The Judy Chaikin Collection was gifted to the UMKC University Libraries by Chaikin in October 2016. The collection contains materials related to the creation and production of Chaikin’s 2011 documentary film, The Girls in the Band. The film tells the story of female jazz musicians, from the genre’s inception to contemporary times, detailing prominent figures and the struggles they faced competing in a male-dominated world.

Among the collection, there are biographical notes on musicians, interview transcripts, correspondence, general research information, newspaper and periodical clippings, logistical information, photographs, and books. The materials cover a wide array of topics and, in some cases, a time span of over sixty years (newspaper clippings, for example). As Chaikin is an established filmmaker, and this documentary has been well-received, this collection is a useful resource in the planning, preparation, research, correspondence, and logistics involved in creating a successful independent documentary film.

The audiovisual materials contain all of the raw footage and edits that were used for Judy Chaikin's film "The Girls in the Band."