Ada Beatrice "Bricktop" Smith papers, 1894-1984.

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Ada Beatrice "Bricktop" Smith papers, 1894-1984.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122414317

The collection consists of the papers of Bricktop from 1890-1984 (bulk 1950-1967). The papers include correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, religious documents, financial records, legal documents and general ephemera. One-fourth of the collection is general correspondence, including Bricktop's letters to and from family, friends, admirers, business associates and religious charities. The earliest correspondence dates from the 1920s and sheds light on Bricktop's life in Paris (and in Mexico City, to a lesser extent). The largest portion of the correspondence is from the post-1950 period. In particular, letters from 1950-1963 include financial information about the nightclub and Bricktop's debts (some written in Italian). Thank-you letters from charities and individuals are included here as well. Prominent correspondents over the years include: Cole Porter, Lady Mendl, U.S. Ambassador James Dunn, King Farouk Fouad of Egypt (invitations), Ralph Bunche and Sydney Omarr. The Bricktop papers include a collection of photographs dating from 1912. Bricktop appears with the Panama Trio in 1916 and in a series of portraits by Carl Van Vechten in 1932. Photographs from the post-1950 period show Bricktop in the club. The collection of newspaper clippings includes arts and entertainment features on Bricktop as well as brief references to Bricktop in society columns. Bricktop's own clippings of newspaper cartoons and comics, articles about friends, articles on religion and personal interest items are also included in the collection. A large portion of the collection consists of financial records. Files contain unpaid customer bills from "Bricktop's," inventory logs, records of employee salaries, and general bookkeeping notes. While these records are often undated, dated information about financial matters can be found by examining her general correspondence from 1950-1963. Other financial records include hotel bills, bank statements, and tax returns.

2.25 linear ft. (5 boxes)

Emory University. Special Collections and Archives

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6708228

Emory University. Special Collections and Archives

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Porter, Cole, 1891-1964

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mt4js4 (person)

Cole Porter was born in Peru, Indiana on June 9, 1891. As a boy he took lessons in piano and violin, and began writing songs while in prep school. He attended Yale College (Class of 1913), where he composed fight songs that are still used today. After graduating, he went on to Harvard Law School, but he had little interest in law and soon began studying music instead. Porter would later complete his musical education at the Schola Cantorum in Paris. Porter's first Broadway show, See America F...

Smith, Ada "Bricktop", 1894-1984

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xf1s4c (person)

The internationally known cabaret personality Bricktop was born Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith on August 14, 1894 in Alderson, West Virginia. She acquired the nickname "Bricktop" from Barron Wilkins (owner of the Barron's Exclusive Club in Harlem), establishing her red hair as her trademark. Bricktop began her career as an entertainer at the age of 16, performing on the vaudeville circuit and in salons. She went on to own her own nightclubs in Paris (1920s and 1930s), Mexico C...

Omarr, Sydney

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64q9rmw (person)

De Wolfe, Elsie,, 1865-1950.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d800bs (person)

Actress, decorator, hostess; author of "The house in good taste." From the description of Elsie DeWolfe letter to Miss Monroe [manuscript], 1892- (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 407796951 ...

Dunn, James C. (James Clement), 1890-1979

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tt6nwb (person)

Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kd21ds (person)

Carl Van Vechten was an American novelist, critic, essayist, book collector, and photographer. From the description of Carl Van Vechten collection of papers, 1922-1964. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122455166 From the guide to the Carl Van Vechten collection of papers, 1911-1964, (The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.) Carl van Vechten (1880-1964) was an American photographer, writer,...

Bunche, Ralph J. (Ralph Johnson), 1904-1971

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6251n9f (person)

Ralph Bunche was Secretary of United Nations. From the description of Letter (typewritten) to Abraham Stavsky, 1967, February 28. (Regent University). WorldCat record id: 49291995 Ralph Johnson Bunche b 1904; educated at University of California, Los Angeles (AB), Harvard University (AM, PhD); Chairman, Dept of Political Science, Howard University, Washington DC, 1928-1950; Director, Trusteeship Department, Unted Nations, 1946-1954; acting UN Mediator on Palestine, 1948-1949...