Weeks, Charles Bryant Frederick. Papers

Acknowledgments

The Charles Bryant Frederick Weeks 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
Weeks, Charles Bryant Frederick. Papers
Dates
1922-2004
Language
Documents in English
Size
3.5 linear feet (6 boxes)
Repository
Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center
University of Chicago Library
1100 East 57th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637 U.S.A.
Abstract
Charles Bryant Frederick Weeks, drummer, banker, and board member of the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The Charles Bryant Frederick Weeks Collection includes ephemera on events and organizations in Chicago, administrative records for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, correspondence, catalogs, method books, audio material, articles, photographs, and a scrapbook. The collection documents Weeks' professional life and involvement in Chicago jazz, jazz events, and organizations in Chicago, particularly the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Information on Use

Access

Series V, 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 remainder of the collection is open for research.

Citation

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Weeks, Charles Bryant Frederick. Papers, [Box#, Folder#], Hanna Holborn Gray Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Biographical Note

Charles Bryant Frederick "Charlie" Weeks was born June 15, 1937 in Chicago and played jazz in the Northwestern University High School Band and the Northwestern University Band. Weeks attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he studied jazz drums with Joe Porcaro and graduated with an English degree in 1959.

After graduating, Weeks began a career as a banker at National Boulevard Bank of Chicago, performing music in his spare time. He joined the Chicago Federation of Musicians in 1961. Weeks played in Chicago clubs such as the London House, Basin Street, the Plugged Nickel, and the Hideaway, as well as performing with groups such as the Tom Herrick Orchestra, the Riverboat Ramblers, and the 85th Division Reserve Band.

As one of the founding members of the Chicago Jazz Festival in 1979, Weeks helped obtain initial funding from the City Arts Program and the Music Performance Trust Fund of the American Federation of Musicians. Weeks was president of the Jazz Institute of Chicago from 1980-1982 and 1999-2004. After retiring from banking, Weeks led a band, the Weeks Hornblowers, in private engagements.

Weeks died November 2, 2004.

Scope Note

The Charles Bryant Frederick Weeks Collection is arranged into five series: Series I, Professional; Series II, Jazz Institute of Chicago; Series III, Chicago Jazz; Series IV, Drums and Percussion; and Series V, Audio-Visual. The collection includes ephemera from events and organizations in Chicago, administrative records for the Jazz Institute of Chicago, correspondence, catalogs, method book, audio material, articles, photographs, and a scrapbook. The collection documents Weeks' professional life and involvement in Chicago jazz, jazz events, and organizations in Chicago, particularly the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Series I, Professional, contains material about Weeks' performing career. A biography highlights Weeks' musical career. There is a review of a compact disc that Weeks played on, which was recorded in a Chicago suburb. The correspondence is mostly about Weeks' performances. There is also an inventory of personal recordings, including many performances from the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Series II, Jazz Institute of Chicago, contains administrative records, correspondence, newspapers clippings, and other ephemera pertaining to the operation of the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The administrative records contain minutes from board meetings, correspondence between board members, calendars, budgets, financial reports, and balance sheets. There are also administrative records, articles, and correspondence about the Chicago Jazz Archive at the University of Chicago. See Series III for additional material on the Jazz Institute of Chicago. See Series II for additional material on the Jazz Institute of Chicago.

Series III, Chicago Jazz, has fliers, brochures, advertisements, concert programs, and other ephemera of jazz events and organizations based in Chicago, including the Chicago Jazz Festival and the Jazz Institute of Chicago. There are newspaper and magazine articles about musicians, jazz, and Chicago. Most articles are from Chicago area newspapers, but also The New York Times, The New Yorker, Jazztimes, and The New Republic. See Series V for photographs of events. Also included is a collection of quotes from a webpage about Lennie Tristano, a blind jazz pianist and Chicago native.

Series IV, Drums and Percussion, contains articles, catalogs, and music. There are method books and exercises for drums and percussion. There is also information about cymbals, including set-up patterns, history, and types of cymbals.

Series V, Audio-Visual, has two compact discs, an audio cassette, photographs, slides, and a scrapbook. The photographs and slides are of various Chicago jazz events. There scrapbook documents Weeks' playing career and contains photographs, postcards, event announcements, and business cards.

Related Resources

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

  • http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/spcl/select.html
  • Jazz Subject Files
  • University of Chicago Library. Chicago Jazz Archive

Indexed Terms

INVENTORY

Series I: Professional
Box 1
Folder 1
Title
Biography, 1998
Box 1
Folder 2
Title
Business Cards, undated
Box 1
Folder 3
Title
Correspondence, 1999-2003
Box 1
Folder 4
Title
Instrument Insurance Policy, 1984
Box 1
Folder 5
Title
Jazz Recordings , 1958-1999
Box 1
Folder 6
Title
Performance Set List, 2000
Box 1
Folder 7
Title
Performances, 1990-1998
Box 1
Folder 8
Title
Review, 2001
Series II: Jazz Institute of Chicago
Box 1
Folder 9
Title
Administrative, 1980-2002
Box 1
Folder 10
Title
Administrative, 1999
Box 1
Folder 11
Title
Administrative, 1999-2001
Box 1
Folder 12
Title
Administrative, 2001-2002
Box 1
Folder 13
Title
Administrative, 2002-2004
Box 1
Folder 14
Title
Administrative, 2003
Box 1
Folder 15
Title
Administrative, 2004
Box 1
Folder 16
Title
Administrative, 2004
Box 2
Folder 1
Title
By-Laws, 2002
Box 2
Folder 2
Title
Chicago Jazz Festival, Event Application, 1979
Box 2
Folder 3
Title
Chicago Jazz Festival, Financial Assistance, 1979
Box 2
Folder 4
Title
Chicago Jazz Festival, Programming Committee, 2003-2004
Box 2
Folder 5
Title
Correspondence, 2003-2004
Box 2
Folder 6
Title
Correspondence, 2004
Box 2
Folder 7
Title
Correspondence, Legal, 2000-2001
Box 2
Folder 8
Title
Jazz Fair, 2000-2002
Box 2
Folder 9
Title
Resumes and Accompanying Documentation, 2004
Box 2
Folder 10
Title
Strategic Planning, 2004
Box 2
Folder 11
Title
Strategic Planning, Whirlwind Reading in Motion, 2002-2003
Box 2
Folder 12
Title
Trademark and Servicemark Application and Certificate of Registration, 1979-2004
Box 2
Folder 13
Title
University of Chicago, Chicago Jazz Archive, 1982-2000
Box 2
Folder 14
Title
University of Chicago, Chicago Jazz Archive, 1992-2004
Box 2
Folder 15
Title
University of Chicago, Chicago Jazz Archive, 1998-2003
Series III: Chicago Jazz
Box 2
Folder 16
Title
Articles, Jazz, 1985-1998
Box 2
Folder 17
Title
Articles, Jazz, 1985-2004
Box 2
Folder 18
Title
Articles, Jazz and Chicago, 1986-2000
Box 2
Folder 19
Title
Articles, Jazz and Chicago, 1989-2004
Box 2
Folder 20
Title
Articles, Non-Jazz Music and Composers, 1984-2004
Box 2
Folder 21
Title
Articles, Non-Jazz Music and Composers, 1984-2004
Box 3
Folder 1
Title
Events, Chicago Edge Concerts, undated
Box 3
Folder 2
Title
Events, Chicago Jazz Festival, Access Passes, 2000-2003
Box 3
Folder 3
Title
Events, Chicago Jazz Festival, Advertisements, 1979-2002
Box 3
Folder 4
Title
Events, Chicago Jazz Festival, Articles, 1993-2004
Box 3
Folder 5
Title
Events, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, 1999-2000
Box 3
Folder 6
Title
Events, Jazz at Ravinia 1996-1999
Box 3
Folder 7
Title
Events, Jazz Clubs, 1994
Box 3
Folder 8
Title
Events, Jazz Institute of Chicago, 1993-1998
Box 3
Folder 9
Title
Events, Jazz Institute of Chicago, Jazz City, 2003-2004
Box 3
Folder 10
Title
Events, Jazz Members Big Band of Chicago, 1998-1999
Box 3
Folder 11
Title
Events, Jazz on the Plaza, 2004
Box 3
Folder 12
Title
Events, June Nights at Navy Pier, undated
Box 3
Folder 13
Title
Events, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, 1994
Box 3
Folder 14
Title
Events, Star Night, 1953
Box 3
Folder 15
Title
Events, Symphony Center, 1997-1998
Box 3
Folder 16
Title
Events, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1999
Box 3
Folder 17
Title
Events, William Claxton Exhibit, 1996
Box 3
Folder 18
Title
Musicians, 1978-2004
Box 3
Folder 19
Title
Musicians, 1984-1996
Box 3
Folder 20
Title
Musicians, Barrett Deems, 1998
Box 3
Folder 21
Title
Musicians, Charlie Parker, 1988-1999
Box 3
Folder 22
Title
Musicians, Duke Ellington, 1993-1996
Box 3
Folder 23
Title
Musicians, Duke Ellington, 1993-1998
Box 3
Folder 24
Title
Musicians, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, 1997-1999
Box 3
Folder 25
Title
Musicians, Louis Armstrong, 1995-1999
Box 3
Folder 26
Title
Organization, The Art Ensemble of Chicago Educational Foundation, undated
Box 3
Folder 27
Title
Organization, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, undated
Box 3
Folder 28
Title
Organization, The Historic Pullman Foundation, 2000
Box 3
Folder 29
Title
Organization, Jazz Institute of Chicago, 2004
Box 3
Folder 30
Title
Organization, Jazz Institute of Chicago, "Jazzgram," 1990-2004
Box 3
Folder 31
Title
Organization, Mosaic Records, undated
Box 3
Folder 32
Title
Quotes, Lennie Tristano, 1998
Series IV: Drums and Percussion
Box 3
Folder 33
Title
Articles, Drums and Percussion
Box 3
Folder 34
Title
Catalogs, Hubbel, 1929
Box 3
Folder 35
Title
Catalogs, Ludwig, 1980
Box 3
Folder 36
Title
Catalogs, Sabien, 1995
Box 3
Folder 37
Title
Catalogs, Slingerland, 1950
Box 4
Folder 1
Title
Catalogs, Stewart MacDonald's, 1996
Box 4
Folder 2
Title
Catalogs, Zampino, 1993
Box 4
Folder 3
Title
Catalogs, Zildjian, 1977-1997
Box 4
Folder 4
Title
Cymbals, 1958-1995
Box 4
Folder 5
Title
Drum Maintenance, undated
Box 4
Folder 6
Title
Exercises and Techniques, 1948-1982
Box 4
Folder 7
Title
Ludwig, undated
Box 4
Folder 8
Title
Method Books
Note
  • American Method of Double Drumming, Edward Straight; 1923
  • Control of the Drum Set, Phrasing for the Soloist, Alexander Lepak; Windsor Music Publications, 1978
Box 4
Folder 9
Title
Method Books
Note
  • Disco Drums!, John "Tony" Ruka; Limited, Ltd. Publishing, 1976
  • The Drumset Exerciser, Sam Piekarczyk; Opus Music Publisher's, Inc., 1978
  • Haskell W. Harr Drum Method, Haskell Harr; M.M. Cole Publishing Co., 1937
Box 4
Folder 10
Title
Method Books
Note
  • Sam Ulano's Solo Guide, Sam Ulano; Lane Publishing Co., 1955
  • Straight's Modern Syncopated Rhythms for Drums, Edward Straight; 1922
Box 4
Folder 11
Title
Music
Note
  • "Contest Solos," Ludwig Drum Co. Educational Department; Ludwig Drum Co., undated
  • "The Frequencies of Musical Instruments," undated
  • "Swing Cadences for Marching Band," John Tatgenhorst; Slingerland Drum Co., 1971
Series V: Audio-Visual
Box 5
Folder 1
Title
Audio Cassette, undated
Box 5
Folder 2
Title
Chicago Jazz Festival, Photographs, 2002
Box 5
Folder 3
Title
Chicago Jazz Festival, Slides, 1981
Box 5
Folder 4
Title
Compact Disc, pastforward, Grażyna Auguscik, 2003
Box 5
Folder 5
Title
Compact Disc, A Symphony of Cities, Famoudou Don Moye, Tatsu Aoki, 2002
Box 5
Folder 6
Title
Photographs, 2000-2003
Box 5
Folder 7
Title
Photographs, undated
Box 5
Folder 8
Title
Photographs, Exhibit, "From Dreamland to Showcase: Jazz in Chicago 1912-1996," 2000
Box 6
Title
Scrapbook, 1952-1999