Ellis Marsalis, Sr. papers

The Ellis Marsalis, Sr. papers document the career of a prominent New Orleans businessman and jazz patriarch, who committed his life to community development and civil rights by providing services to African Americans through his gas station and motel, as well as promoting the power of electoral politics to drive change in his community through voter registration. The papers encompass 1.25 linear feet of photographs, limited correspondence, news clippings, motel memorabilia, awards, and ephemera, as well as a transcription of an oral history interview with Marsalis, Sr. by Dr. Lawrence Powell from the Tulane University History Department.

The strongest aspect of the papers is the large number of photographs from Marsalis' personal life, St. James A.M.E. Church, the Esso Station, Marsalis' Motel, and a Nationwide Hotel Association conference in 1964. These photographs capture Marsalis' investment in the community and the success of his business enterprises. Besides Marsalis, Sr., other personages shown in photographs include family members, Congressman John Conyers from Michigan, Fats Domino, Jayce Pascal, Marca Smith, Reverand Gerald L. Hayden, Shirley Mae Brown, Nancy Ann Herbert, Ray Charles, Spencer Williams, Maris Jeff, Alvin Chidress, Laverne Baker, Ruth Brown, Armand and Veronica Boutte, Billy Williams, Moss Kendrix, Reverend Heyden, Cornelius Ditts, Antonia Barry, and Harry Guess.

While the non-photographic materials introduce important achievements in the life of Ellis L. Marsalis, Sr., they are limited in scope. The papers include a strong oral history interview and many certificates and awards that Marsalis, Sr. received from community and national organizations, but there are limited materials accompanying the awards to elucidate upon his achievements. For instance, while the oral history interview discusses his commitment to voter registration, the papers do not adequately document the Booster Club that he founded to assist with this effort. Furthermore, certificates illustrate his commitment to the Dryades Street Y.M.C.A. and one item of correspondence congratulates Marsalis, Sr. for becoming President of the Nationwide Hotel Association, but little is discussed in the papers or shown in the large number of photographs. Moreover, the papers do little to demonstrate Marsalis' commitment to the local Republican Party.