Alex Albright Collection
1930-2003
Manuscript Collection #1233- Creator(s)
- Albright, Alex
- Physical description
- 0.25 Cubic Feet, 1 half document case, consisting of programs, correspondence, photographs, publications, and a discharge
- Preferred Citation
- Alex Albright Collection (#1233), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
- Repository
- ECU Manuscript Collection
- Access
- No restrictions
Collection contains mainly material related to the African American Navy Band members who served at the Great Lakes Naval Base during World War II (1942-1945). This material includes programs and related material from the February 28-March 2, 2003, salute to these African American band members that was held in Chicago, Illinois, and from former band member Carl Foster's participation in a symposium sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History in 2003. Other material includes programs (1987) for concerts by the North Carolina Jazz Ensemble and a 1945 USO Hawaii booklet. A second focus of this collection is on the lives of Alex Albright's family members including uncles on his mother's side and their involvement with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and World War II service and death.
Biographical/historical information
The bulk of the collection contains material related to the African American Navy Band members who served at the Great Lakes Naval Base during World War II (1942-1945). In 1942, African Americans formed the Navy's first all-black band during World War II. It was the first time that African Americans were allowed to enlist at ranks higher than messman. Enlisting top jazz musicians meant an increased level of entertainment in the Navy. Many musicians were trained at Camp Robert Smalls, one camp that was part of an area known as the Great Lakes, outside of Chicago. During World War II, there were over 6,800 musicians in 285 bands, 100 of which were comprised of African Americans. In 2003, a program called The Great Lakes Experience celebrated the African American Navy Band, jazz musicians, and their musical legacy. News & Record, Greensboro
Sources:
R.A. Fountain http://rafountain.com/navy/blacknavybandswwii.html
Scope and arrangement
Most of the collection is related to the African American Navy Bandsmen obtained from band member Carl Foster. Materials include letters of support from U.S. politicians, a program and letter related to Foster's participation in a symposium sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History in 2003, and a program booklet from The Great Lakes Experience. There are other material unrelated to Foster, including programs (1987) for concerts by the North Carolina Jazz Ensemble and a 1945 USO Hawaii booklet. In the collection, there is also an autographed photograph of the African American group The Sharps & Flats when they were performing in Hawaii in 1944.
An oversize folder contains a newspaper pictorial review of SS John Merrick launching from Wilmington, N.C., naval yards in 1943. This Liberty ship was the only one built during World War II that was named for a black man. A North Carolina native, Merrick was the co-founder of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.
Source: Wilmington StarNews article: Black history month remembers John Merrick, February 23, 2002.
A secondary focus of this collection is on the lives of Alex Albright's family members. Material includes CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) publications related to North Carolina (1933, 1936, 1937) most likely due to Edwin Earl Buckner, Albright's uncle, being a member. E. E. Buckner's brother James M. Buckner, Jr., served in World War II, was sent to Europe in October, 1944, with the 291st Infantry of the 75th Brigade, and died on February 3, 1945, at Wolfgantzen, France. Memorabilia included here related to his service includes his 1941 copy of "Historical and Pictorial Review of the 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division, at Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina," his photograph, photocopies of clippings, a placard from the James M. Buckner Post Number 10, AMVETS chapter, and a photocopy of a letter sent to James M. Buckner, Jr.'s mother showing a picture of her son's burial spot in the American Cemetery at Epinal France. E. E. and James Buckner were brothers of Alex Albright's mother Iva Ruth Buckner Albright of Graham, North Carolina.
Administrative information
Custodial History
January 20, 2026, (addition 2), 0.20 cubic feet; Items related to brothers of Alex Albright's mother Iva Ruth Buckner Albright of Graham, North Carolina. Included are CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) publications (1933, 1936, 1937) related to Ruth Albright's brother Edwin Earl Buckner, and a photograph, publication, and memorabilia related to the WWII service and death of Ruth Albright's brother James M. Buckner, Jr. Also included is the 1945 discharge from the US Navy for James Alexander Albright, Alex Albright's father. Gift of Alex Albright.
Source of acquisition
Gift of Alex Albright.
Processing information
Processed by Aleck Tan, January 2020. Additional processing by Martha Elmore, January 2026.
Copyright notice
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.
Metadata Rights Declaration
This record is made available under an Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Creative Commons license.
Related material
U.S. Navy B-1 Reunion Collection (#971) East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
Key terms
Personal Names
Foster, CarlCorporate Names
Sharps and Flats (Musical group)United States. Navy--African American troops
United States. Navy--Bands
Topical
African American musicians--Illinois--Great LakesAfrican American sailors--Illinois--Great Lakes