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Title: Paul Desmond Papers
Dates: 1890-1991
Bulk Dates: (bulk,
1940-1970)
Collection number: MSS 309
Creator:
Desmond, Paul, 1924-
Collection Size: 1 linear foot
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Dept. of
Special Collections
Stockton, California 95211
Abstract: The collection consists of the papers of jazz
saxophonist Paul Desmond. Includes 36 pages of diaries (memos to myself) from
1947-1955, over 300 letters to and from Desmond throughout his childhood and
adult life, nearly 400 photographs, and a variety of other documents.
Physical location: For current information on the location
of these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Languages: Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection open for research.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as
the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the
researcher.
[Identification of item]. Paul Desmond Papers. Holt-Atherton Department
of Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library.
Biography / Administrative History
Paul Desmond is widely considered one of the great alto saxophonists in
jazz history. He was an essential member of the Dave Brubeck Quartet in the
1950s and 1960s. As a member of the Quartet, Desmond wrote "Take Five," the
best selling jazz single in history. Desmond was born Paul Emil Breitenfeld in
San Francisco on November 25, 1924. He played piano, clarinet, and saxophone
while growing up, but focused on alto saxophone during his professional
career.
Desmond and Brubeck formed the core of the Brubeck Quartet in 1951. Over
the next sixteen years the group was one of the most popular acts in jazz,
touring the world and releasing several best-selling albums. Desmond also
recorded and performed with his own groups, usually as a quartet. He died in
New York City on May 30, 1977.
A comprehensive treatment of Desmond's life can be found in Take Five:
The Public and Private Lives of Paul Desmond by Doug Ramsey (Parkside
Publications, 2005). Many of the diaries, letters, and other documents in the
Paul Desmond Collection are reproduced in this biography.
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection consists of the papers of jazz saxophonist Paul Desmond.
Includes 36 pages of diaries (memos to myself) from 1947-1955, over 300 letters
to and from Desmond throughout his childhood and adult life, nearly 400
photographs, and a variety of other documents. The diaries and letters offer
vivid insights into Desmond's psyche and outlook on life, as well as his
musical career. These include extensive personal correspondence between Desmond
and his father Emil Breitenfeld, as well as letters from Dave and Iola Brubeck
in 1951 that signify the beginning of the Brubeck Quartet.
Over two dozen letters, envelopes, and other materials were added to
folder 2.13 “Drawings and letters by Arnold Roth” that were acquired from
Arnold and Caroline Roth in 2023.
Collection is arranged by material type. Most of the letters written by
Desmond are undated, but have been arranged in an approximate chronological
order. It is imperative that researchers only use one file at a time and
maintain the order of the letters.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this
collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Breitenfeld, Paul, 1924-
Brubeck, Dave
Breitenfeld, Emil
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Jazz musicians - United States
Saxophonists - United States
The Brubeck Collection (MSS 4) contains a significant amount of
information on Desmond and his partnership with Brubeck.