American Federation of Musicians application
Item
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Title
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American Federation of Musicians application
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Description
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This application for the American Federation of Musicians Local No. 274 was submitted by Byard Lancaster on March 5, 1966 and signed by secretary Frank T. Fairfax.
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The application asks 31 questions, including: one’s name, birthday, residence, the instruments they play, inquires about participation in other music collectives (i.e. the Musicians’ Proactive Organization of the American Federation of Musicians or independent musicians’ unions), and inquiries about additional AFL-CIO union involvement.
The establishment of local 274 on January 2, 1935 Philadelphia was said to be a “testimony to the consciousness and collective behavior of African American musicians” who “broke racial barries, admitted all musicians…, and emphasized excellence, collectivity and pride in African American culture while promoting Black musical form” (Hunter 1998; Turner 2022; Philadelphia Daily News 1972). The first local was established in Chicago, IL in 1902 (Turner 2022). Local 274 had an entire social unit at the Philadelphia Clef Club founded in 1966 that was “crucial to the growth of a thriving jazz scene in Philadelphia” (Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts 2025). At the time of Lancaster’s submission, the first elected secretary Frank T. Fairfax signed off on it (Turner 2022).
Frank Thurmonder Fairfax (1904-January 25, 1972) of Eagle Rock, VA moved north to Philadelphia because of steady employment and a successful career in music (Philadelphia Daily News 1972).
Byard Lancaster (August 6, 1942-August 23, 2012) of Germantown reached international talent both alone and with Sun Ra’s Arkestra and others, with a style described by the New York Times as “a hard, bright sound influenced by Coltrane… and a much more measured, melodic and almost folklike way of playing” (Ratliff 2012). As indicated on his application, he played sax, clarinet, bass clarinet, and the flute. Lancaster’s application to local 274 was signed off on by the first elected secretary of the union, Frank T. Fairfax (Turner 2022).
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Contributor
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Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection
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Date
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March 6, 1966
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Rights
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This material is subject to copyright law and is made available for private study, scholarship, and research purposes only. For access to the original or a high resolution reproduction, and for permission to publish, please contact Temple University Libraries, the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).
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Identifier
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147
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Language
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eng
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Subject
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American Federation of Musicians
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Applications
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African American musicians
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African American jazz musicians
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Philadelphia Clef Club of the Performing Arts
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Philadelphia (Pa.)
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Date Created
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1966
