Reference Number
ARC-0067
Level of description
collection
Title
Curtis Mayfield Collection
Date
1958-1990
Size
4.14 (Linear feet)
Scope and Contents
The Curtis Mayfield Collection spans the years 1958 to 1994. The Collection consists of a typed manuscript for the posthumously-published book, Poetic License: In Poem and Song; three negatives and ten original photographs from various stages of Mayfield's solo career and his time with The Impressions; three oversize photographic reproductions; a concert poster; and two concert programs. The Collection provides a glimpse into the career of Curtis Mayfield through images, lyrics, and poetry. Seen in a broader context, the collection provides insight to the changing R&B scene from the late-1950s into the 1990s.
Biography / Administrative History
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942-December 26, 1999) was a singer, songwriter, and record producer primarily in the rhythm and blues, soul, and funk genres. He was born on the North Side of Chicago and was performing by the age 7. He quickly gained an appreciation for the gospel and electric blues music found in the Chicago area, and by his teens had taught himself to play the electric guitar. Ultimately, he would become a multi-instrumentalist, who played the guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, and drums. After leaving school at the age of 16 to pursue his music career, Mayfield scored his first hit ("For Your Precious Love") with his band, The Impressions. By the 1970s, Mayfield had gone solo and had his own record label, Curtom Records, and was creating his most commercially successful record, the soundtrack to the "blaxploitation" film Superfly. Mayfield continued making albums, writing soundtracks, and performing live over the next two decades. Due to an accident in 1990, Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down and unable to play an instrument, but he could still sing and continued to write and produce new material. Mayfield was awarded the Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995. He was also inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Impressions in 1991, and as a solo artist in 1999. Curtis Mayfield passed away at the age of 57 on December 26, 1999.
Existence and Location of Copies
Both the negatives and oversize objects 1, 3, and 4 were created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum for exhibition purposes. Two of the reproduced images are of 8 x 10" photographs in this collection.
Notes
Processing Information: Processed by James A. Kohler, Project Archivist. Completed April 26, 2011. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual.
Language Note: Collection is primarily in English; materials in Spanish are indicated at the folder level.
Citation: [Identification of item], Curtis Mayfield Collection, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Acquisition Note: The Curtis Mayfield Collection was received from Mayfield on December 1994. Ownership of the Collection transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., on June 15, 2012, per the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 3385.01 to 3385.10.
Access
Collection is open for research. Patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights statement on the Researcher Registration form before using this collection. Consult the Library and Archives in advance of your visit to ensure access to these materials is available.
Use
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. For more information, please consult the staff of the Library and Archives.
Associated Persons
Associated Subjects