Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca papers, 1885-1961 | Hogan Jazz Archive

By Samantha Bruner

Collection Overview

Title: Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca papers, 1885-1961Add to your cart.View associated digital content.

Predominant Dates:1915-1961

ID: HJA/MS 008

Primary Creator: LaRocca, Nick

Extent: 100.0 Linear Feet

Arrangement: The materials have been arranged into twelve series according to medium or subject: newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, journals and magazines, sheet music, publicity, business and personal documents, deposition, oversize materials, scrapbooks, books, albums and test pressings. Each series has its own box and folder list.

Date Acquired: 05/18/1960

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection contains newspaper clippings, fliers, posters, programs and other publicity materials, along with photographs, books, test pressings of O.D.J.B. records, correspondence and sheet music. The collection also includes five scrapbooks, created by Nick LaRocca.

Biographical Note

Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca (1889-1961) was a self-taught New Orleans cornetist who became the leader of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, which made the first recording of jazz in New York City in 1917. Based on the popularity of the recording and live performances, the O.D.J.B. became a sensation, traveling to England in 1919. After returning to the U.S. in 1920, the band broke up in 1925 and then refomed briefly from 1936-38, after which LaRocca Returned to New Orleans to resume work as a contractor.

Administrative Information

Repository: Hogan Jazz Archive

Access Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Acquisition Source: Dominic James "Nick" LaRocca

Acquisition Method: Donation

Box and Folder Listing


Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Newspaper Clippings],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1917-1960],
[Series 3: Photographs],
[Series 4: Journals and Magazines],
[Series 5: Sheet Music],
[Series 6: Publicity],
[Series 7: Business and Personal Documents],
[Series 8: Deposition],
[Series 9: Oversize Materials],
[Series 10: Scrapbooks],
[Series 11: Books],
[Series 12: Albums and Test Pressings],
[All]

Series 10: ScrapbooksAdd to your cart.
Box 22: Scrapbook 1, 1917 - 1936Add to your cart.
Scrapbook composed by Nick LaRocca. Size: 16 1/2 X 18 1/4 X 1 3/4, 75 pages. Materials included on the pages are newspaper clippings. programs, flyers, business cards, posters, postcards, photographs.
Box 23: Scrapbooks 2 and 3, 1917 - 1936, 1919 - 1955Add to your cart.
Scrapbook 2: composed by Nick LaRocca. Size: 12 1/4 X 12 3/4 X 1, 26 pages. Contains correspondence. Scrapbook 3: composed by Larocca. Also includes materials from 1919 - 1955. Size: 11 1/8 X 12 5/8 X 3/4, 42 pages. Mostly correspondence, but also includes some flyers, programs and postcards. Most materials come from 1936.
Box 24: Scrapbook 4, 1921 - 1954Add to your cart.
Scrapbook composed by Nick LaRocca. Size: 11 1/8 X 14 1/8 X 1 1/8, 52 pages. Contains primarily correspondence, but also includes photographs, programs.
Box 25: Scrapbook 5, 1936Add to your cart.
Scrapbook composed by Nick LaRocca. Size: 14 1/4 X 17 X 2, 99 pages. Mostly newspaper clippings, also photographs, record advertisements, sheet music, posters, programs.
Box 26: Scrapbook AddendaAdd to your cart.
Folder 1: 1920 - 1923Add to your cart.
Item 1: Scrapbook page, 1920Add to your cart.
Includes 4 Folies Bergere advertisements and three clippings: "Original Dixieland Jazz Band Returns," "Plays and Players," "Shields Still Great Clarinetist - Hammond's Record Review" (October 1936).
Item 2: Scrapbook Page, 1920 - 1921Add to your cart.
Six letters.
Item 3: Scrapbook Page - Jazz and Animals, 1921Add to your cart.
Item 4: Scrapbook Page: O.D.J.B. at Central Park Zoo, 1921Add to your cart.
Item 5: Scrapbook Page: Cafe LaMarne, 1921Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Item 6: Scrapbook Page: Concert Advertisements, 1921Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Item 7: Scrapbook Page: Career and Record Releases, 1921Add to your cart.
Item 8: Scrapbook Page: Record Releases and Performance AdvertisementsAdd to your cart.
Item 9: Scrapbook Page: Cafe LaMarneAdd to your cart.
Item 10: Scrapbook Page: Record releases and Folies Bergere Announcements, 1921Add to your cart.
Item 11: Scrapbook Page: O.D.J.B. at Duquesne Garden and Clippings, 1921Add to your cart.
Item 12: Scrapbook Page: O.D.J.B. on Coney Island, 1922Add to your cart.View associated digital content.
Item 13: Scrapbook Page: Flyers and Clippings, 1923Add to your cart.
Flyers: O.D.J.B. at The Music Hall, at Busoni's Danceland, at the Balconades Ballroom. Clippings: "Toddlin' Blues," "Ken Murray  Troupe Now at Proctor's" (12/4/1936). Telegram: Nick LaRocca to J.W. Jenkins Sons (10/8/1921).
Item 14: Scrapbook Page: O.D.J.B.'s tour of New England, 1923Add to your cart.
Folder 2: 1936 - 1937Add to your cart.
Item 1: Scrapbook Page: Clippings and Advertisements, June 1936Add to your cart.
Includes a page from Metronome with an article entitled "Looking at Japanese Jazz," annotated by LaRocca. Reverse includes an advertisement for Ken  Murray and Oswald at Proctor's, the O.D.J.B. at Heimenz Auditorium and for Busoni's Danceland.
Item 2: Scrapbook Page:Clipping, Correspondence, Sheet  Music Cover, August 1936Add to your cart.
Clipping from The Billboard entitled "Swing Music and Its Effects on the Trade," letter from LaRocca to Marshall Stearns dated 1/18/1937, sheet music cover "New Orleans Blues."
Item 3: Scrapbook Page: Clippings and Advertisements, October 1936Add to your cart.
Clipping from Orchestra World entitled "The Original Dixieland Jazz Band," three advertisements from circa 1918, clipping "Original Dixielanders, Reuniting, Say Swing's the Same Today as in 1917" dated 7/8/1937, record advertisement from the Saturday Evening Post, 7/26/1919.
Item 4: Scrapbook Page: Clipping and Program, 11/7/1936Add to your cart.
"The Broadway Beat" from The Billboard, and program from Hammersmith, 1919.
Item 5: Scrapbook Page: Publicity, December 1936Add to your cart.
Clipping "Ken Murray Troupe Now at Proctor's," advertisement for Rosevue Ballroom, advertisement for Rosebud Ballroom, Victor Records Advertisement.
Item 6: Scrapbook Page: Jazz and Swing, March 1937Add to your cart.
Folder 3: Esquire , February 1946Add to your cart.
Magazine heavily annotated by LaRocca with numerous clippings and letters pasted in.
Folder 4: 1955 - 1959Add to your cart.
Item 1: Scrapbook Page: Clippings and Letters, 1955Add to your cart.
Various newspaper clippings from 1955, including one from 1941. Also includes a letter from LaRocca to  Mayor Morrison, dated 7/18/1955.
Item 2: Scrapbook Page:Clippings, 1958Add to your cart.
Various clippings for 1958, heavily annotated by LaRocca.
Item 3: Scrapbook Page:W.C. Handy, 1958Add to your cart.
Various clippings regarding W.C. Handy, annotated by LaRocca.
Item 4: Scrapbook Page: Clippings, 1959Add to your cart.
Various clippings from 1959, annotated by LaRocca.
Folder 5: New Orleans Jazz Club 11th Annual Jazz Concert Program, 10/26/1959Add to your cart.
Program heavily annotated by LaRocca with numerous clippings and letters pasted in.

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Newspaper Clippings],
[Series 2: Correspondence, 1917-1960],
[Series 3: Photographs],
[Series 4: Journals and Magazines],
[Series 5: Sheet Music],
[Series 6: Publicity],
[Series 7: Business and Personal Documents],
[Series 8: Deposition],
[Series 9: Oversize Materials],
[Series 10: Scrapbooks],
[Series 11: Books],
[Series 12: Albums and Test Pressings],
[All]

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