University of Missouri-Kansas City
Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections

NOT TO BE USED FOR PUBLICATION

Warren Durrett Collection, MS59

Scope and Content

The Warren Durrett Collection was donated to the Miller Nichols Library at the University of Missouri, Kansas City by Janice Durrett, his widow. The manuscript collection is housed in the Dr. Kenneth J. LaBudde Department of Special Collections, while the sound recordings are held in the Marr Sound Archives. The collection contains 143 boxes and is divided into nine series, which includes correspondence, contracts, financial logbooks, miscellaneous, photographs, manuscript scores [Books I-XVI], manuscript scores, published music, and oversized materials. The collection is strong in many areas, but the wealth of the collection is the music series, which contains over 200 titles composed and arranged by Warren Durrett and other various individuals.

Series Notes

Series I: Correspondence

This series is held in 35 folders in Boxes 1 - 3. This series contains Durrett Productions and band correspondence dating from 1945 to 1963 and 2003. There are hundreds of letters included in this series. This series is organized in chronological order beginning with the most recent.

Series II: Contracts

This series is held in 17 folders in Box 3. Contained in this series are music contracts from several bands that Durrett had performed in. The contracts date from 1945 to 1963. This series is organized in chronological order beginning with the most recent.

Series III: Financial Logbooks

This series is contained in 59 folders in Boxes 4 - 7. This series holds approximately 59 financial logbooks tracking finances for Durrett Productions and other business’ of Warren Durrett’s. This series is organized in chronological order beginning with the most recent.

Series IV: Miscellaneous

This series is found in 1 folder in Box 7. This series contains miscellaneous material from the collection, including: show scripts; advertising proposals; schedules and inventories; programs; financial info; newspaper clipping; postcards; and an address list. This series is organized in no particular order.

Series V: Photographs

This series is contained in Boxes 8 - 11. This series holds over 200 black & white and color photographs. The photographs include promotional shots of Warren Durrett and his orchestra, photographs of other artists, performances, personal photographs and snapshots. This series is organized by subject matter.

Series VI: Manuscript Scores [Books I-XVI]

This series is contained in Boxes 13 - 75. The series includes manuscript scores in ink, pencil, and copies of the scores. The series holds compositions for Tenor, Baritone, Drums, Trombone, Trumpet, Bass, Alto, Piano, Guitar, and Flute. There are over 200 titles in the series. The manuscript scores have been kept in their original order.

Series VII: Manuscript Scores

This series is found in Boxes 76 - 126. Boxes 76 - 78 includes titles from A-B. Boxes 79 - 81, B-B. Boxes 82 - 87, C-E. Boxes 88 - 90, E-G. Boxes 91 - 95, G-I. Boxes 96 - 99, I-L. Boxes 100 - 105, L-N. Boxes 106 - 108, N-P. Boxes 109 - 115, P, R-S. Boxes 116 -126, S-W, Y-Z. The series contains manuscript scores in ink, pencil, and copies of the scores. The series includes compositions for Alto, Baritone, Bass, Bongos, Clarinet, Drums, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Saxophone, Tenor, Trombone, Trumpet, and Violin. This series is organized in alphabetical order.

Series VIII: Published Music

This series is contained in Boxes 127 - 135. This series includes published music by various individuals. There are various titles from A-Y. The series includes various instrument parts, such as, Alto, Baritone, Bass, Clarinet, Drums, Tenor, and among other instruments. This series is organized in alphabetical order.

Series IX: Oversize

This series is held in Boxes 136 - 143 and Map Drawer 21. Box 136 contains titles from A-D. Box 137, D-I. Box 138, I-L. Box 139, L-M. Box 140, N-R. Box 141, S-S. Box 142, T-U. Box 143, U-W, Y. This series includes oversize manuscript scores in ink, pencil, and copies of scores.