Phillip E. Jenkins papers, circa 1880s-1993, bulk 1928-1993

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Summary

Creators:
Jenkins, Phillip E.
Abstract:
The Phillip E. Jenkins papers include photographs, educational materials, military records, and organizational records of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society.
Extent:
2.5 linear feet (4 boxes + 1 oversized box)
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

Phillip E. Jenkins papers, MS 52, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Phillip E. Jenkins papers include photographs, educational materials, military records, and organizational records of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. The collection is arranged into six series: musical activities, State of California, Department of Employment, military service, education, photographs, and assorted printed material. The bulk of the collection documents Jenkins’ various musical activities, mostly his involvement and volunteer work with the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society and the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee. The musical activities series includes the constitution and by-laws, a roster of past presidents and officers, and Board of Directors’ meeting minutes of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society; clothing, awards, programs, and planning material related to the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee; and an assortment newspaper clippings, correspondence, awards, programs, jazz publications, and a transistor radio collected by Jenkins.

The Education series includes Jenkins’ Stanford High School report cards, track and field ribbons, pennants, botany class notes and exam, certificates, newsletter, and yearbooks for 1935-1936. There is also an assortment of musical and theatrical programs for high schools performances and commencement programs for Stanford High School and Sacramento Junior College. The State of California, Department of Employment series includes Jenkins’ personnel file as an employee with the department between 1941-1966 and includes correspondence, tax, performance reports, and salary records.

Photographs are arranged by subject into five sub-series: Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society, Jenkins’ family, Ray-Grubbs family reunion, education, and assorted. The bulk of the photographs document Jenkins’ volunteer work with the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee in the 1980s-1990s. Records in the military service series are mostly selective service cards, forms, and instructions given to Jenkins for his call before the board during World War II. The assorted series includes three folders of assorted invitations and greeting cards sent to the Jenkins family and funeral programs of friends and family.

Biographical / historical:

Phillip Eugene Jenkins (1917-1993) was born on August 9, 1917 in Sacramento, California to Aaron Arthur Jenkins and Grace Evelyn Grubbs Jenkins. Jenkins interest in music began at an early age and music was encouraged by his parents. His mother organized Jenkins and his siblings into a family ensemble accompanied by their cousin Clarissa Hundley on piano. The ensemble, known as the Junior Concert Orchestra, performed at churches and venues in the Sacramento area. While attending Stanford Junior High School and Sacramento High School, Jenkins continued to pursue music playing the cornet and tuba in the marching band and as a member of the high school glee club.

After briefly attending Sacramento Junior College, Jenkins left school and began working as a porter and window dresser while occasionally playing with big band orchestras in the 1930s. He had short stints playing with the Dick Jurgens Orchestra, Louis Armstrong, and Lionel Hampton before an accident with a power saw damaged his hand, limiting his ability to play musical instruments. In 1941, he was hired by the California Department of Employment as an employment security trainee. After serving two years in the armed forces during World War II, Jenkins returned to the California Department of Employment where he worked until his retirement in 1976.

Beginning in 1968, Jenkins became active in jazz preservation with the establishment of the Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society. He was active in the society’s activities and in the creation of the Sacramento Dixieland Jubilee, an international jazz festival held in Sacramento, California beginning in 1974. He was an active volunteer for the Jubilee over the next twenty years, and was eventually inducted into the Jubilee Hall of Fame in 1987 and served as the Jubilee’s Emperor of Jazz in 1991. His knowledge of jazz and personal collection of jazz recording led him to a radio career beginning in 1974, when he began a weekly jazz radio program, “Sacramento Classic Jazz” on the California State University radio station KXPR and subsequently on the university’s new jazz station KXJZ. His weekly radio program continued to air until shortly before his death on February 10, 1993.

Processing information:

Processed by Sean Heyliger, 08/23/2013.

Arrangement:

Series I. Musical activities Series II. State of California, Department of Employment Series III. Military service Series IV. Education Series V. Photographs Series VI. Assorted

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.

Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish from the Phillip E. Jenkins Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.

Preferred citation:

Phillip E. Jenkins papers, MS 52, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.

Location of this collection:
659 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612, US
Contact:
(510) 637-0198
aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
Website