African American musicians

Jazz musician and composer Duke Ellington, right, and President Harry S. Truman compare musical notes at the White House. Mr. Ellington gave the president the original score of parts of the "Harlem Suite," a part of "Portrait of New York Suite," which he wrote under commission from Arturo Toscanini.

In a joke being played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross upon their arrival at Key West, Florida, an African-American marching band lead them to the Little White House. They are in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman and his party on vacation. Mr. Ross is near the center, wearing a bow tie. Mr. Connelly is walking beside him. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matthew Connelly, Volume 4.

In a joke being played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross upon their arrival at Key West, Florida, African-American baton twirlers from the Douglas School and a marching band lead them to the Little White House. They are in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman and his party on vacation. Mr. Ross can be seen on the far left, behind the band, wearing a bow tie. On the extreme right, from right to left, are Stanley Woodward, General Harry Vaughan, Margaret Truman, and General Wallace Graham. All others are unidentified.

As part of a joke played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly (background, right, in suit and tie), an African-American marching band led Mr. Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross (partly obscured by trumpeter) into the gates of the Little White House in Key West, Florida. They were in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman on vacation. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matthew Connelly, Volume 4.

In a joke being played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross upon their arrival at Key West, Florida, African-American baton twirlers from the Douglas School and a marching band lead them to the Little White House. They are in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman and his party on vacation. All are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matthew Connelly, Volume 4.

In a joke being played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross upon their arrival at Key West, Florida, an African-American marching band lead them to the Little White House. They are in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman and his party on vacation. Mr. Ross is near the center, wearing a bow tie. Mr. Connelly is walking beside him, smoking a cigarette. All others are unidentified. From the scrapbooks of Matthew Connelly, Volume 4.

John R. Steelman (left) leads a band of unidentified musicians during a meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. The entertainment was associated with a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bridgeport Brass Company when attending the Kentucky Derby.

As part of a joke played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly (background, right, in suit and tie), an African-American marching band led Mr. Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross (partly obscured by trumpeter) into the gates of the Little White House in Key West, Florida. They were in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman on vacation. All others are unidentified.

In a joke being played on Appointment Secretary Matthew Connelly and Press Secretary Charles Ross upon their arrival at Key West, Florida, African-American baton twirlers and a marching band lead them to the Little White House. They are in Key West to join President Harry S. Truman and his party on vacation. Mr. Ross can be seen on the far left, behind the band, wearing a bow tie. On the extreme right, from right to left, are Stanley Woodward, General Harry Vaughan, Margaret Truman, and General Wallace Graham. All others are unidentified.

Jazz musician Lionel Hampton and his band performed at the Inaugural Gala held January 19, 1949. In this photo, he is shown playing his vibraphone.