Activism, Music and the Rosetta Reitz Archive (2025-2026)

Building on the work of the 2024-2025 project team, this team explored the legacy and impact of writer, activist and record producer Rosetta Reitz. Through her label, Rosetta Records, Reitz amplified the voices of Black women jazz and blues artists of the early twentieth century. Team members explored materials from the Rosetta Reitz archive held at Duke’s Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library, including her annotated book collection, drafts of her manuscripts, record review clippings, personal and professional correspondence, and sound recordings. They also met with artists, scholars and journalists, working together to investigate and amplify the continuing relevance of and audience for Reitz’s contributions.

Guided by key concepts such as archival “erasure,” “DIY feminist praxis” and the ethics of “care,” the team expanded their focus beyond Reitz’s record label to investigate Reitz’s live music revues, her work on documentary films about early mixed-race women’s big bands and her writing on menopause, including a published book. This work culminated in new content for the team’s website, The Rosetta Reitz Archive Collective at Duke University and expanded connections with individuals committed to raising awareness of Reitz’s lasting impact on blues and jazz.