Roy Eldridge Collection

About the Physical Collection

The Roy Eldridge Collection was acquired by the Sherman Jazz Museum in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the east coast of the United States in the fall of 2012. In spite of visible water damage on some items, it is a rich source of photos, datebooks, advertisements, itineraries, and memorabilia from the life and career of jazz trumpeter Roy Eldridge.

About Roy Eldridge

Nicknamed "Little Jazz," Eldridge left his native Pittsburgh for New York, playing in many Harlem jazz bands and later joining Gene Krupa, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, and numerous musicians with Norman Granz' Jazz at the Philharmonic, as well as performing under his own name. Many of these musicians are featured in the collection, which consists primarily of photographs spanning the 1930s through the 1980s, with some possibly earlier photos. They include musical performances, travel, holidays, and daily life, providing insights into Eldridge's life on- and off-stage.