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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

MPAL Exhibits 2020-2021: Black Women of Jazz

Documents exhibits at the Music and Performing Arts Library during the 2020-2021 academic year.

About This Exhibit

In honor of Jazz Appreciation Month, this exhibit focuses on Black women of jazz.

This exhibit's resources highlight several famous Black women of jazz (such as Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne), but also acknowledges artists who might not be familiar to a general audience (such as Valaida Snow and Dorothy Donegan). The playlists sample both the vocal and instrumental talents of these artists. In addition to April being Jazz Appreciation Month, this exhibit also honors Billie Holiday, whose birthday was on April 7, 1915.

Selected Items

Online items are available for immediate access. Physical items can be requested through the library catalog for pick-up.