00420 ALVIN DEL CHAMBLEE: An Inventory of His Papers Finding aid prepared by Lara Friedman-Shedlov. Minnesota Historical Society

St. Paul MN.

Finding aid encoded by Lyda Morehouse, December 14, 1999. Finding aid written inEnglish August 2008Converted from EAD Version 1.0 to Version 2002 by Monica Manny Ralston, Daniel Sher, and Joyce Chapman. OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Minnesota Historical Society Chamblee, Alvin Del. Alvin Del Chamblee papers, 1952-1974. Scrapbooks and audio-taped recitals of an African-American singer, actor, playwright, and painter. 0.5 cu. ft. (1 box). See Detailed Description section for box locations. BIOGRAPHY OF ALVIN DEL CHAMBLEE

Alvin Del Chamblee was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Chamblee entered the military in 1943 and served in Wyoming and in Europe. He was injured in combat and received the Purple Heart and an honorable discharge in 1945. Chamblee made his professional debut as a singer in 1947 and later attended the Chicago Conservatory of Music, where he earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees of Music in Voice and Theory.

Chamblee, along with his wife Rosa, moved to St. Paul in 1952. He began a long career in state government, first taking a job with the Veterans Administration and later becoming assistant personnel officer for the U.S. Forest Service. Chamblee continued to pursue an artistic career, however, which soon included not only singing but writing, directing, and acting in numerous plays. In the late 1960s, he took up painting and his works were soon being exhibited in galleries around the Twin Cities.

The Chamblees had two children, Denise (b. 1951) and Derek (b. 1956).

SCOPE AND CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION

Two scrapbooks (1952-1974) containing clippings, programs, letters, photographs, and other memorabilia documenting Chamblee's career as a singer, playwright, director, actor, and painter. Also in the collection are three reel-to-reel audio tapes of recitals given by Chamblee in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

RELATED MATERIALS

Two paintings by Chamblee are separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society art collection.

A 1991 interview with Chamblee about his work as an artist is separately cataloged in the Minnesota Historical Society oral history collection.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Afro-American male singers--Minnesota. Afro-American actors--Minnesota--Saint Paul. Afro-American artists--Minnesota. Concerts--Minnesota--Programs. Concerts--Minnesota--Sound recordings. Types of Documentation: Audio tapes. Photographs. Occupations: Musicians--Minnesota. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Alvin Del Chamblee Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 15,399

Processing Information:

Processed by: Lara D. Friedman-Shedlov, July 1999

Catalog ID number: 09-00321133

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION 144.F.4.7B 1 Scrapbooks, 1952-1974. 2 volumes.

The scrapbooks contain clippings; concert, theater and gallery programs; letters; photographs; and other memorabilia documenting Chamblee's career as a singer, playwright, director, actor, and painter.

Recital recordings, 1957, 1960, and 1962. 3 audio tapes.

Reel-to-reel audio tape recordings of three Chamblee recitals: 25th October 1957 (7 1/2 ips), 23rd October 1960 (3 3/4 ips), and 22nd April 1962 (7 1/2 ips). Recital pieces include mainly classical selections and spirituals.