Jazz Age

Carter And King Jazzing Orchestra, 1921

The Jazz Age was a period in the 1920s and 1930s in which jazz music and dance styles rapidly gained nationwide popularity in the United States. The Jazz Age’s cultural repercussions were primarily felt in the United States, the birthplace of jazz. Originating in New Orleans as a fusion of African and European music, jazz played a significant part in wider cultural changes in this period, and its influence on pop culture continued long afterwards. The Jazz Age is often referred to in conjunction with the Roaring Twenties. American author F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely credited with coining the term, first using it in the title of his 1922 short story collection, Tales of the Jazz Age. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Jazz Age through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about the Jazz Age

Jazz music played by Black American soldiers becomes popular in France during World War I Fri, Oct 4, 1918 – 1 · The Topeka Plaindealer (Topeka, Kansas) · Newspapers.comJazz, a "dance novelty," becomes popular in Europe; Is welcomed with "wild enthusiasm" Sat, Mar 22, 1919 – Page 45 · The Winnipeg Tribune (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) · Newspapers.com1919 article says United States "simply has gone wild about jazz music" Sat, May 3, 1919 – Page 6 · The New York Age (New York, New York) · Newspapers.comArticle says jazz originated in New Orleans and gives a possibility for how the term developed Sat, May 3, 1919 – Page 1 · The Dallas Express (Dallas, Texas) · Newspapers.comMinister suggests that the Jazz Age is a reaction to World War 1 Fri, May 23, 1919 – Page 4 · The Evening Review (East Liverpool, Ohio) · Newspapers.com1921 ad for jazz revue by "Mamie Smith and Her Jazz Hounds" Sat, Mar 19, 1921 – 3 · The Dallas Express (Dallas, Texas) · Newspapers.comPositive and negative opinions about jazz after debut of controversial play about jazz in 1922 Sat, Feb 11, 1922 – Page 14 · St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America) · Newspapers.comLetters to the editor express pro and con opinions about jazz music in 1922 Sun, Feb 26, 1922 – 67 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.comDietitian argues that the Jazz Age was caused by a change in diet Wed, Aug 1, 1923 – 38 · Daily News (New York, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.comRussian thinks jazz will help develop American music and will eventually be accepted as classical Sun, Feb 10, 1924 – Page 20 · Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Cascade, Montana, United States of America) · Newspapers.com1924 ad for King Oliver and the Original Creole Jazz Band Mon, Feb 25, 1924 – Page 14 · The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Summit, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comArticle says flapper fashion and lifestyle are coming to an end in Buffalo, New York Sun, Mar 9, 1924 – 20 · Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York, United States of America) · Newspapers.com"Jazz Age Brings Big Change in Conduct" Mon, Dec 22, 1924 – 6 · Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper illustrations of scenes from the Jazz Age Sun, May 3, 1925 – 141 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States of America) · Newspapers.comThe Jazz Age is blamed for young people's failure to participate in missionary work Fri, Feb 12, 1926 – Page 1 · Reading Times (Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comJazz music has meaning to young people and is said to encourage dancing Fri, Feb 26, 1926 – Page 4 · The News-Review (Roseburg, Douglas, Oregon) · Newspapers.comPsychologist claims jazz music can cause bad habits in babies Tue, Mar 16, 1926 – 4 · The Herald-Press (Saint Joseph, Michigan, United States of America) · Newspapers.comComposer expresses opposition to jazz music being played in churches Sun, Apr 4, 1926 – 15 · Quad-City Times (Davenport, Iowa, United States of America) · Newspapers.comJazz composer George Gershwin crusades for jazz to be accepted in the music world Mon, Jul 12, 1926 – Page 10 · The Evening News (Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, United States of America) · Newspapers.comDebate about jazz music will be held in England by two men with opposing views on it Sat, Oct 23, 1926 – 1 · The Daily Times (Salisbury, Wicomico, Maryland, United States of America) · Newspapers.com1926 ad for jazz pianist Lovie Austin Wed, Dec 22, 1926 – 8 · News-Journal (Mansfield, Richland, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comMusician and conductor Nikolai Sokoloff says jazz music is not lowering moral standards Sat, Apr 28, 1928 – 1 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comW.C. Handy ("Father of the Blues") gives his opinion on the evolution of jazz in 1928 Sat, Apr 28, 1928 – Page 15 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comThe Jazz Age is blamed for an increasing rate of heart failure Fri, Oct 5, 1928 – Page 3 · The Edwardsville Intelligencer (Edwardsville, Madison, Illinois) · Newspapers.comNewspaper columnist writes about what she sees as the psychology of flappers Sun, Dec 22, 1929 – Page 56 · Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States of America) · Newspapers.com1930 announcement that Duke Ellington (the King of Jazz) and his orchestra are coming to Pittsburgh Sat, Jul 5, 1930 – Page 16 · The Pittsburgh Courier (Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comF. Scott Fitzgerald, who coined the term the Jazz Age, says that it is over in 1931 Mon, May 25, 1931 – Page 1 · The San Bernardino County Sun (San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California) · Newspapers.comLouis Armstrong is called "one of the foremost jazz trumpet players of the day" Sun, Oct 25, 1931 – Page 58 · The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comArticle about jazz vocalist Cab Calloway and his style of scat singing Sun, Aug 21, 1932 – 32 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America) · Newspapers.comNewspaper article asks "Is the Jazz Age Over?" Sun, May 6, 1934 – Page 96 · The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Duke Ellington featured in a 1934 newspaper Sun, Sep 23, 1934 – 20 · Hartford Courant (Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America) · Newspapers.comJazz musician Lil Hardin Armstrong is called an "accomplished vocalist, dancer, and piano player" Sun, Jun 2, 1935 – 6 · The Tribune (Coshocton, Coshocton, Ohio, United States of America) · Newspapers.com