Box SC1950-1999.002

Scope and Contents note From the Collection: Contains one letter written from Handy to Columbia Records executive George Avakian and Handy’s answers to a questionnaire sent by Avakian. The collection does not include the original questionnaire, but his answers and his letter, which discusses Bessie Smith, Emmett Till, and Mississippi’s influence on his song “Yellow Dog Blues,” clearly show that Avakian had asked questions relating to race and music.