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Campbell, Wilbur and Valarie. Collection

Acknowledgments

The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection was processed and preserved as part of the "Uncovering New Chicago Archives Project," funded with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Campbell, Wilbur and Valarie. Collection
Dates
1958-2004
Language
Documents in English
Size
10.5 linear feet (12 boxes)
Repository
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.
Abstract
Wilbur and Valarie Campbell. Wilbur Campbell, Chicago drummer; Valarie Campbell, wife and jewelry maker. The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection contains correspondence, articles, artifacts, photographs, publications, posters, audio-visual material, and event ephemera.

Information on Use

Access

Series III, Audio-Visual, does not include access copies for part or all of the material in this series. Researchers will need to consult with staff before requesting material from this series.

The collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Campbell. Wilbur and Valarie, Collection. [Box#, Folder#], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Wilbur Campbell was born on July 29, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended DuSable High School and was a member of “Captain Walter Dyett’s Dynasty” which produced more than 200 internationally known musicians. Although he was trained on piano, vibraphone, and drums, Campbell eventually settled on the drums after a three day-long practice with legendary vibes player Milton Jackson. At the age of fifteen, Campbell played his first professional gig in a band called “Baby Band,” a band named for its young musicians. Two years later, he was featured in a Down Beat article called “Young Lion.” From 1945-1947, he served in the United States Navy.

After living in New York and traveling, Campbell settled in Chicago. In 1948, he married Osceola Simmons. As one of Chicago’s first-call drummers, he often played with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk when they performed in the city.

Campbell was active in the Jazz Institute of Chicago in various capacities, including director, vice president, and programming committees for the Jazz Express and annual Chicago Jazz Festival. He also worked for the state of Illinois as a drug counselor. In 1972, he married Valarie Thompson-Villard.

Valarie (Thompson-Villard) Campbell was born on February 19, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Parker High School where she was the first freshman on the swim team. After high school, she married and had a son Martin Villard.

In 1967, she began work at Commonwealth Edison and retired from there in 1994. In January 1971, Valarie began studying business at Roosevelt University where she met Wilbur Campbell. After marrying in 1972, the two traveled around the world, meeting jazz musicians and making lifelong friends.

She was an ardent jewelry maker and beader. Valarie served on the board of the Bead Society of Great Chicago. In October 2007, she sent her beads and tools to South Africa with the hope of helping those struggling with HIV/AIDS.

Wilbur Campbell died on December 30, 1999. Valarie Campbell died on January 17, 2008.

Scope Note

The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection is organized into six series: Series I, Personal; Series II, Events and Musicians; Series III, Audio-Visual; Series IV, Publications; Series V, Oversize; and Series VI, Artifacts and Awards. The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection contains correspondence, articles, artifacts, photographs, publications, posters, audio-visual material, and event ephemera.

Series I, Personal, contains business cards, award certificates, calendars, correspondence, an essay, an article, and photographs. Correspondence includes letters from the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Jazz Institute of Chicago, family, and friends and may include newsletters, photographs, newspaper articles, and business cards. The award certificates acknowledge Wilbur Campbell’s contribution to the field of jazz as well as the field of substance abuse awareness. The performance contracts are for various concerts given by Campbell throughout Chicago. The essay was written by Campbell for a humanities class. A Down Beat article features Wilbur Campbell. See Series III and IV for additional material.

Series II, Events and Musicians, contains advertisements, fliers, articles and photographs of various musicians. Events include the Newport Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival as well as Chicago concerts and performances. There are receipts documenting a performance tour to Egypt. See Series IV for additional material.

Series III, Audio-Visual, contains photographs from various Chicago Jazz Festivals, an International Association of Jazz Educators event, performances at the Jazz Showcase, and trips to Egypt, Jerusalem, and Mexico, as well as publicity photographs of Wilbur Campbell. The unlabeled photographs appear to be of Wilbur and Valarie Campbell with family, friends, and jazz musicians. Audio cassettes and compact discs are arranged alphabetically by musician and are distinguished by personal and commercial recordings. There is a video cassette of a Grant Park performance given by Campbell. See Series V for additional photographs.

Series IV, Publications, contains jazz magazines and newsletters including Down Beat, Jazz Times, Jazzgram, and Jazz Journal.

Series V, Oversize, contains jazz publications, news magazines, newspaper articles, sheet music, posters, and photographs, arranged by format and size. The articles are from the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Tempo, and Jazz Echo and are about various arts events and venues in Chicago, including the Jazz Showcase and the Chicago Jazz Festivals. The Book of Negro Folklore was edited by Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps and The Story of Jazz was written by Marshall W. Stearns. Sheet music is arranged alphabetically by title and includes printed, published, photocopied, and transcribed music. The posters advertise events and performances in Chicago. Also included are announcements for Chicago-based performances given by various musicians. See Series II and IV for additional material.

Series VI, Artifacts and Awards, contains drum sticks, brushes, and other percussion accessories. Also included are awards from Jazz Masters and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, and a framed painting of Campbell.

Processing Information note

This collection was surveyed as part of the Black Metropolis Research Consortium's Survey Initiative on 2010 February 1 by Bergis Jules and Lauren Kalal.

Related Material

Browse finding aids by topic.

  • Chicago Jazz Archive
  • Jazz Institute of Chicago. Records

Indexed Terms

INVENTORY

Series I: Personal
Box 1
Folder 1
Title
Article, “Wilbur Campbell: Hot House Drummer,” 1974
Box 1
Folder 2
Title
Awards, 1981-1999
Box 1
Folder 3
Title
Business Cards, undated
Box 1
Folder 4
Title
Calendar, 1978
Box 1
Folder 5
Title
Calendar, 1979
Box 1
Folder 6
Title
Calendar, 1995
Box 1
Folder 7
Title
Correspondence, 1977-1979
Box 1
Folder 8
Title
Correspondence, 1977-1979
Box 1
Folder 9
Title
Correspondence, 1992-1997
Box 1
Folder 10
Title
Essay, 1974
Box 1
Folder 11
Title
Notebook, undated
Box 1
Folder 12
Title
Notes, 1999
Box 1
Folder 13
Title
Obituary, 2000
Box 1
Folder 14
Title
Performance Contracts, 1990-1996
Box 1
Folder 15
Title
Personal Planner, 1996
Series II: Events and Musicians
Box 1
Folder 16
Title
Event, 14th Annual Floating Jazz Festival, 1996
Box 2
Folder 1
Title
Event, 16th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, 1994
Box 2
Folder 2
Title
Event, 17th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, 1995
Box 2
Folder 3
Title
Event, Buttons, 1981
Box 2
Folder 4
Title
Event, Chicago Old Style Jazz Festival, 1988
Box 2
Folder 5
Title
Event, Festival Internacional de Jazz, 2001
Box 2
Folder 6
Title
Event, Grant Park Concert, 1977
Box 2
Folder 7
Title
Event, Jazz City, 2007
Box 2
Folder 8
Title
Event, The Jazz Express Concert, 1989
Box 2
Folder 9
Title
Event, Jazz Institute of Chicago 19th Annual Jazz Fair, 1997
Box 2
Folder 10
Title
Event, Jazz Showcase, 1997-2004
Box 2
Folder 11
Title
Event, Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, 1996
Box 2
Folder 12
Title
Event, New Foxhole Café, 1976
Box 2
Folder 13
Title
Event, Newport Jazz Festival, New York, 1972
Box 2
Folder 14
Title
Event, Now’s The Time Benefit Concert, 1995
Box 2
Folder 15
Title
Event, Restaurant Menu, Bamboo East, 1966
Box 2
Folder 16
Title
Event, Roosevelt University All-Star Jazz Concert, 1993
Box 2
Folder 17
Title
Event, Sweet Home Chicago, 1992
Box 2
Folder 18
Title
Event, Theatre Under The Stars, 1977
Box 2
Folder 19
Title
Event, Tri-C Jazz Fest, 1997
Box 2
Folder 20
Title
Event, Trip to Egypt, 1990
Box 2
Folder 21
Title
Event, Wilbur Campbell’s Red Sea Jazz Festival Chicago All-Stars, undated
Box 2
Folder 22
Title
Event, Unidentified
Box 2
Folder 23
Title
Musician, Clifford Jordan Discography, 1987
Box 2
Folder 24
Title
Musician, Cole-McPherson Quintet, 1990
Box 2
Folder 25
Title
Musician, Eddie Hams, 1996
Box 2
Folder 26
Title
Musician, Elmer Parker McDougal, Jr., 1994
Box 2
Folder 27
Title
Musician, Francine Griffin, 1989
Box 2
Folder 28
Title
Musician, Frank Morgan, 1996
Box 2
Folder 29
Title
Musician, Gene Ammons, 1974
Box 2
Folder 30
Title
Musician, Jackie McLean, 1980
Box 2
Folder 31
Title
Musician, James W. Davis, 1995
Box 2
Folder 32
Title
Musician, James Moody, 1993
Box 2
Folder 33
Title
Musician, Jay McShann, 1991
Box 2
Folder 34
Title
Musician, Joe Henderson, 1986
Box 2
Folder 35
Title
Musician, Miki Antonelli, undated
Box 2
Folder 36
Title
Musician, Prince James, undated
Box 2
Folder 37
Title
Musician, Richard W. Goodman, 1997
Box 2
Folder 38
Title
Musician, Rob Mazurek-John Brunbach Quintet, 1994
Box 2
Folder 39
Title
Musician, Scott Hamilton, undated
Box 2
Folder 40
Title
Musician, Von Freeman, undated
Box 2
Folder 41
Title
Musician, Walter Dyett’s Orchestra, undated
Box 2
Folder 42
Title
Musician, Willie Pickens, 1996
Series III: Audio-Visual
Box 2
Folder 43
Title
Audio Cassettes, 1956-1996
Note
  • Atlanta All Star Quartet, Personal, undated
  • Billie Holliday, Personal, 1956
  • Campbell, Personal, 1996
  • Ira Sullivan, Commercial, undated
Box 3
Folder 1
Title
Audio Cassettes, 1958-1999
Note
  • Pattie LaBelle, Commercial, 1999
  • Richard Davis, Personal, 1982
  • Sandy Mosse (Side A) and Bill Monroe (Side B), Personal 1958-1991
  • Sonny Stitt, Personal, undated
Box 3
Folder 2
Title
Audio Cassettes, Unidentified
Box 3
Folder 3
Title
Compact Discs, Commercial, 1993-1997
Note
  • Arts Midwest Jazz Masters, 1993
  • Arts Midwest Jazz Masters, 1995
  • Arts Midwest Jazz Masters, 1996
  • Arts Midwest Jazz Masters, 1997
Box 3
Folder 4
Title
Compact Discs, Commercial, 1993-1997
Note
  • A Chicago Jazz Tour, 1997
  • Delmark 40th Anniversary Jazz, 1993
  • Dexter Gordon Featuring Joe Newman, 1995
Box 3
Folder 5
Title
Compact Discs, 1994-2000
Note
  • Francine Griffin, Commercial, 1999
  • The Ira Sullivan Quintet, Commercial, 1994
  • Ira Sullivan and the Chicago Jazz Quintet, Commercial, 2000
  • Ira Sullivan, Personal, undated
Box 3
Folder 6
Title
Compact Discs, Commercial, 1994-1995
Note
  • Jodie Christian Trio, 1994
  • Louis Smith Quintet, 1994
  • Marcus Belgrave with Detroit’s Jazz Piano Legacy, 1995
Box 4
Folder 1
Title
Compact Discs, Commercial, 1992-1998
Note
  • Von Freeman Quartet, 1992
  • Von Freeman Quartet, 1994
  • Willie Pickens, 1998
Box 4
Folder 2
Title
Photographs, 1977
Box 4
Folder 3
Title
Photographs, 1979
Box 4
Folder 4
Title
Photographs, circa 1995
Box 4
Folder 5
Title
Photographs, Chicago Jazz Festival, circa 1988
Box 4
Folder 6
Title
Photographs, Chicago Jazz Festival, 2000
Box 4
Folder 7
Title
Photographs, Great Day in Jazz 50th Anniversary, Jazz Showcase, 1947-1997
Box 4
Folder 8
Title
Photographs, International Association of Jazz Educators, 1997
Box 4
Folder 9
Title
Photographs, Jazz Showcase, 1977
Box 4
Folder 10
Title
Photographs, Campbell and Other Musicians, undated
Box 4
Folder 11
Title
Photographs, Campbell and Other Musicians, undated
Box 4
Folder 12
Title
Photographs, Campbells and Others, undated
Box 4
Folder 13
Title
Photographs, Publicity, undated
Box 5
Folder 1
Title
Photographs, Trip to Egypt, undated
Box 5
Folder 2
Title
Photographs, Trip to Jamaica, undated
Box 5
Folder 3
Title
Photographs, Trip to Jerusalem, undated
Box 5
Folder 4
Title
Photographs, Trip to Jerusalem, undated
Box 5
Folder 5
Title
Photographs, Trip to Mexico, undated
Box 5
Folder 6
Title
Video Cassette, Grant Park Performance, undated
Series IV: Publications
Box 5
Folder 7
Title
Advertisement, undated
Box 5
Folder 8
Title
Adventure Road, 1976
Box 5
Folder 9
Title
Arts Midwest Newsletter, 1995-1996
Box 5
Folder 10
Title
Book of Negro Folklore, 1958
Box 6
Folder 1
Title
The Bride’s Book of Etiquette, 1968
Box 6
Folder 2
Title
Chicago Reader, 1996
Box 6
Folder 3
Title
The Chicago Reporter, 1987
Box 6
Folder 4
Title
Chicago Tribune TV Week, 1978
Box 6
Folder 5
Title
The Cosmo Girl’s 1979 Bedside Astrologer, 1979
Box 6
Folder 6
Title
Crescendo, 1992
Box 6
Folder 7
Title
Down Beat, 1973-1985
Box 6
Folder 8
Title
Down Beat, 1997-1999
Box 6
Folder 9
Title
Edison Service News, 1977
Box 6
Folder 10
Title
“From Dreamland to Showcase: Jazz in Chicago, 1912-1996,” undated
Box 6
Folder 11
Title
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, 1977-1978
Box 6
Folder 12
Title
Jazz Educators Journal, 1997
Box 6
Folder 13
Title
Jazz Masters Journal, 1994
Box 6
Folder 14
Title
JazzTimes, 1991
Box 6
Folder 15
Title
Jazzgram, 1989-1997
Box 6
Folder 16
Title
Jazziz, 2004
Box 6
Folder 17
Title
Metronome, 1957
Box 6
Folder 18
Title
“Movin On Down De Line,” 1975
Box 6
Folder 19
Title
Midwest Jazz, 1993-1996
Box 7
Folder 1
Title
Midwest Jazz, 1997-1998
Box 7
Folder 2
Title
Newsweek, 1978
Box 7
Folder 3
Title
Newsweek, 1978
Box 7
Folder 4
Title
New York, 1977
Box 7
Folder 5
Title
Park’s Flower Book, 1977
Box 7
Folder 6
Title
Playboy Book Club, 1977
Box 7
Folder 7
Title
Psychology Today, 1977
Box 7
Folder 8
Title
Radio Free Jazz, 1979
Box 7
Folder 9
Title
“The Real Vocal Book Vol. I,” undated
Box 7
Folder 10
Title
“Rhythm Analysis and Basic Co-ordination,” 1977
Box 7
Folder 11
Title
The Story of Jazz, 1975
Box 7
Folder 12
Title
Sound News Vol.III, 1995
Box 7
Folder 13
Title
Time Magazine, 1977
Box 7
Folder 14
Title
“A Traveler’s Guide to African American Heritage,” 1994
Box 7
Folder 15
Title
Where Chicago, 1994
Box 7
Folder 16
Title
Woman’s Day, 1991
Series V: Oversize
Box 8
Folder 1
Title
Articles, 1966-1992
Box 8
Folder 2
Title
Articles, 1977-2000
Box 8
Folder 3
Title
Calendar, 1979
Box 8
Folder 4
Title
Event, 1st Annual “Boogie for Corners,” undated
Box 8
Folder 5
Title
Event, Chicago Jazz Festival, 2006
Box 8
Folder 6
Title
Event, Ravinia Festival, 1978
Box 8
Folder 7
Title
Musician, Arlene and The Red Tags, undated
Box 8
Folder 8
Title
Musician, John Gilmore, undated
Box 8
Folder 9
Title
Musician, Sun Ra and his Arkestra, undated
Box 8
Folder 10
Title
Publication, Chicago Jazz Magazine, 2004
Box 8
Folder 11
Title
Publication, Himalayan News, 1978
Box 8
Folder 12
Title
Publication, Illinois State Employees Association Newsletter, 1978
Box 8
Folder 13
Title
Publication, International Musician, 1978
Box 8
Folder 14
Title
Publication, The Intermezzo, 1978
Box 8
Folder 15
Title
Publication, Jazz News, 1992
Box 8
Folder 16
Title
Publication, “The Talk of the Town,” undated
Box 8
Folder 17
Title
Sheet Music, A-J, 1964-1996
Note
  • “502 Blues,” Jimmy Boules, undated
  • “Adventurer,” Clifford Jordan, 1982
  • “Afro Blue,” M. Santamaria, undated
  • “Antonio, Milton, and Soffia,” Larry Gray, 1996
  • “Bearcat,” Clifford Jordan,” 1981
  • “Bebop,” Dizzy Gillespie, undated
  • “Betty Shout,” undated
  • “Blowin’ the Blues Away,” Horace Silver, undated
  • “Blues For Muse,” Clifford Jordan, 1978
  • “Caravan,” undated
  • “Central Park West,” John Coltrane, undated
  • “Charlie Parker’s Last Supper,” Clifford Jordan, undated
  • “Cottontail,” Duke Ellington, undated
  • “Crazeology,” Bud Powell, undated
  • “Days of Wine and Roses,” Ernestine Anderson, undated
  • “E.S.P.,” Wayne Shorter, 1965
  • “Firm Roots,” Cedar Walton, undated
  • “A Flower is a Lonesome Thing,” B. Strayhorn, undated
  • “A Foxxy Minor,” undated
  • “Green Chimneys,” Thelonious Monk, undated
  • “Hail to the Chief,” Larry Gray, 1994
  • “Here, There, and Everywhere,” Ernestine Anderson, undated
  • “Hi Fly,” Randy Weston, undated
  • “The Highest Mountain,” Clifford Jordan, 1965
  • “If You Could See Me Now,” undated
  • “Impression of Scandinavia,” Clifford Jordan, 1965
  • “Inner Urge,” Joe Henderson, undated
  • “Invitation,” Kaper and Washington, undated
  • “Isotope,” Joe Henderson, undated
  • “Joshua,” Victor Feldman, undated
Box 8
Folder 18
Title
Sheet Music, M-Y, 1966-1992
Note
  • “Make Up Your Mind,” John Griffin, 1990
  • “Manteca,” Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Fuller, undated
  • “Miles Mode,” undated
  • “Moontrane,” Woody Shaw, undated
  • “More than a Few,” Larry Gray, 1992
  • “Mr. Styx,” undated
  • “My Premier at the Cinema,” Samuel A. Thomas, 1983
  • “My Ship, Kurt Weill, undated
  • “Naima,” John Coltrane, undated
  • “Nardis,” Miles Davis, undated
  • “No Smokin’,” Horace Silver, undated
  • “Pannonica,” Thelonious Monk, undated
  • “Pinocchio,” Wayne Shorter, undated
  • “One by One,” undated
  • “Quit’n Time,” Clifford Jordan, 1981
  • “Royal Garden Blues,” undated
  • “Send in the Clowns,” Ernestine Anderson, undated
  • “Serenade to a Bus Seat,” Clark Terry, undated
  • “Straight Street,” John Coltrane, 1956
  • “Tell it Like it Is,” Wayne Shorter, undated
  • “That’s My Baby Now,” Ernestine Anderson, undated
  • “Think on Me,” George Cabler, undated
  • “U-Jaama (Unity), G. Shepp, undated
  • “Who is the Drummer?,” Larry Gray, 1992
  • “Wil ‘n the Jug,” Samuel Thomas and Maja Rios, 1983
  • “Wise One,” John Coltrane, undated
  • “Yes or No,” Wayne Shorter, undated
Box 8
Folder 19
Title
Sheet Music, Unidentified
Box 9
Folder 1
Title
Photograph, Chicago Jazz Festival, 1996
Box 9
Folder 2
Title
Photograph, Great Day in Jazz 50th Anniversary, Jazz Showcase, 1947-1997
Box 9
Folder 3
Title
Photographs, Campbell, undated
Box 9
Folder 4
Title
Photographs, Campbell and Others, undated
Box 9
Folder 5
Title
Poster, Chicago Jazz Festivals, undated
Box 9
Folder 6
Title
Poster, Foxhole Café
Box 9
Folder 7
Title
Poster, Jazz Showcase, 1979
Box 9
Folder 8
Title
Poster, Jazz Showcase, undated
Box 9
Folder 9
Title
Poster, Newport Jazz Festival New York, 1972
Box 9
Folder 10
Title
Poster, Playboy Lounge, undated
Box 9
Folder 11
Title
Poster, Roberts 500 Room, undated
Box 9
Folder 12
Title
Poster, Slugs’ in the Far East, undated
Series VI: Artifacts and Awards
Box 10
Title
Drum Brushes
Box 10
Title
Drum Sticks
Box 10
Title
Pedal Buffers
Box 10
Title
Practice Pad
Box 11
Title
Award, Jazz Masters 1996
Box 12
Title
Award, Jazz Institute Chicago
Box 12
Title
Framed Painting