York, as well as four newsletters of the American Association of University Women’s Washington Branch (1974-1976). Programs of note include the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. 42nd Annual Convention on August 8-13, 1965, at the Statler Hilton Hotel, Washington, D.C. and the 62nd Annual Convention on August 9-14, 1981 in Los Angeles, California. The papers also include the by-laws of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc; Ellis’ correspondence with the Washington Fisk Club of the Fisk University Alumni Association (1980-1984); pamphlets about the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University; and a Harvard Summer School newsletter, dated July 14, 1941.