International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection

Object Details

Scope and Contents

The collection consists mostly of photographs and news clippings documenting the International Sweethearts Band of Rhythm's performances, rehearsals, and travels. It also includes tribute materials to the band, including books and audio CDs.

Summary

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection focuses on the all-female, racially and ethnically diverse big band group that started in 1937 and disbanded in 1949. The collection contains news clippings, photographs, correspondence, ephemera from USO travels, and newsletters. Also included are books related to the group, as well as a tribute CD and a 33 rpm vinyl sound recording.

Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Accruals

Additional materials donated by Dixie Hardy Moon in 2012 and Cathy Hughes in 2010.

Provenance

Collection donated to the Archives Center in 2011 by Rosalind Cron.

Arrangement

The collection is divided into three series. Series 1: Piney Woods School, 1937-1944 Series 2: Rosalind Cron Materials, 1933-2005 Series 3: Dixie Hardy Moon Materials, 1935-1951

Biographical / Historical

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm were a racially and ethnically mixed swing band, all of whose members were women. They were organized in 1937 by Laurence Clifton Jones, who started the Piney Woods School near Jackson, Mississippi. He formed the band from students at Piney Woods and the band toured to raise money for the school, performing at fairs, dance halls, churches, and theaters. In 1939, the band began to tour outside of Mississippi and traveled across the American South and Midwest. In 1941 they separated from Piney Woods, started out on their own as professional musicians and relocated to Arlington, Virginia. While in Arlington, the band recruited professional musicians to replace the underage students who stayed in school. The band's venues included the Apollo Theatre and Savoy Ballroom in New York and the Howard Theatre in Washington DC They performed frequently at military bases and were quite popular during World War II. In response to requests from GIs serving overseas, the Sweethearts undertook a six month tour of Europe starting in July 1945. The tour was supported by the United Service Organization (USO) Camp Shows. The band played in Paris, France and throughout Germany, including the cities of Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Munich, and Mannheim. The group disbanded in 1949, but reunited for a reunion in 1980 at the Third Annual Women's Jazz Festival in Kansas City. Rosalin Cron was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1925 and began playing music at nine years old. She joined the band in 1943 and primarly played the alto saxophone, but was also trained to play the clarinet and flute. Cron was a part of the overseas tour. She was with the band until 1946. Dixie Hardy Moon is the niece of founder Laurence Clifton Jones. Catherine (Cathy) Hughes, was born in 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska. She is the granddaughter of founder Laurence Clifton Jones and her mother, Helen Jones Woods (1923-2020), played the trombone with the Sweethearts. Hughes is considered a media pioneer and founder of Radio One/TV One.

Creator

Cron, Rosalind

International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Piney Woods School

Moon, Dixie Hardy

Hughes, Cathy

Archival Repository

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Genre/Form

Books -- 20th century

Newspaper clippings

Photographs -- 20th century

Publicity photographs

Identifier

NMAH.AC.1218

Creator

Cron, Rosalind

International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Piney Woods School

Moon, Dixie Hardy

Hughes, Cathy

Names

United Service Organizations (U.S.)

Woods, Helen Jones, 1923-2020

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Books

Newspaper clippings

Photographs

Publicity photographs

Extent

1 Cubic foot (4 boxes)

Citation

International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection, Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Processing Information

Processed by Sara Wheeler, July 2017; supervised by Alison Oswald, archivist.

See more items in

International Sweethearts of Rhythm Collection

Topic

Bands (Music) -- 1940-1950

Big band music

Female (Musical group)

Jazz -- 20th century -- United States

Musicians

Women musicians -- 1930-1950

World War, 1939-1945 -- Art and the war

Date

1933-2010

bulk 1939-1946

Rights

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.