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Inventory of the Pee Wee Moore Papers, 1945-2009

Abstract

"Pee Wee" (Numa Smith) Moore (born Raleigh, N.C., 5 March 1928; died Raleigh, N.C., 13 April 2009) was a professional jazz saxophonist, who performed and recorded with musicians including Louis Jordan, Illinois Jacquet, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, and Mary Lou Williams.

The Pee Wee Moore Papers contain materials created and collected by Moore from throughout his career as a jazz saxophonist, including photographs, newspapaer clippings and other paper materials, as well as audio and moving image recordings of concerts, rehearsals, and oral history interviews.

Descriptive Summary

Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Creator
Moore, Pee-Wee, 1928-
Title
Pee Wee Moore Papers, 1945-2009
Language of Material
English
Extent
3 Linear Feet, 500 Items
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.

Series Quick Links

Collection Overview

The Pee Wee Moore Papers contain materials created and collected by Moore from throughout his career as a jazz saxophonist. Materials are arranged into three categories: photographs, clippings and miscellaneous materials, and audio and moving image materials. Photographs include professional and candid pictures of Moore from throughout his life with images of jazz musicians including Dizzy Gillespie and James Moody. There are a large amount of clippings concerning Moore's life as a saxophonist, with a particular emphasis on his time performing with Louis Jordan, as well as manuscript drafts of jazz lead sheets. The collection also contains A/V materials including concert and rehearsal recordings from the 1980s along with oral history recordings related to Moore's life.

Administrative Information

Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

In addition, original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use. Some use copies are available in the collection. Otherwise, Technical Services staff need to produce use copies before contents can be accessed.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

warning Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

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Clippings include newspaper articles about Moore's life and career as a jazz musician. One folder is devoted entirely to clippings related to Moore's time performing with Louis Jordan, and another folder contains photocopies of materials from a notebook of personal contacts compiled by Moore. This series also includes several programs from Moore's performances in the Raleigh, NC area during the 1990s along with programs from Moore's commencement ceremony at Wake Technical Institute and programs from Moore's funeral. One folder primarily contains manuscript drafts of jazz lead sheets presumably written by Moore along with a small amount of published music by other composers. Miscellaneous items include Moore's certificates from Wake Technical Institute, documents concerning the repairs of Moore's home in Raleigh, NC, a calendar featuring Moore on the cover, and the plaque from Moore's funeral.

Clippings, programs, sheet music, and miscellaneous items
Box 1

Six folders arranged by size and original order when possible. Pictures include a range of candid shots from Moore's travels and his time living in New York and North Carolina. There are also pictures of Moore's performances, including many with local jazz musicians from the Raleigh-Durham area. There are several images with notable figures such as Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, and President Ronald Reagan. One folder contains negatives that correspond to many of the photographs in the collection.

Photographs
Box 1

Contains a variety of audio and moving image recordings of various concerts and rehearsals Moore was a part of in the 1980s and 1990s, along with three of the commercial recordings he performed on during his career, including two with Dizzy Gillespie. Also contains two sets of oral history interviews conducted with Moore in the 2000s.

(Original titles retained. CD use copies available.)

101: August 19, 1984 art school
Box 2
102: Ed Massey and Pee Wee
Box 2
103: Elmer and Pee Wee
Box 2
104: Pee Wee, Sistie, Ed, Elmer at Irregardless, Spring 1996
Box 2
105: Pee Wee Moore Concert 6/12/93 Raleigh Mem Aud
Box 2
106: EM17 X
Box 2
107: Wake Med Cafe 9/29/04; Pee Wee and Chris
Box 2
108: Interview with Pee Wee Moore by Marshall Wyatt
Box 2
109: Interview with Pee Wee Moore by Elmer Gibson
Box 2
110: Dizzy Gillespie at Newport, 1957
Box 2
201: Pee Wee Moore Quartet, Saxey, 1980

(CD use copy available.)

Box 2
202: Dizzy Gillespie Octet, The Greatest Trumpet of Them All
Box 2

Contains VHS and DVD recordings of two concerts featuring Moore as well as a tribute DVD to Moore's life.

VHS and DVD recordings
Box 2

Historical Note

"Pee Wee" (Numa Smith) Moore was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 5, 1928. After attending Washington High School in Raleigh and Hampton College in Virginia, Moore began performing professionally as a baritone saxophonist in the early 1950s. He played with such artists as Lucky Millinder, Louis Jordan, Illinois Jacquet, James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Lou Williams, Bill Doggett, and Rich Hargrove. While Moore resided in New York for much of his professional career, he eventually returned to Raleigh, where he performed regularly as a saxophonist throughout the 1980s and beyond. Moore passed away due to complications from pancreatic cancer on April 13, 2009.

Subject Headings

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Pee Wee Moore Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The Pee Wee Moore Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 2009.

Processing Information

Processed by Timothy Obert and Jeremy Smith, May 2010.

Encoded by Timothy Obert and Jeremy Smith, May 2010.

Accession 2009-0132 is described in this finding aid.

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.