HU Receives Priceless Joe Jordan Ragtime/Jazz Collection

Hampton, VA - The family a world-famous composer and musician have donated a priceless collection of original manuscripts, sheet music, engraving plates, photos, private papers and books to Hampton University.

The "Joe Jordan Ragtime/Jazz and Entrepreneurship Collection" contains more than 600 items and will be available for public viewing in the near future.

"Our family is honored to make this donation to Hampton University," said Kimi Rabun, granddaughter of the late Joe Jordan and mother of two recent HU graduates. "We are confident my grandfather's legacy will be preserved at Hampton and that the collection will provide an opportunity for public access to the origins of American jazz music."

"It was important to our family that a Historically Black University receive this African-American cultural gift and Hampton has become our new Home by the Sea," Rabun added.

A friend and musical director of Scott Joplin and the Pekin Theatre of Chicago, Jordan carried the distinction of being one of the richest African-American real estate entrepreneurs in the United States during the ragtime era. In 1917 he built the "J. Jordan Building," a three-story office complex, for the amount of $220,000.

"Jordan was one of America's first Black millionaires and the building was the first major, Black-owned economic structure in the city," said Dr. Sid Howard Credle, dean of the HU School of Business. "That provided motivation to other entrepreneurs."

Credle, whose efforts resulted in the Hampton University donation, was selected by the Jordan's family to be the official biographer of the musician's life story.

"Lovie Joe," created in 1910, proved to be Joe Jordan's greatest composition and musical success, according to Tim Samuelson, cultural historian for the City of Chicago. Jordan's other musical score of significance was "Siren of the Tropics," composed for Josephine Baker's "Folies Bergere in Paris."

"I am pleased that the Jordan family has donated the late Joe Jordan's Ragtime/Jazz Collection to Hampton, to become a permanent part of our archives," said Dr. William R. Harvey, Hampton University President.

"Our Peabody Collection is one of the nation's largest and most comprehensive collections on the history and culture of African and Native Americans," he added. "Jordan's legacy will be preserved and made available for jazz scholars and entrepreneurs to do research and enjoy Mr. Jordan's contribution to American culture."