National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Costumes, awards, photograph, recordings, scrapbooks, sheet music, and personal memorabilia examine the 60-year career of Ella Fitzgerald (1918-1996) and her rags-to-riches climb to international fame as a jazz and popular singer. This small exhibition features the red, two-piece suit from an American Express ad, along with an Annie Liebovitz photograph used in the ad; the broken goblet from the "Is it Ella or is it Memorex?" ad; the Presidential Medal of Freedom received from President George Herbert Walker Bush; a drawing of her by Pablo Picasso, and a portrait of her by singer Tony Bennett. Also on view are 5 photographs of Ella Fitzgerald by Herman Leonard.
Audio & Video (run continuously)