The Jane Scott Papers span the years 1937-2011, including undated materials. The collection consists of 16 series with subseries, arranged as follows: Scott's address and appointment books; audiovisual materials; autographs; clippings; copy and research files; correspondence; memorabilia; oversize birthday greetings; personal files; photographic materials; posters; promotional materials; notebooks; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; set lists; and tickets, press and backstage passes. Jane Scott, dubbed "The World's Oldest Rock Critic," had a career spanning nearly 50 years writing for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and her papers provide valuable insight into rock and roll music, its performers, and influence both local and national.
Biography / Administrative History
Plain Dealer reporter Jane Scott (May 3, 1919 - July 4, 2011) became a journalistic legend whose fame as one of the country's first rock critics spread far beyond Northeast Ohio. Born in 1919, she served as a cryptographer during World War II and began a journalism career in the late 1940s. However, it wasn't until she covered the Beatles' visit to Cleveland, Ohio, on September 15, 1964, that she found her calling as a writer and critic of rock music, and she became one of the country's first daily newspaper reporters of the genre. Over four decades she wrote about the music scene and reviewed everything from obscure local bands to stadium headliners, documenting thousands of people, places, and events that otherwise would have been lost to history. At a time when the newspaper industry was challenging for women anywhere but the society pages, Scott made her career writing about rock and roll, a genre and art form still in its infancy. Not only was Scott a woman writing about the male-dominated rock scene, but she was also at least a generation older than most of the performers and fans of the music about which she wrote. She bridged the gap between generations and brought legitimacy to the field with her animated writing style, showing respect for musicians at all stages of their careers. Scott was appreciated by many well-known musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed, and she interviewed some of the biggest names in pop music: Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Jim Morrison, and Jimi Hendrix. Even after retiring in 2002, she continued to attend concerts and spoke publicly about her experiences. It is estimated that she attended over 10,000 concerts and music events during her career. Scott attended her last concert, Lyle Lovett at Lakewood Civic Auditorium in 2008, at the age of 89.
Notes
Language Note: English
Processing Information: Processed by Liz Campion, Project Archivist. Completed September 11, 2015. Revised by Jennie Thomas, Head Archivist. Completed December 1, 2015. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local processing manual. This finding aid, part of the project: The NEO Sound Documentation Strategy: Processing and Preserving the Jane Scott Papers, was made possible in part by a grant from the Ohio History Connection's History Fund. The History Fund is supported exclusively by voluntary donations of Ohio income tax refunds and designated gifts to the Ohio Historical Society. www.ohiohistory.org/historyfund
Acquisition Note: The Jane Scott Papers were received by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc., as a gift/purchase from the Estate of Jane Scott on June 27, 2012.
Citation: [Identification of Item], Jane Scott Papers, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
Separated Materials: Books, periodicals, and commercial audio and video recordings have been transferred to the library collection. Please search for the "Jane Scott Papers" in the library catalog for a list of donated titles. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, consult the Library and Archives staff to ensure these materials are available.
Some items are on exhibit. These items are noted at the series, subseries and file levels. Consult the Library and Archives staff in advance of your visit for additional information.
Exhibition History: July 2018-January 2019, Woody Guthrie Center, Tulsa, OK: Mellencamp.
May 2018 to September 2019. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Stay Tuned
Exhibition History: Item ARC-0370-15-126 on exhibit from 2017-02-02 to 2019-08-10: Prince Set List. Exhibited in RRHOF (Main)/Ahmet Ertegun Gallery/Treasures From the Vault.
Exhibition History: Lepers photograph, Local Music U Want, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 2019-2024.
Access
Collection is open for research. The condition of some of these materials has not yet been determined for playback purposes and they are, therefore, RESTRICTED. Access copies of these materials may have to be created prior to use. 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.
