Guide to the Peggy Gilbert Collection
Special Collections & Archives
University Library
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, CA 91330-8326
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: Peggy Gilbert Collection
Creator:
Gilbert, Peggy, 1905-2007
Identifier/Call Number: SC.PG
Extent:
5.66 linear feet
Date (inclusive): 1920-2007
Abstract: Peggy Gilbert was a saxophonist and
band leader. From the 1930s through 1996 she led several all-girl orchestras and bands. An
advocate for women musicians, she arranged for bookings and contracts. She was an active
member in Local 47 of the Musician's Union. The
Peggy Gilbert
Collection
contains the personal music scores, scrapbooks, and photographs of Peggy
Gilbert, with a few items from her youth. The audio materials in the collection include an
interview with Peggy Gilbert and a program about her life which aired on the BBC in
2007.
Language of Material: English
Biographical Information:
Peggy Gilbert (1905-2007) was a saxophonist and band leader. From the 1930s through 1996
she led several all-girl orchestras and bands. An advocate for women musicians, she arranged
for bookings and contracts and was an active member in Local 47 of the Musicians' Union.
After playing with an all-girl band, Boots and Her Buddies, in the 1930s, Gilbert formed
her own band in 1933 which played in Honolulu. She changed the name of her musical groups
frequently. They played in Hollywood films and in clubs such as the Coconut Grove, Garden of
Allah, and in 1937, Hollywood's Second "Swing Concert" at The Palomar in Los Angeles. Her
band played on radio and toured with the USO during the 1940s, and from 1949 to 1970 she
worked at Local 47 as a secretary.
After retiring, Gilbert continued to serve on Local 47's board of directors and wrote a
column called "Tuning in on Femme Musicians" for the union's monthly publication,
The Overture. In 1974, at the age of 69, she formed a new band, the
Dixie Belles with whom she performed at numerous events and jazz festivals, including an
appearance on the
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1981 and
two appearances on episodes of
The Golden Girls in 1982 and
1988. She stopped performing in 1996 and died at the age of 102 in 2007.
Scope and Contents
The
Peggy Gilbert Collection documents the life and career of
female jazz saxophonist and bandleader Peggy Gilbert. The collection documents the bands and
orchestras she led and various groups in which she played during the 1930s and 1940s, her
time spent working for the Los Angeles musicians union, Local 47, throughout the 1950s and
1960s, the various movies and TV shows she appeared on, accolades bestowed upon her, and the
formation of her all-girl band the Dixie Belles from 1974 to 1996. The collection contains
Gilbert's scrapbooks, photographs, newspaper clippings, posters, plaques, awards, Compact
Discs, correspondence, and musical scores. The collection has been divided into four
series:
Scrapbooks (1920-2007),
Music and
Notes
(1936-2006),
Plaques and Other Awards (ca.
1929-2007), and
Card Files and Compact Discs (1986-2007).
Series I,
Scrapbooks, consists of eleven of Peggy Gilbert's
personal scrapbooks which document over eight decades of Gilbert's life and career, and make
up the bulk of the collection. They document some of her early bands from the 1930s and
1940s, including her participation in the all-woman group Boots and Her Buddies as well as
her own bands and orchestras. It includes posters and news articles advertising and
describing her bands' performances at venues such as the Coconut Grove, Garden of Allah, and
Orpheum Theatre, as well as various movies in which she appeared including
The Wet Parade in 1932 and
Start Cheering
in 1938. Additionally, this series documents the time she spent working at Local 47
of the musicians union in the 1950s and 1960s, and contains copies of her column "Tuning in
on Femme Musicians," which she wrote for the union's monthly publication,
The Overture, from 1979 to 1984. The series includes extensive
photographs, articles, and correspondence regarding the Dixie Belles. The series is arranged
in loosely chronological order.
Series II,
Music and Notes, contains Gilbert's musical scores
and instrumental parts ranging from a tune entitled "Dixie Belle" by Anthony Horowitz to a
musical co-written by Gilbert in the 1950s titled
Mr. Chick
Tapp,
detailing the story of a tap-dancing chicken. The series also includes
various songs, a manuscript, a sketchbook, certificates of copyright registration, jazz
charts, CDs and press kits for Barabara Schottenfeld and Denise Wells, correspondence with
composer Bob Nichols, and a notebook entitled "Sex or Sax. My Book Notes" which contains
Gilbert's reminiscences. The series is arranged alphabetically.
Series III,
Plaques and Other Awards, includes various awards
that Peggy Gilbert received throughout her life. The majority of these plaques and awards
were presented to Gilbert later in her life, including a 1989 "Life Member of the Year"
award from the Musicians' Union Local 47 of Southern California, a 1982 "Golden Mask Award"
from the Hollywood Appreciation Society, and a 2005 City of Los Angeles Resolution wishing
Peggy Gilbert a happy 100
th birthday. Additionally, this series
includes a film poster of Peggy Gilbert and Her All Girl Band, some large photographs from
1920s-1950s, and a frisbee hand painted with a picture of Gilbert dressed in Dixie Belle
attire and playing the saxophone. The series is arranged by format.
Series IV,
Card Files and Compact Discs, contains a large
number of Tune-Dex cards, which are 3 x 5 inch index cards with the melodies and chord
changes of popular tunes found on one side, and the corresponding copyright information
found on the reverse. This series also includes invitations for the Pioneer Musicians of Los
Angeles Luncheon and Concert held in 1986, an audio interview of Peggy Gilbert conducted in
1998, and a BBC program about her life from 2007. The series is arranged by format.
Arrangement of Materials:
Series I: Scrapbooks, 1920-2007
Series II: Music and Notes, 1936-2006
Series III: Plaques and Other Awards, ca. 1929-2007
Series IV: Card Files and Compact Discs, 1986-2007
Conditions Governing Access:
The collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use:
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of
this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge.
Copyright status for other 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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Jeannie Pool, 2008
Preferred Citation:
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style
manual, or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information:
Tony Gardner
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Audiovisual materials
Documents
Photographs
Scrapbooks
Series I: Scrapbooks and Photo Album, 1920-2007
Box 1, Folder 1
Scrapbook 1, Boots and her Buddies,
1931
Box 1, Folder 2
Scrapbook 1, Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 3
Scrapbook 1, Films, Start Cheering,
1938
Box 1, Folder 4
Scrapbook 1, Local 47,
ca. 1930-ca. 1939
Box 1, Folder 5
Scrapbook 1, Manila Hotel
Box 1, Folder 6
Scrapbook 1, Melody Girls,
1927
Box 1, Folder 7
Scrapbook 1, News Clippings,
1930-1939
Box 1, Folder 8
Scrapbook 1,
Newsletter,
1928 December 1
Box 1, Folder 9
Scrapbook 1, Peggy Gilbert's Parents, Photographs
Box 1, Folder 10
Scrapbook 1, Venues,
1935-1939
Box 1, Folder 11
Scrapbook 1, Venues, Los Angeles Breakfast Club
Box 1, Folder 12
Scrapbook 1, Venues, Penn Albert Hotel
Box 1, Folder 13
Scrapbook 1, Venues, Zenda Ballroom
Box 1, Folder 14
Scrapbook 2, Local 47,
1942
Box 1, Folder 15
Scrapbook 2, News Clippings,
1945
Box 1, Folder 16
Scrapbook 2, Overture, "Women in Music,"
1947
Box 1, Folder 18
Scrapbook 2, Venues, Garden of Allah
Box 1, Folder 19
Scrapbook 3, Dixie Belles,
1974
Box 1, Folder 20
Scrapbook 3, Hollywood Canteen, Service Award,
1967
Box 1, Folder 21
Scrapbook 3, Local 47,
1967
Box 1, Folder 22
Scrapbook 4, Correspondence
Box 1, Folder 24
Scrapbook 4, News Clippings
Box 1, Folder 25
Scrapbook 4, Press Releases, Dixie Belles
Box 1, Folder 26
Scrapbook 4, Tournament of Roses,
1980
Box 1, Folder 27
Scrapbook 4, Tuning in on femme musicians
Box 1, Folder 28
Scrapbook 4, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 1, Folder 29
Scrapbook 4, Women in Media and the Performing Arts,
1975
Box 1, Folder 30
Scrapbook 4, Research on Women Composers
Box 2, Folder 2
Scrapbook 5, Correspondence
Box 2, Folder 3
Scrapbook 5, Correspondence,
1981
Box 2, Folder 4
Scrapbook 5, Correspondence,
1982
Box 2, Folder 6
Scrapbook 5, News Clippings
Box 2, Folder 8
Scrapbook 5, Television Script
Box 2, Folder 9
Scrapbook 5, Tuning in on Femme Musicians
Box 2, Folder 10
Scrapbook 5, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 2, Folder 11
Scrapbook 5, Venues, Dixie Belles, Annual Los Angeles Street
Scene
Box 2, Folder 12
Scrapbook 5, Venues, Dixie Belles, Johnny Carson Show,
1981
Box 2, Folder 13
Scrapbook 6, Congress of Strings
Box 2, Folder 14
Scrapbook 6, Correspondence
Box 2, Folder 16
Scrapbook 6, International Congress on Women in Music
Box 2, Folder 17
Scrapbook 6, News Clippings
Box 2, Folder 18
Scrapbook 6, Tuning in on Femme Musicians
Box 2, Folder 19
Scrapbook 6, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 3, Folder 1
Scrapbook 7, Correspondence
Box 3, Folder 4
Scrapbook 7, Music Scores
Box 3, Folder 5
Scrapbook 7, News Clippings
Box 3, Folder 6
Scrapbook 7, Pioneer Women Musicians of Los Angeles
Box 3, Folder 7
Scrapbook 7, Press Releases
Box 3, Folder 8
Scrapbook 7, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 3, Folder 9
Scrapbook 7, Venues, Forum Theatre
Box 3, Folder 10
Scrapbook 8, Awards and Honors
Box 3, Folder 11
Scrapbook 8, Awards and Honors, Local 47
Box 3, Folder 12
Scrapbook 8, Awards and Honors, Sigma Alpha Iota
Box 3, Folder 13
Scrapbook 8, Congress of Strings
Box 3, Folder 14
Scrapbook 8, Correspondence
Box 3, Folder 16
Scrapbook 8, Interview, Overture,
May 1988
Box 3, Folder 17
Scrapbook 8, News Clippings
Box 3, Folder 18
Scrapbook 8, News Clippings,
People
Magazine,
f
1989
Box 3, Folder 19
Scrapbook 8, Press Releases
Box 3, Folder 20
Scrapbook 8, Television Script,
Golden
Girls
Box 3, Folder 21
Scrapbook 8, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 3, Folder 22
Scrapbook 9, Awards, Honors
Box 3, Folder 23
Scrapbook 9, Awards, Honors, International Association for Jazz
Education,
2002
Box 3, Folder 24
Scrapbook 9, 100th Birthday
Box 3, Folder 25
Scrapbook 9, 101st Birthday
Box 3, Folder 26
Scrapbook 9, Christmas,
1997
Box 3, Folder 27
Scrapbook 9, Correspondence
Box 3, Folder 29
Scrapbook 9, Dixie Belles Stationary
Box 3, Folder 30
Scrapbook 9, Films, Peggy Gilbert and Her All Girl Band
Box 3, Folder 32
Scrapbook 9, News Clippings
Box 3, Folder 34
Scrapbook 9, Press Releases
Box 3, Folder 35
Scrapbook 9, Venues, Dixie Belles
Box 3, Folder 36
Scrapbook 9,
You Bet Your Life
Box 8, Folder 1
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1932-1935
Box 8, Folder 2
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1936-1938
Box 8, Folder 3
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1940-1946
Box 8, Folder 4
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1960-1974
Box 8, Folder 5
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1975-1980
Box 8, Folder 6
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1981-1983
Box 8, Folder 7
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1984
Box 8, Folder 8
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1985-1986
Box 8, Folder 9
Scrapbook 10, Venues, Dixie Belles,
1985-1986
Box 8, Folder 10
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1987-1989
Box 8, Folder 11
Scrapbook 10, Birthdays, 100th-102nd,
1990-2007
Box 8, Folder 12
Scrapbook 10, News Clippings,
1990-2007
Box 8, Folder 13
Scrapbook 10, Recordings,
1990-2007
Box 9, Folder 1
Scrapbook 11, Peggy Gilbert and Her Dixie Belles
Box 9, Folder 2
Scrapbook 11, Dixie Belles, Snapshots of Venues
Box 9, Folder 3
Scrapbook 11, Retirement Party,
ca. January 1970
Series II: Music and Notes, 1936-2006
Box 4, Folder 3
Don't Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve
Box 4, Folder 5
I Found My Love in the Yellow Pages
Box 4, Folder 7
If You Don't Think I'm Leaving
Box 4, Folder 8
Is There Room in Your Heart for Me
Box 4, Folder 10
Mr. Chick Tapp, Copyright Registration
Box 4, Folder 11
Mr. Chick Tapp, Drawings by Peggy Gilbert
Box 4, Folder 12
Mr. Chick Tapp, Manuscript
Box 4, Folder 13
Mr. Chick Tapp, Music Score, "Ballet de Square Egg"
Box 4, Folder 14
Mr. Chick Tapp, Music Score, "Put the Pots on"
Box 4, Folder 15
Mr. Chick Tapp, Music Score, "The Belles are on their Way"
Box 4, Folder 16
Mr. Chick Tapp, Music Score, "Who Parked the Car"
Box 4, Folder 17
Mr. Chick Tapp, Music Scores, "Chick Tap, Kitten without Mittens, I See Pink
People"
Box 4, Folder 20
Mr. Chick Tapp, Story Outline
Box 4, Folder 21
Mr. Chick Tapp, Typescript
Box 4, Folder 22
My Lonely Heart, Correspondence with Composer Bob Nichols
Box 4, Folder 24
Press Kit, Hot and Sweet, Barbara Schottenfeld
Box 4, Folder 27
Sex or Sax, My Book Notes
Box 4, Folder 31
"You Can't See Me in My Jammies"
Box 4, Folder 32
"You Just Drive Me Screwy"
Series III: Plaques and Other Awards, ca. 1929-2007
Folder 1, Item 1
County of Los Angeles Commendation
Folder 1, Item 2
City of Los Angeles Resolution on Peggy Gilbert's 100th
Birthday,
2005 January 17
Folder 1, Item 3
California Legislature, Assembly Resolution on Peggy Gilbert's 100th
Birthday,
2005 January 17
Folder 1, Item 4
Film Poster, Peggy Gilbert and Her All Girl Band
Folder 2
Oversize Photographs,
ca. 1920-ca. 1949
Series IV: Card Files and Compact Discs, 1986-2007
Box 7, Folder 2
Card File for Pioneer Musicians of Los Angeles Luncheon and
Concert,
1986
Box 7, Folder 3
Peggy Gilbert Interview by Sherrie Tucker, Studio City,
California,
1998 September 22-1998 September 23
Scope and Contents
6 compact disks
Box 7, Folder 4
BBC Program,
Brief Lives: Obituary of Peggy
Gilbert
by Jeanne Poole,
2007 March 3
Scope and Contents
21:00 - 25:00
