Benny Carter papers, artifacts, and audio recordings

The collection contains many unique performances, interviews, and documentation of events in Benny Carter's professional life including music manuscripts, artifacts, and sound recordings. Many of the audiotapes and discs were donated by Carter to the Institute during his lifetime, and the remainder were donated by his wife, Hilma Carter, shortly after Benny Carter's death in 2003. The collection consists of 225 cassettes; 159 reel-to-reel tapes (7- and 10- inch); and 184 lacquer discs totaling approximately 742 hours of playing time. The recordings range from the 1930s to the 1990s and include many unissued live performances and studio recordings, soundtracks of his film and television work, and interviews.