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Bob Crosby papers, 1922-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Crosby, Bob, 1913-1993
Title
Bob Crosby papers
Dates
1922-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
32.25 cubic ft. (52 boxes)
Collection Number
03984
Summary
Papers of jazz band leader and radio show personality from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Bob Crosby (1913-1993) was a jazz band leader and radio show personality from the 1930s to the 1950s. During the 1970s there was a revival of interest in big band jazz and he worked for Disney studios and toured the midwest during that time. Not a musician himself, he started his first band in 1935, when he took over the Ben Pollack orchestra as front man. The band enjoyed considerable success until the start of World War II when Crosby joined the Marines, assigned to the Special Services (entertainment) Division in the Pacific. He returned to a reorganized band in 1945. His most famous band, the Bob Cats, was a Dixieland jazz group with members from the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Both the Bob Crosby Orchestra and the smaller Bob Cats group specialized in Dixieland jazz. His radio variety series, "The Bob Crosby Show", aired on NBC and CBS in different runs between the years 1943 to 1950, followed by his television programs "Club Fifteen" on CBS from 1947 through 1953, and his half-hour CBS daytime series, "The Bob Crosby Show" (1953-1957).

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Content Description

The Bob Crosby papers include audio cassette tapes; correspondence (1952-1969); films of shows (1953-1955); music; music outlines; photo negatives, phonograph records (promotional and others); photographs with Jack Benny, Bing Crosby etc. Also included in the collection are play outlines, a script for his television show, recording tapes, including a sound recording with the Andrews Sisters (1948), a scrapbook from a horse show where his band played (1954).

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no known other archival collections created by Bob Crosby at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

This material was received from Bob and June Crosby from 1969-1980, Richard Watts in 1994, Marquette University in 2011, and Linda Crosby in 2016.

Processing Note

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Alexandra Cardin in April 2021.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Corporate Names

Titles within the Collection

  • Bob Crosby show (Radio program)
  • Bob Crosby show (Television program)
  • Club fifteen (Television program)

Processed by Alexandra Cardin
2013; 2021

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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