Will Marion Cook House

The Will Marion Cook House is a historic townhouse at 221 West 138th Street, in the part of Harlem known as Strivers' Row in Manhattan, New York City. It was the home of Will Marion Cook (1869-1944), a leading African-American musician and composer of the period, from 1918 until his death in 1944. Cook was a major influence on later musicians including Sidney Bechet, Duke Ellington, and Josephine Baker. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.[2][3][4]

Will Marion Cook House
Will Marion Cook House
Will Marion Cook House
Will Marion Cook House
Location221 West 138th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Coordinates40°49′4″N 73°56′37″W
Built1918
ArchitectD.H. King
Architectural styleGeorgian
Part ofSt. Nicholas Historic District (ID75001209)
NRHP reference No.76001238[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 11, 1976[1]
Designated NHLMay 11, 1976[2]
Designated CPOctober 29, 1975

Description and history

The Will Marion Cook House is located on the north side of West 138th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues. This area, known as Strivers' Row, was home to a number of well-known people during the height of Harlem's cultural successes of the early 20th century. It is an end unit of a row of sixteen three-story Renaissance Revival brick rowhouses, built by developer David H. King in 1891. The ground floor is two bays wide, with the main entrance in the left bay, set in a rounded-arch opening. The second floor features a single three-part window, with narrow sidelights flanking a larger central sash, separated by Ionic columns; a half-round terra cotta panel above the center window gives the grouping the feel of a Palladian window. The third floor has a central sash window, separated from side narrow windows by brickwork. First and third-floor window bays all feature splayed lintels of terra cotta.[3]

This house is where Will Marion Cook lived from 1918 to 1944. Called the "master of all masters of our people" by Duke Ellington, he was a leading black composer and musician, trained classically in the violin by Antonin Dvorak and others.[3] Denied work in racist classical music circles, he made his influence felt as a composer and arranger in the theater, employing African-American musical styles and themes in his work. He was an early innovator in the use of musical improvisation, helping give rise to jazz and the Big Band Era. Cook was a mentor and influence on Eubie Blake and Duke Ellington, and helped further the career of his wife, soprano Abbie Mitchell.[3]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Will Marion Cook House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-23.
  3. ""Will Marion Cook House", February 3, 1976, by Lynne Gomez Graves (National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination)" (pdf). National Park Service. 1976-02-03.
  4. "Will Marion Cook House--Accompanying 3 photos, exterior, from 1975. (National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination)" (pdf). National Park Service. 1976-02-03.
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