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Finding Aid for the Jimmy Van Heusen Collection of Musical Works
and Papers 1853-1994,
bulk 1939-1972
127-M
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Title: Jimmy Van Heusen Collection of Musical Works and
Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1853-1994,
bulk 1939-1972
Collection number: 127-M
Creator: Van Heusen, Jimmy
1913-1990
Extent:
166 boxes
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library.
Performing Arts Special Collections
Los Angeles, California 90095-1490
Abstract: Collection consists of American song composer Jimmy
Van Heusen's papers and materials, both business and personal. Items include an
extensive collection of unpublished music manuscripts and song lyrics, published
sheet music, correspondence, personal papers, and business documents. Many
materials relate to his interactions with Johnny Burke, Sammy Cahn, Bing Crosby,
Frank Sinatra, and others, and to his publishing companies Burke & Van
Heusen, Inc. and Van Heusen Music Corporation. Also includes sound and
audiovisual materials, including his personal LP collection, unpublished home
recordings, and home movies. Photographic material includes both press and
personal prints, some negatives, and color slides. Other items include
performance scripts, altered lyrics, biographic materials, professionally
assembled scrapbooks, and other published materials from his personal
collection. In addition to his musical career, the collection highlights his
interests in horses and flying, and his domestic life with wife Josephine Van
Heusen.
Physical location: Collection is stored off-site at SRLF.
Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact UCLA
Performing Arts Special Collections for paging information.
Language of Material: Collection materials in English
Collection is open for research.
Property rights in the physical objects belong to the UCLA Music Library.
Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their
heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the
copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to
publish if the Music Library does not hold the copyright.
[Identification of item], Jimmy Van Heusen Collection of Musical Works and
Papers, 127-M, Performing Arts Special Collections , University of California,
Los Angeles.
Josephine Van Heusen; gift; 1994.
Jimmy Van Heusen (1913 – 1990) was an American song composer for
radio, films, television, and the stage best known for several enduring
standards made popular by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Van Heusen was born in
Syracuse, NY on January 26, 1913 as Edward Chester Babcock; his parents were
Arthur and Ida May Babcock, and his brother, Wilbur. He acquired his
professional name "Jimmy Van Heusen" (borrowed from the Phillips-Van Heusen
shirt company) at the age of 16 when he became a radio pianist, singer, and
announcer. Jimmy Van Heusen became his primary identity, often more formally as
"James Van Heusen," although he was still known to a few intimates as "Chester."
He would also compose a small number of songs under the pseudonym "Arthur
Williams."
Van Heusen studied piano from the age of eight. After his early dismissal
from Cazenovia Seminary, he studied music with Howard Lyman at Syracuse
University between 1930 and 1932. The following year, he replaced Harold Arlen
as composer at the Cotton Club in Harlem and subsequently found work as a
pianist and song plugger for Tin Pan Alley. In 1938, Van Heusen had his first
hit ("It's the Dreamer in Me") with Jimmy Dorsey, and followed this with other
successful collaborations with Johnny Mercer and Eddie DeLange. In 1939, he
partnered with lyricist Johnny Burke and moved to Hollywood, CA, where the pair
wrote songs for many of Bing Crosby's best-known films. During World War II, Van
Heusen put his budding aviation skills to use as a test pilot for Lockheed
warplanes. His second great songwriting partnership was with lyricist Sammy
Cahn. Between 1955 and 1969 the pair collaborated on songs for movies and
television, many of them for Frank Sinatra who was Van Heusen's close friend.
Van Heusen continued to compose into the 1970s, building on a career that
included four Academy Awards—"Swinging on a Star" (1944, with Burke), "All the
Way" (1957, with Cahn), "High Hopes" (1959, with Cahn), and "Call Me
Irresponsible" (1963, with Cahn)—and one Emmy Award—"Love and Marriage" (1955,
with Cahn).
Van Heusen also became involved with the business end of his music career,
founding music publishing companies such as Burke & Van Heusen, Inc. and Van
Heusen Music Corporation. Associates in this context included Edward Traubner
(business manager), Peggy Price (personal secretary), and Miriam Stern (personal
secretary). Van Heusen maintained residences in North Hollywood, CA, New York
City, and Brant Lake in upstate New York, but after 1940 spent most of his time
in the southern California desert communities of Palm Springs and Yucca Valley,
where he built his ranch. Here he pursued his interests in aviation (small
planes and helicopters) and horses. Van Heusen also continued to perform for
special occasions and private parties, often altering the verses of his own
music to fit the event. His accolades include nomination as Honorary Mayor of
Yucca Valley (1967), an honorary doctorate from Gonzaga University (1975), and
achievement awards from Syracuse University (1982) and Cazenovia College (1961),
where he also served on the Board of Trustees. A bachelor until the age of 56,
Van Heusen married Josephine "Bobbe" Perlberg (1901 – 1999) in 1969.
Bobbe's maiden name was Dagmar Brock, and she had performed with her sisters in
a vaudeville trio called the Brox Sisters. Jimmy Van Heusen died following a
stroke on February 7, 1990 in Rancho Mirage, CA.
Collection consists of American song composer Jimmy Van Heusen's papers and
materials, both business and personal. Items include an extensive collection of
unpublished music manuscripts and song lyrics, published sheet music,
correspondence, personal papers, and business documents. Many materials relate
to his interactions with Johnny Burke, Sammy Cahn, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra,
and others, and to his publishing companies Burke & Van Heusen, Inc. and Van
Heusen Music Corporation. Also includes sound and audiovisual materials,
including his personal LP collection, unpublished home recordings, and home
movies. Photographic material includes both press and personal prints, some
negatives, and color slides. Other items include performance scripts, altered
lyrics, biographic materials, professionally assembled scrapbooks, and other
published materials from his personal collection. In addition to his musical
career, the collection highlights his interests in horses and flying, and his
domestic life with wife Josephine Van Heusen.
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Printed and Manuscript Music, 1892-1979. 74 boxes
- Series 2. Sound and Audiovisual Recordings, 1932-1988. 29 boxes
- Series 3. Written Material, 1942-1970. 11 boxes
- Series 4. Photographic Material, 1932-1984. 20 boxes
- Series 5. Correspondence, 1924-1983. 17 boxes
- Series 6. Biographic Material, 1853-1991. 24 boxes
- Series 7. Ephemera
- Series 7. Personal Papers, 1942-1993. 26 boxes
- Series 7. Personal Papers
- Series 8. Published Material, 1906-1988. 19 boxes
- Series 9. Legal and Financial Documents, 1933-1994. 55 boxes
- Series 10. Scrapbooks, 1953-1966. 4 boxes
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Burke, Johnny,
1908-1964--Correspondence
Cahn, Sammy,
1913-1993--Correspondence
Crosby, Bing,
1904-1977--Correspondence
Sinatra, Frank,
1915-1998--Correspondence
Van Heusen,
Jimmy, 1913-1990--Archives
Van Heusen,
Josephine, 1901-1999--Archives
Composers--United States--Archival
resources
Motion picture music
Music--Manuscripts
Popular music--United
States
Television music