Campbell, Wilbur and Valarie. Collection, 1958-2004

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Jazz

Series III, Audio-Visual, does not include access copies for part or all of the material in this series. Researchers will need to consult with staff before requesting material from this series.

The collection is open for research.

When quoting material from this collection, the preferred citation is: Campbell. Wilbur and Valarie, Collection. [Box#, Folder#], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Wilbur Campbell was born on July 29, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended DuSable High School and was a member of “Captain Walter Dyett’s Dynasty” which produced more than 200 internationally known musicians. Although he was trained on piano, vibraphone, and drums, Campbell eventually settled on the drums after a three day-long practice with legendary vibes player Milton Jackson. At the age of fifteen, Campbell played his first professional gig in a band called “Baby Band,” a band named for its young musicians. Two years later, he was featured in a Down Beat article called “Young Lion.” From 1945-1947, he served in the United States Navy.

After living in New York and traveling, Campbell settled in Chicago. In 1948, he married Osceola Simmons. As one of Chicago’s first-call drummers, he often played with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk when they performed in the city.

Campbell was active in the Jazz Institute of Chicago in various capacities, including director, vice president, and programming committees for the Jazz Express and annual Chicago Jazz Festival. He also worked for the state of Illinois as a drug counselor. In 1972, he married Valarie Thompson-Villard.

Valarie (Thompson-Villard) Campbell was born on February 19, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois. She attended Parker High School where she was the first freshman on the swim team. After high school, she married and had a son Martin Villard.

In 1967, she began work at Commonwealth Edison and retired from there in 1994. In January 1971, Valarie began studying business at Roosevelt University where she met Wilbur Campbell. After marrying in 1972, the two traveled around the world, meeting jazz musicians and making lifelong friends.

She was an ardent jewelry maker and beader. Valarie served on the board of the Bead Society of Great Chicago. In October 2007, she sent her beads and tools to South Africa with the hope of helping those struggling with HIV/AIDS.

Wilbur Campbell died on December 30, 1999. Valarie Campbell died on January 17, 2008.

The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection is organized into six series: Series I, Personal; Series II, Events and Musicians; Series III, Audio-Visual; Series IV, Publications; Series V, Oversize; and Series VI, Artifacts and Awards. The Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection contains correspondence, articles, artifacts, photographs, publications, posters, audio-visual material, and event ephemera.

Series I, Personal, contains business cards, award certificates, calendars, correspondence, an essay, an article, and photographs. Correspondence includes letters from the Chicago Federation of Musicians, Jazz Institute of Chicago, family, and friends and may include newsletters, photographs, newspaper articles, and business cards. The award certificates acknowledge Wilbur Campbell’s contribution to the field of jazz as well as the field of substance abuse awareness. The performance contracts are for various concerts given by Campbell throughout Chicago. The essay was written by Campbell for a humanities class. A Down Beat article features Wilbur Campbell. See Series III and IV for additional material.

Series II, Events and Musicians, contains advertisements, fliers, articles and photographs of various musicians. Events include the Newport Jazz Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, and the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival as well as Chicago concerts and performances. There are receipts documenting a performance tour to Egypt. See Series IV for additional material.

Series III, Audio-Visual, contains photographs from various Chicago Jazz Festivals, an International Association of Jazz Educators event, performances at the Jazz Showcase, and trips to Egypt, Jerusalem, and Mexico, as well as publicity photographs of Wilbur Campbell. The unlabeled photographs appear to be of Wilbur and Valarie Campbell with family, friends, and jazz musicians. Audio cassettes and compact discs are arranged alphabetically by musician and are distinguished by personal and commercial recordings. There is a video cassette of a Grant Park performance given by Campbell. See Series V for additional photographs.

Series IV, Publications, contains jazz magazines and newsletters including Down Beat, Jazz Times, Jazzgram, and Jazz Journal.

Series V, Oversize, contains jazz publications, news magazines, newspaper articles, sheet music, posters, and photographs, arranged by format and size. The articles are from the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Tempo, and Jazz Echo and are about various arts events and venues in Chicago, including the Jazz Showcase and the Chicago Jazz Festivals. The Book of Negro Folklore was edited by Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps and The Story of Jazz was written by Marshall W. Stearns. Sheet music is arranged alphabetically by title and includes printed, published, photocopied, and transcribed music. The posters advertise events and performances in Chicago. Also included are announcements for Chicago-based performances given by various musicians. See Series II and IV for additional material.

Series VI, Artifacts and Awards, contains drum sticks, brushes, and other percussion accessories. Also included are awards from Jazz Masters and the Jazz Institute of Chicago, and a framed painting of Campbell.

The following related resources are located in the Department of Special Collections:

• NamesCampbell, Wilbur
• Subject
  • Jazz
  • Jazz—Periodicals
  • University of Chicago. Chicago Jazz Archive