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Dave E. Dexter Jr. Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0021

Scope and Contents

The Dave E. Dexter, Jr. Collection was gifted to the UMKC Libraries by Dave Dexter prior to his death in 1990.

Housed in LaBudde Special Collections, the manuscripts collection includes correspondence, writings and photographs. Dexter's correspondence with Capitol Record executives and other individuals provide pertinent information concerning the recording industry. His prolific writings are reflected in numerous formats from record liner notes to typed drafts and published works, among them Downbeat and Metronome magazines and three important books on jazz: Jazz Cavalcade, The Jazz Story, and the autobiographical Playback. In addition, there are over 2000 photographs, including numerous publicity and promotional shots issued by Captiol Records. The collection is especially valuable for the research of the early history of the record industry during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as the development of jazz and popular music.

Housed in the Marr Sound Archives, the audiovisual materials consist of radio programs, interviews, test pressings, and reference recordings from Dave Dexter's career, including an interview of Dexter by Chuck Haddix. Vinyl LPs from the collection are searchable in the UMKC Libraries catalog. Cataloged Sound Recordings from the Dave Dexter Collection

Dates

  • 1926 - 1988

Creator

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status is unknown.

Extent

16 Linear Feet (LaBudde: 3 manuscript boxes, 48 photo boxes.)

0.5 Linear Feet (Marr: 46 grooved discs, 8 CD-Rs, 3 open reel audiotapes.)

Language of Materials

English

Author
LaBudde: Teresa L. Gipson, Robert C. Ray (supervising archivist). Marr: Helena Collins-Gravitt.
Date
LaBudde: December 2003. Marr: 2019.
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Special Collections and Archives Repository