Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
1
Descriptive Summary:
Creator: Jules Bledsoe
Title: Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
Inclusive Dates: 1918-1943
Bulk Dates: 1940-1943
Abstract: The Bledsoe (Jules) Collection consists of manuscripts collected
by Jules (Julius) Bledsoe during the course of his musical career.
These papers contain correspondence, diaries, financial papers,
photographs, music, publicity materials, and other printed
materials from his life and work.
Accession #: 2086
Extent: 11.6 linear feet (24 boxes and associated media recordings)
Language: Collection materials are in English, German, and French.
Repository: The Texas Collection, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.
Biographical Note:
Julus Bledsoe was born as Julius Lorenzo Cobb Bledsoe on December 29,
1898, in Waco, Texas. At five years old, he gave his first public vocal performance.
Bledsoe originally wanted to pursue a medical career, but instead began studying
music under Luigi Parisotti. After years of musical study, including degrees from
Bishop College in Marshall, Texas, Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia,
Columbia University in New York City, and time in Paris, France, Bledsoe made his
concert debut in New York City at twenty-three years old.
Bledsoe adopted the stage name “Jules Bledsoe” early in his career, and was
commonly called by that name for the rest of his life. His long literary career
included composing and performing music, acting in plays and operas, and writing
poems. Bledsoe’s work took him around the world, with performances in France,
United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, and back to New York City in vaudeville, radio, and
television.
Bledsoe played in many productions, including “Showboat,” “Aida,” “Emperor
Jones,” “Deep River,” “Abraham’s Bosom,” and others. His signature song was
considered to be “Old Man River,” which he sang in most concerts he gave. Bledsoe
also wrote and performed his own songs and operas, which included folk songs,
spirituals, patriotic songs, and operas.
Jules Bledsoe’s contributions to his art went beyond his musical skill. He was
the first African-American to perform with a United States opera company in
America, in addition to performing in operas around the world. Bledsoe was also
known as a multilingual singer, proficient in English, Italian, French, German, and
Yiddish by 1936.
Jules Bledsoe also owned a resort in New York’s Catskill Mountains open only
to African-Americans. Called “Jessie’s Manna Farms,” it is unknown how much profit
he made from this side business.
During World War II, Jules Bledsoe assisted in the war effort by giving a war
bonds tour around the United States. During one stop in Waco, Texas, his
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
2
performance was so well received by the 2,500 people in attendance that he gave
multiple encores for more than an hour after his show ended.
Jules Bledsoe died on July 14, 1943, in Hollywood, California from a cerebral
hemorrhage. Noted Baylor University scholar and head of the English Department,
Dr. J.A. Armstrong, spoke at his funeral. Jules Bledsoe is buried in Greenwood
Cemetery, Waco, Texas.
Sources:
Cobb, Naomi. [Jules Bledsoe Biography]. Smith-Cobb Family Collection, The Texas
Collection, box 23, folder 10.
Geary, Lynnette. “Bledsoe, Julius Lorenzo Cobb.” Handbook of Texas Online.
http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbl22. Accessed 2
June 2011.
Geary, Lynnette. “Jules Bledsoe: The Original ‘Ol’ Man River.’” The Black Perspective
in Music 17 (1989): 27-54.
Geary, Lynnette. “Jules Bledsoe’s Voice Still Rings.” Waco History Project.
http://wacohistoryproject.org/Moments/bledsoe.html. Accessed 2 June
2011.
“Jules Bledsoe Papers Register.” The Texas Collection.
Scope and Content:
The Bledsoe Papers were acquired by gift in three separate transactions from
private donors beginning in 1973, 1988, and concluding in 1992. The papers begin
in 1918 and conclude in 1943 with Bledsoe’s death. These records include business
and personal correspondence, diaries, financial papers, photographs, and an
extensive collection of music. Many original musical, oratorical, and poetic
compositions by Bledsoe are also present. Also included are such materials as press
releases, programs, repertoire sheets, travel documents, and other mementos which
Bledsoe collected throughout his career both in the United States and in Europe.
Organization and Arrangement:
The Bledsoe Papers are arranged in 8 series: I. Correspondence, II. Financial
Documents, III. Literary Productions, IV. Legal Documents, V. Photographic Material,
VI. Music Manuscripts, VII. Oversize Materials, VIII. Media Recordings. A detailed
listing of Bledsoe’s original music present in the collection is provided in Appendix
A.
Restrictions: The collection is open for research.
Literary Rights Statement: Unpublished materials authored or otherwise
produced by the creator (s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
3
restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown.
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title
17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the
copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially
exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use
rests exclusively with the user.
All requests for copying of materials must be submitted to The Texas
Collection in writing. Please use the Request Form for Copying Materials sheet.
Index Terms:
Bledsoe, Jules, 1898-1943.
African American Entertainers--Europe.
African Americans--Music.
World War, 1939-1945--Civilian Relief.
Singers--Texas--Waco.
Opera Singers--1890-1949.
Related Materials: Cobb (Irene) Papers, 1909-1989, #2918.
Smith-Cobb Family Collection, #2755.
Jules Bledsoe Papers, New York Public Library. Worldcat.
Separated Materials: None.
Custodial History:
Acquisition: Collection was acquired in three separate gifts in 1973, 1988, and
1992.
Gift of Mrs. Mildred J. Rhambo, 1973.
Gift of Frances Todd, New Hope Methodist Church, Waco, Texas,
1988.
Gift of J.W. Merritt, Waco, Texas, 1992.
Citation: Bledsoe (Jules) Collection, Accession, #2086, Box #, Folder #, The
Texas Collection, Baylor University.
Processing Information: Finding aid completed by Paul Fisher, May 2011.
Container List:
Series 1: Correspondence
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
1
1
Correspondence: 1918-1930
2
Correspondence: 1931-1933
3
Correspondence: 1934
4
Correspondence: March 1935
5
Correspondence: 1935-1936
6
Correspondence: 1937-1938
7
Correspondence: January-May 1939
8
Correspondence: June-December 1939
9
Correspondence: January 1940
10
Correspondence: February-March 1940
11
Correspondence: April-October 1940
12
Correspondence: November-December 1940
13
Correspondence: January 4-9, 1941
14
Correspondence: January 10-17, 1941
2
1
Correspondence: January 18-23, 1941
2
Correspondence: January 24-31, 1941
3
Correspondence: February 1-11, 1941
4
Correspondence: February 12-28, 1941
5
Correspondence: March 1941
6
Correspondence: April 1-23, 1941
7
Correspondence: April 24-30, 1941
8
Correspondence: May-June 14, 1941
9
Correspondence: June 16-30, 1941
10
Correspondence: July-August 4, 1941
11
Correspondence: August 6-30, 1941
12
Correspondence: September-October 6, 1941
13
Correspondence: October 9-31, 1941
14
Correspondence: November-December 5,
1941
3
1
Correspondence: December 6-30, 1941
2
Correspondence: January 1942
3
Correspondence: February 1942
4
Correspondence: March 1942
5
Correspondence: April 1942
6
Correspondence: May 1942
7
Correspondence: June 1-25, 1942
8
Correspondence: June 26-30, 1942
9
Correspondence: July 2-August 7, 1942
10
Correspondence: August 26-September 29,
1942
11
Correspondence: October 3-November 18,
1942
4
DATES
1918-1930
1931-1933
1934
1935
1935-1936
1937-1938
1939
1939
1940
1940
1940
1940
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1941
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
1942
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
5
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
12
Correspondence: November 20-December
1942
13
Correspondence: January-February 1943
14
Correspondence: March 1943-1944
15
Correspondence: Postcards, unwritten
16
Correspondence: Undated 1
4
1
Correspondence: Undated 2
2
Correspondence: Undated 3
3
Correspondence: Scrapbook
DATES
1942
1943
1943-1944
undated
undated
undated
Undated
1943-1944
Series 2: Financial Documents
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
4
4
Financial: Banks Statements, Checks
5
Financial: Bills, Receipts, Statements: Jessie’s
Manna Farms 1
4
6
Financial: Bills, Receipts, Statements: Jessie’s
Manna Farms 2
7
Financial: Bills, Receipts, Statements: Jessie’s
Manna Farms 3
8
Financial: Tax documents
9
Financial: Bills, Receipts, Notes 1
10
Financial: Bills, Receipts, Notes 2
DATES
1930-1941
1940-1942
1928-1932
1940
1932-1941,
undated
1918-1941,
undated
1941-1942,
undated
Series 3: Literary Productions
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
5
1
Literary:
2
Literary:
3
Literary:
4
Literary:
5
Literary:
6
Literary:
7
Literary:
8
Literary:
FOLDER TITLE
Journals
Programs: 1916-1939
Programs: 1940
Programs: 1941
Programs: 1943-1959
Programs: Undated
Clippings 1
Clippings 2
DATES
1940, undated
1916-1939
1940
1941
1943-1959
undated
1936
undated
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
6
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
9
Literary: Clippings 3
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
Literary:
7
Literary: Essays: Labor Bulletin of
Aberdeen
Literary: Manuscripts: Music Venues
Literary: Awards
Literary: Books: Handbook of Freemasonry
Literary: Reports: Queen Wilhelmina Fund
Literary: Broadsides, Flyers
Literary: Notes: Handwritten
Literary: Notes: Handwritten
Literary: Notes: Handwritten
Literary: Notes: Handwritten
Literary: Brochures, Flyers: Jessie’s Manna
Farms
Literary: Identifications
Literary: Obituary Book
Literary: Sketches
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1
2
3
4
5
6
Clippings: non-personal
Speeches
Essays
Orations, Poems, Plays 1
Orations, Poems, Plays 2
Orations, Poems, Plays 3
Orations, Poems, Plays 4
Orations, Poems, Plays 5
Plays: “John Henry”
Plays: “Showboat”
Biographies: Cobb (Naomi) 1
Biographies: Cobb (Naomi) 2
Autobiographies
Musical Repertoire
DATES
1936-1976,
undated
1936-1943
1943
undated
1941, undated
undated
1916, undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1915
1928
1943
1943, undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1939-1940
1935-1942
1943
undated
Series 4: Legal Documents
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
7
7
Legal: Inventories
8
Legal: Insurance Policies 1
DATES
undated
1941-1942
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
7
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
7
9
Legal: Insurance Policies 2
10
Legal: Contracts 1
11
Legal: Contracts 2
DATES
1940-1941
1934-1941
1939
Series 5: Photographic Materials
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
8
1
Photographs:
2
Photographs:
3
Photographs:
4
Photographs:
5
Photographs:
6
Photographs:
7
Photographs:
8
Photographs:
9
Photographs:
10
Photographs:
11
Photographs:
12
Photographs:
13
Photographs:
9
1
Photographs:
2
3
4
5
6
Photographs:
Photographs:
Photographs:
Photographs:
Photographs:
FOLDER TITLE
General 1
General 2
General 3
General 4
General 5
General 6
General 7
Publicity
“Aida”
“Emperor Jones”
“Faust”
“Old Man River”
“Pagliacci”
Jessie’s Manna Farms 1
Jessie’s Manna Farms 2
Jessie’s Manna Farms 3
Jessie’s Manna Farms 4
Jessie’s Manna Farms 5
Funeral
DATES
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1941, undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1935, 1938,
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1943
Series 6: Music Manuscripts
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
10
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
FOLDER TITLE
Religious 1
Religious 2
Spirituals 1
Spirituals 2
Spirituals 3
DATES
undated
undated
1917-1935
1915-1942
1924-1941
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
10
6
Music:
7
Music:
8
Music:
9
Music:
11
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
6
Music:
7
Music:
8
Music:
9
Music:
10
Music:
12
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
6
Music:
7
Music:
8
Music:
9
Music:
10
Music:
13
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
6
Music:
14
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
15
1
Music:
2
Music:
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
16
1
Music:
2
Music:
8
FOLDER TITLE
Spirituals 4
Spirituals 5
Spirituals Books 1
Spirituals Books 2
General 1
General 2
General 3
General 4
General 5
General 6
General 7
General 8
General: “Little Black Boy”
General: “I’m Troubled in Mind”
General: “Pickin’ Cotton”
General: “Song of the Mojave”
General: “If You Please”
General: “Figaros Hochzeit”
General: “Chloe”
General: “De Glory Road” 1
General: “De Glory Road” 2
General Books 1
General Books 2
General Books 3
Opera 1
Opera 2
Opera 3
Opera: “L’Africaine” 1
Opera: “L’Africaine” 2
Opera Books 1
Opera Books 2
Opera Books 3
Opera Books 4
Opera Books 5
Opera Books 6
Opera Books 7
Opera Books 8
Opera Books 9
Opera Books 10
Opera Books 11
Opera Books 12
Opera Books 13
DATES
1928-1940
1928-1934
1905
undated
1919-1935
1906-1938
1924-1939
1929, undated
1897, undated
1924
undated
1899
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1919, 1921
1928, 1934
undated
undated
1903-1922
1901-1924
undated
undated
undated
1921
undated
undated
1904
1901
undated
undated
1928
undated
1906
undated
1897
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
9
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
16
3
Music:
4
Music:
5
Music:
17
1
Music:
18
19
20
FOLDER TITLE
Opera Books 14
Opera Books: “L’Africaine”
Opera Books: “The Emperor Jones”
Classical 1
2
Music: Classical 2
3
4
Music: Classical 3
Music: Classical 4
5
6
7
8
1
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
2
Music: Classical 10
3
4
Music: Classical 11
Music: Classical Books 1
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Music:
Classical 5
Classical 6
Classical 7
Classical 8
Classical 9
Classical Books 2
Classical Books 3
Classical Books 4
Classical Books 5
Classical Books 6
Classical Books 7
Classical Books 8
Patriotic 1
Patriotic 2
Bledsoe Works 1
Bledsoe Works 2
Bledsoe Works 3
Bledsoe Works 4
Bledsoe Works 5
Bledsoe Works 6
Bledsoe Works 7
Bledsoe Works 8
Bledsoe Works: “Bondage” 1
Bledsoe Works: “Bondage” 2
DATES
undated
undated
1932
1907-1924,
undated
1911-1914,
undated
undated
1919-1921,
undated
1901, undated
1923, undated
undated
1924
1902-1939,
undated
1898-1905,
undated
1898-1933
1892-1910,
undated
undated
undated
undated
1905
undated
1884, 1914
1893
1942
1940-1942
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1939
undated
undated
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
10
BOX
FOLDER
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
20
11
Music: Bledsoe Works: “My Old Kentucky
Home”
12
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Ole Man River”
21
1
Music: Bledsoe Works: “The Good Old
British Blue”
2
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Money in
Kamben”
3
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Fear I Aught”
4
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Franky and
Johnny”
5
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Ode to America”
6
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Hush Thee Baby”
7
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Zulu Dance
Song”
8
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Legionnaire”
9
Music: Bledsoe Works: “Maybe He’s Your
Boy in Khaki”
DATES
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
undated
1942, undated
1942, undated
Series 7: Oversize Materials
BOX
FOLDER
NUMBER NUMBER
22
1
Oversize:
2
Oversize:
3
Oversize:
4
Oversize:
23
1
Oversize:
24
2
1
FOLDER TITLE
Award: Diploma
Guest Book
Award
Framed Photograph
Scrapbook: Scrapbook pages
Oversize: Miscellaneous
Oversize: Scrapbook
DATES
1917
undated
1978
undated
1934-1943,
undated
undated
undated
Series 8: Media Recordings
BOX
ITEM
FOLDER TITLE
NUMBER NUMBER
1
Media: Audio Recording Tape: Spirituals 1
2
Media: Audio Recording Tape: Spirituals 2
3
Media: Audio Recording Tape: Spirituals 3
DATES
undated
undated
undated
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
11
Notes
Different parts of the collection were in various stages of organization at the time of
processing. The music manuscripts were the most organized, but almost everything
else had no discernable housing organization before this finding aid was written.
More extensive inventories of the music available in this collection is available.
Prior processing had used the phrase “(last name) first name” to describe folders sorted
by person, such as Bledsoe (Jules). This style of designation was retained.
The Media Recordings have no box number because they were already filed in the
general cassette collection. This storage area was retained for this finding aid.
Appendix A:
Music arranged or composed by Jules Bledsoe, filed in Music: Bledsoe Works
“A King Passes By”
“Beside a New Made Grave”
“C’est le Portrait de Ma Mere”
“Climbin’ Jacobs’ Ladder”
“Does Ah Luv’ You”
“Down Mobile”
“Enfants de la France Lointaine”
“Fear I Aught”
“Go Down, Moses”
“God Gave Us Mothers”
“He Rose”
“Home, Home, Home”
“I Opened my Window”
“Legionnaire”
“Mammy I Hear You Callin’”
“Mass’s in de Cold, Cold Ground”
“Maybe He’s Your Boy in Khaki, Maybe He’s Your Boy in Blue”
“Money in Kamben”
“O Hush Thee, Baby”
“Ode to America”
“Oh My Honey”
“Old Kentucky Home”
“Ole Man River”
“One Lonely Star”
“Pagan Prayer”
“Poor Moanah’s Got a Home at Last”
“The Farewell”
“The Good Old British Blue”
“We Will All Bow Together”
“Wish Ah Had Mah Mammy Now”
“Zulu Dance Song”
Bledsoe (Jules) Collection
Appendix B:
Nationality and number of postcards in collection, all found in box 3, folder 15
16 Netherlands postcards, loose
1 book German(?) postcards
1 book Amsterdam, Netherlands postcards
12