Jan Shapiro interviews and research, 1958 - 1989

The collection is comprised primarily of oral history interviews conducted and transcribed by Jan Shapiro with funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1987. She interviewed numerous professional and personal associates of Connee Boswell—including her sister Helvetia “Vet” and brother-in-law Ben Leedy—as well as noted singers Bob Crosby and Joe Williams. Shapiro recorded these interviews on ninetyminute normal bias audio cassettes, making written transcriptions of each. She additionally transcribed radio interviews of Connee Boswell from 1958 and 1975.

Shapiro’s collection also includes a discography compiled by fellow Boswell researcher David McCain, clippings dating from as early as 1935, and transcriptions of “Heebie Jeebie Blues” and “Crazy People.” The Jan Shapiro Collection contains twenty audio cassettes and their corresponding written transcripts, scholarly essays, music transcription, and discographies.