Within the National Jazz Archive you can freely access the most comprehensive resource on the story of jazz in the UK.
This resource goes beyond documenting the development of this thrilling, ever-evolving, musical phenomenon. It is also the story of art, fashion, cultural diversity and social progress.
Our passion isn’t just for conserving and celebrating our amazing heritage. We also look to supporting and documenting the present and future of this brilliant art form in the digital era.
And, much of this rich historical material is available online and accessible from this website. Meaning you can undertake your research from wherever you're based - So explore with us today.
Our collection of written, printed and visual material and oral histories dates back to the 1920s. It includes many unique items and draws researchers and enthusiasts from around the world.
Visitors are always welcome to see our collections at Loughton in Essex, and at Birmingham City University. You can also start by exploring our collections online.
This page of the April 1950 issue of Jazz Illustrated, from our collection of journals, includes a caricature of clarinet player Pee Wee Russell by Humphrey Lyttelton (Humph), the British trumpeter and bandleader, who also drew the trumpeter in our original logo.
We are passionate about jazz and want to preserve and share its rich heritage by meeting the aims and objectives we set ourselves. This includes
- Collecting materials documenting our jazz heritage
- Preserving our holdings to professional standards
- Developing more representative and inclusive collections
- Facilitating the study of jazz history, heritage and culture
- Engaging with a wide range of communities through our collections and activities
Our collections
The National Jazz Archive holds many unique items. This includes a vast number of photographs, journals, books, posters, programmes and personal collections.
Whether you’re a writer, student, jazz enthusiast or musician, our collections are available for all to explore.
Most of our digitised collection can be accessed on this website using the Explore section, but visiting the Archive itself will enable you to make full use of our resources.
Read more about our exciting and unique jazz collections.
An image from the programme for Duke Ellington’s last British tour in 1973.
As well as cataloguing and making accessible new material, we run a programme of
In 2018 we organised the Women in Jazz exhibition at the Barbican, London
Much of the vital work of the National Jazz Archive is done by a core team that includes a research archivist, project manager and IT specialist. Their work is supplemented by our many volunteers.
We rely upon volunteers to carry out the work of the Archive. This includes receiving personal jazz collections, sorting and listing collections, scanning photographs, assisting in cataloguing, managing our website and social media, promoting and helping with our events.
Work that can be done remotely includes support for our social media and digital marketing. If this is of interest, or you want to see how you can help, please contact our digital media team using our enquiry form.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you to Loughton as a visitor or prospective volunteer.
Our Ambassadors
The National Jazz Archive is proud to have a number of Ambassadors, who work with the Archive to promote our work and events.
They include a number of musicians and organisations, who are working with us to ensure the Archive remains relevant for the present and future of jazz - This includes working with us to promote the work of the Archive to as wide an audience as possible, and to ensure we reflect contemporary changes in the UK jazz scene.
Read about our Ambassadors online.
Our Patrons
The work and vision of the National Jazz Archive is supported by a number of eminent Patrons including musicians, politicians, broadcasters, authors and critics.
Gary Crosby has been a Patron of the Archive since 2008, you can also read more about all our Patrons.
Our partnerships and collaborations
The National Jazz Archive is open to collaborations with all those who share our passion for preserving and celebrating our jazz heritage.
We have worked with a diverse range of organisations including: the Open University, Essex University, Help the Aged, The Black Cultural Archives, Fashion Action Direct, The Guildhall School of Music, and The Barbican, the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the National Youth Jazz Collective, Cheltenham Jazz Festival and Love Supreme.
We are thankful to Essex County Council for their generous financial support and for the accommodation provided to the Archive at Loughton Library.
We have also established a formal partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU), a world class centre for jazz study and research. BCU houses our satellite collection in state-of-the-art archival facilities. An important 2021 addition to this satellite has been the British Institute of Jazz Studies collection. Started in the 1960s, it has been the lifelong passion of Graham Langley (ex-chair of the Archive's Board of Trustees) and is immensely important in its own right.
You can read more about the on-going partnership with Birmingham City University and about the BCU Centre for Jazz Studies.
We welcome contact from any organisation, or individual, who wishes to collaborate with the National Jazz Archive. If you would like to explore how we can work together, please contact our Chair of Trustees in the first instance.
Our policies
The National Jazz Archive has a number of policies, which define the principles under which the Archive operates. All of these policies are reviewed regularly, and any changes agreed by the board of Trustees.
These policies can be accessed below along with our volunteer handbook.