Archive of five items, comprising an ALS and handwritten set list by Huddie 'Lead Belly' Ledbetter, an ALS by his wife Martha, an unsigned promo flyer for a 'High-Cost-of-Living Hootenanny,' and an unsigned photo of Ledbetter with his guitar surrounded by schoolchildren. Includes:ALS is in pencil, signed by Lead Belly, "H. Ledbetter/Martha," one page, 7.75 x 9.75, March 28, 1949, to one of his managers, Austen Fairbanks. In full: "I rec a check for $150 was OK but we did not rec no money order for $25 so if you got the stub keep it we waundered what was the mater so far the month of mar. we have at this time rec $175 that all. So the main time don't for get April. Pleas your Letter was fine the Harvard Concert they Call agan say it was for the 21 of april so if they call agan I no what to do it was from the order of Rudie Blosh." By the time he composed this letter, Ledbetter was already cognizant that he was losing control of his muscles, though he lacked an accurate diagnosis. He had been recently released from the hospital after finding himself unable to walk. Following his recovery, Ledbetter remained in New York performing mainly in jazz clubs and on the radio while preparing for his trip to Europe in May.Handwritten set list in pencil by Lead Belly, one page, 8.5 x 4, no date but circa 1948. Lead Belly writes a list of 13 songs: “They Hung Him on the Cross,” “work song,” “July on Johnson,” “Bring me Little Water Silvie,” “The Gray Goos,” “Bushwhase Blues,” “mid night on the see,” “Tak a whip on me,” “Tell me where did Sleep Las night,” “Mory don’t you weep,” “459 Blues,” “Com Long all you Cow Boys,” and “Once a Little Boy walking Down the Road.”ALS by his wife, signed "Martha Ledbetter," two pages, 5.75 x 8.75, May 10, 1949, to one of his managers, Marjorie Fairbanks, in part: "How goes every Thing Well I hope as that's leaves me ok felling much better Since I read your letters and also I got the check and thank a million I am not worried about Huddie as longs I know he is with you and Aussten becourse I know he will be Taking Care of and I Am Sure any kind of care he needs you will see to that I am afull Thrilled to here every thing is going fine. Any kind of clippings you can send me will be very Thankfull of Them." This was written shortly after Ledbetter's departure for Europe, his only time ever spent outside the United States. While in France, a Paris physician diagnosed him with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and Ledbetter returned to the United States at the end of May.A flyer for the "'High-Cost-of-Living' Hootenanny" presented by People's Songs Inc., held at the Town Hall in New York on September 27, 1947, one page both sides, 7 x 11, listing folk singers including 'Woody Guthrie" and "Leadbelly" as the performers.A vintage original glossy 10 x 8 photograph of Lead Belly holding his twelve-string guitar amongst a group of adoring schoolchildren. The photograph contradicts one of the great myths of Lead Belly—the image of a rough, ex-convict (the wild-eyed 'murderous minstrel,' a label that Time bestowed upon him in 1935). In actuality, Ledbetter enjoyed a wonderful rapport with children, many of whom sensed something special about the man. In overall fine condition. An amazing archive from the fabled folk-blues hero.Format: Archive