The Virginia L. White Collection SPC.2018.054
Beth McDonald
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2019
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Virginia L. White Collection
Creator:
White, Virginia L.
Creator:
Sebastian, Jacquelyn F.
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2018.054
Physical Description:
11 boxes
Physical Description:
1 folder
(1 oversize folder)
Physical Description:
12.63 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1957-2016
Date (bulk): 1968-1979
Abstract: The Virginia L. White collection (1957-2016) contains primarily tour materials consisting of photographs, posters, programs,
ephemera, scrapbooks, and costumes that once belonged to former, long-time Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers (AMJS) members Virginia
L. White and Jacquelyn F. Sebastian.
Language of Material:
Multiple languages
.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no access restrictions on this collection
Availability of Digital Reproductions
If you would like to view some of the archival materials from this collection that have been digitized already, please visit
the Sacred Music Digital Collections Database site:
Virginia L. White Collection .
Please keep in mind that some of the materials in our archival collections are still in the process of being digitized and
are therefore not yet available to the public.
Arrangement
This collection is divided into two series in which one series features the materials that belonged to Virginia L. White and
another series features the materials that belonged to Jacquelyn F. Sebastian. Materials within most folders are arranged
chronologically.
Virginia L. White Collection Series Titles
- Virginia L. White, 1961-2016, undated
- Jacquelyn F. Sebastian, 1957-1977
Historical Note
Virginia White is one of the original members of the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers (AMJS). She performed with the singers
from their original concerts and tours in 1968 through the early 2000s.
The Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, known as "America's foremost Negro choir," have played a significant role in the development
of African American sacred music traditions in the United States and are among the most honored singing ensembles in the world.
The AMJS was founded by choral director Albert McNeil. McNeil was inspired by the story of the Fisk University Jubilee Singers,
an all-black college choir founded in 1871, made up of four black men and seven black women who gained international fame
traveling throughout the United States and Europe giving concerts singing four-part acappella arrangements of sacred songs
called spirituals.
In 1968, the AMJS went on their first European tour. Since then, they have traveled the globe on 18 sold-out European tours,12
tours of the United States and Canada, and tours of the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America. They were selected three
times to serve the U.S. State Department and USIS Cultural Exchange Program, traveling to East Germany, Hungary, Romania,
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Iran, India, North and West Africa, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.
Preferred Citation
For information about citing archival material, please consult the appropriate style manual or see the Citations for Archival
Material guide: (https://libguides.csudh.edu/archives-citation)
Processing Information
An accrual of new materials was processed and added to the Virginia L. White collection by archivist Lindsay Anderson in 2022.
Sacred Music Collections
This collection is part the Sacred Music Collection, also known as the Georgia and Nolan Payton Archive of Sacred Music, and
is associated with the
African Diaspora of Sacred Music and Musicians (ADSMM) Program . The Sacred Music Collection is made up of smaller collections that contain various primary source materials, such as sheet
music, books, periodicals, photographs, audio visual materials, manuscripts, and more. ADSMM's mission is to facilitate research,
preserve, and make accessible collections documenting the lives of important figures within the sacred music community as
well as its influence primarily within the Los Angeles Black community.
Interested in accessing other Sacred Music collections? If you would like to view these materials in-person, please make an
appointment through the
Gerth Archives and Special Collections website . If you would like to view these materials online, please visit the the
Sacred Music Digital Collections Database website . Please keep in mind that some of the materials in our archival collections are still in the process of being digitized and
are therefore not yet available to the public.
Scope and Contents
The Virginia L. White collection (1957-2016) contains primarily tour materials consisting of photographs, posters, programs,
ephemera, and costumes related to Virginia White's tenure as a member and administrator of the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
(AMJS). The collection also contains several scrapbooks compiled by fellow Jubilee Singers member, Jacquelyn F. Sebastian,
which documents AMJS' domestic and international tours.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from the collection must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- California -- Los Angeles
African Americans -- Music
African American choirs
Jubilee singers
African American musicians
Church music
Gospel Music
Sacred music
Spirituals (Songs)
McNeil, Albert
Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
Hairston, Jester, 1901-2000
Series 1: Virginia L. White collection
1961-2016, undated
Physical Description: 8 boxes
Language of Material: Multiple languages.
Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers (AMJS)
1965-2011
Physical Description: 7 boxes
Physical Description: 1 folder(1 oversize folder)
box 1, folder 1
Articles featuring Virginia L. White
1971-1981
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 2
Articles featuring the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers
1981-2009, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, Spanish; Castilian, French.
box 1, folder 3
Correspondence with Albert McNeil
1975, 1976
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 4
PR and Promotional Materials
1968, 1998
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 6
1960s concert programs
1965-1968, undated
Scope and Contents
This file contains concert programs from the 1968 European tour as well as other programs featuring concerts held in the U.S..
box 1, folder 7-8
1970s concert programs
1970-1979, undated
Physical Description: 2 folders
Scope and Contents
Folders 7 and 8 contain concert programs from the 1970s. Folder 7 contains programs ranging from 1970-1975 and folder 8 contains
programs ranging from 1976-1979, undated. These programs feature tours such as: 1970 European tour; 1972 European tour; 1974
Middle East tour; 1976-1977 U.S. tour; 1978 Latin America tour; 1978 U.S. tour; and more.
box 1, folder 9-10
1980s concert programs
1980-1989, undated
Physical Description: 2 folders
Scope and Contents
Folders 9 and 10 contain concert programs from the 1980s. Folder 9 contains programs ranging from 1980-1987 and folder 10
contains programs ranging from 1988-1989, undated. These programs feature tours such as: 1982 European tour; 1982-1983 U.S.
tour; 1985-1986 U.S. tour; 1986 European tour; 1987 U.S. tour; 1988 Israel tour, 1988-1989 U.S. tour; 1989 European tour;
and more.
box 2, folder 1-3
1990s concert programs
1990-1999, undated
Physical Description: 3 folders
Scope and Contents
Folders 1, 2, and 3 contain concert programs from the 1990s. Folder 1 contains programs ranging from 1990-1992, Folder 2 ranges
from 1993-1994, and Folder 3 ranges from 1995-1998, undated. These programs feature tours such as: 1991 U.S. tour; 1992 European
tour; 1992 Hong Kong tour; 1992 U.S. tour; 1993-1994 U.S. tour; 1994 European tour; 1997 U.S. tour; 1997 Argentina tour; 1998
Japan tour; and more.
box 2, folder 4-5
2000s and 2010s concert programs
2000-2016, undated
Physical Description: 2 folders
Scope and Contents
Folders 4 and 5 contain concert programs and some flyers from the 2000s and 2010s. Folder 4 contains programs ranging from
2000-2007 and folder 5 contains programs ranging from 2008-2016, undated. These programs feature tours such as: 2001-2002
U.S. tour; 2003 U.S. tour; 2004 European tour; 2011 U.S. tour; and more.
box 2, folder 6
Tour materials: Europe
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 2, folder 7
Tour materials: Europe
1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, German.
box 2, folder 8
Tour materials: Europe
1972-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
box 2, folder 9
Tour materials: North Africa and Middle East
1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
box 3, folder 1
Tour materials: Mediterranean
1976
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 2
Tour materials: U.S.
1976-1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 3
Tour itinerary: Middle East
April 7, 1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 4
Tour materials: Latin America and U.S.
1978
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, Spanish; Castilian.
box 3, folder 5
Tour materials: Israel and Eastern Europe
1979
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, Croatian.
box 3, folder 6
Tour materials: U.S.
1981
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 7
Tour materials: Europe
1982
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, German.
box 3, folder 8
Tour materials: U.S.
1982-1983
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 9
Tour materials: U.S., Israel, and Europe
1984
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 10
Tour materials: U.S.
1985-1986
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 11
Tour materials: U.S.
1986-1987
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 12
Tour materials: Israel
1988
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 13
Tour materials: U.S.
1988-1989
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 14
Tour materials: Europe
1989
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, Italian, Spanish; Castilian.
box 3, folder 15
Tour materials: U.S. and Europe
1991
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 16
Tour materials: Europe
1992
Physical Description: 1 folder
box 3, folder 17
Tour materials: Europe
1993
Physical Description: 1 folder
box 3, folder 18
Tour materials: U.S.
1993-1994
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 1, folder 5
Tour itinerary: Spring tour (Spain, Italy, Israel)
1994
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This file includes one undated itinerary for the Jubilee Singers' Spring Tour of Spain, Italy, and Israel.
box 3, folder 19
Tour itinerary: U.S.
December 22, 1994
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 20
Tour itinerary: Japan
1996
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 21
Tour materials: U.S.
1996-1997
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 22
Tour materials: U.S. East Coast
January 24, 2002
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 23
Tour itinerary: Europe
2003
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 24
Tour itinerary: Germany and Austria
June 27, 2006
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English, German.
box 3, folder 25
Tour materials: U.S.
2011
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 5
Tour and performance scrapbook (1/2)
1968-1984
Physical Description: 1 box
Language of Material: English.
box 6
Tour and performance scrapbook (2/2)
1966-1967
Physical Description: 1 box
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 3
Tour photographs: Europe
1972-1973
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 4
Tour photographs: Sierra Leone (Freetown)
1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 6
Tour photographs: Europe
circa 1978
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 7
Tour photographs: U.S.
1985-1986
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 8
Tour photographs: U.S. West Coast
1987
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 9
Tour photographs: U.S. and Europe
1991
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 10
Tour photographs: Japan
1992
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 11
Tour photographs: Spain
circa 1996
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 12
Tour photographs: Japan
circa 1998-1999
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 13
Tour photographs: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
2001
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 14
Tour photographs: Germany
2008
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 15
Tour photographs: Unidentified tours
undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 2
AMJS concert photographs
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 7, folder 5
AMJS publicity and commercial photographs
circa 1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
case 3, drawer 14, folder 1
Tour Posters
1970-2003, undated
Physical Description: 23 items
Condition of "Concierto Musica Espiritual Negra" poster: "Concierto Musica Espiritual Negra" poster has sustained water damage and has mild issues with mold. Poster has been encapsulated
in archival-grade plastic sleeves.
Scope and Contents
This folder includes posters promoting concerts featuring the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers. These posters only promote the
concerts that took place during the group's Europe, Israel, U.S., North Africa, and State Department tours.
box 11
Jubilee Singers Choir Robes
circa 1970-1990
Physical Description: 6 items
Language of Material: English.
Personal Papers
1961-2010
Physical Description: 2 boxes
box 3, folder 26
"Statement of Faith" by Virginia White
December 2, 1979
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 27
Jester Hairston materials
1981-2010
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This file contains materials related to composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor Jester Hairston, including:
"A Loving Tribute to Dr. Jester Hairston" event programs (1981); one copy and the first draft of a script from the TV series
Amen (episode title: "The Talent Show") which has also been autographed by the main cast members, including Hairston (1990); and
one newsletter containing information about the Jester Hairston Scholarship Presentation Concert at Holman United Methodist
Church in Los Angeles (2010).
box 3, folder 28
"Lyrics by Ira Gershwin" Benefit Concert
1975
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 3, folder 29
Performing Arts magazines
1993, 1997
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This file contains two
Performing Arts magazines from October 1993 and November 1997.
box 7, folder 1
Personal photographs
1961, undated
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
Media
1969-2009
Physical Description: 1 box
box 4, item 1
Sound disc (LP) - "Gospel Mass"
circa 1980
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
box 4, item 2
Sound disc (LP) - "Music of the Black Man in America"
1973
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
box 4, item 3
Sound disc (LP) - "Songs of the Blacks, U.S.A"
1969
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
box 4, item 4
Sound cassette - Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers 20th Anniversary Album
circa 1989
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
box 4, item 5
Sound cassette - Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers "Live"
circa 1993
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
box 4, item 6
Sound disc (CD) - The Essential Recordings - 40 Years of Jubilee!
2009
Physical Description: 1 items
Language of Material: English.
Series 2: Jacquelyn F. Sebastian scrapbooks
1957-1977
Physical Description: 3 boxes
Language of Material: English.
box 8, folder 1
Choir photographs
1957-1959
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 8, folder 2
Europe Tour Scrapbook
1968
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 8, folder 3
Israel and Europe Tour Scrapbook
1970
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 9, folder 1
Europe Tour Scrapbook
1972-1974
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 9, folder 2
U.S., Mexico, and, South American Tour materials
1978
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 1
U.S. Tour materials
1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 2
Europe Tour materials
1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 3
Turkey, Arabia, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh Tour materials
1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
box 10, folder 4
Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, Cyprus, and Greece Tour materials
1977
Physical Description: 1 folder
Language of Material: English.
