Williams took these shots of Chicago streets from the moving vantage of a public bus, capturing moments of beauty and submerged drama in the day-to-day lives of ordinary Americans.

Williams took these shots of Chicago streets from the moving vantage of a public bus, capturing moments of beauty and submerged drama in the day-to-day lives of ordinary Americans.

Williams took these shots of Chicago streets from the moving vantage of a public bus, capturing moments of beauty and submerged drama in the day-to-day lives of ordinary Americans.

Williams took these shots of Chicago streets from the moving vantage of a public bus, capturing moments of beauty and submerged drama in the day-to-day lives of ordinary Americans.

Ella Fitzgerald performs on Ken Nordine's show in Chicago in 1961. Often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella, Fitzgerald was the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award and collected an astounding 14 over the course of her career.

John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie is photographed playing the trumpet on Ken Nordine's jazz TV show in Chicago in 1961. Gillespie's combination of musicianship, showmanship, and wit made him a leading popularizer of the new music called bebop and one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of all time.

Duke Ellington is photographed playing the piano accompanied by other musicians during a Christmas party in Chicago, 1955. Ellington gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem and in the years following, cemented himself as one of the most significant composers of the genre.

Founders of The Jazztet, trumpet player Art Farmer and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson hold their instruments as they stand amongst the rubble. Williams took this picture as part of a photoshoot for the September 1960 cover of Jazz publication DownBeat magazine.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is photographed during his speech at the ‘Illinois Rally for Civil Rights’ at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 21, 1964. That same day, news broke of the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Members of The Almighty Vice Lord Nation photographed on the streets of Chicago. Best known as "Vice Lords", the group was one of the oldest and second-largest street gangs in the city of Chicago, Illinois.

Co-founders of The Jazztet, trumpeter Art Farmer and saxophonist Benny Golson perform for a group of children during a visit to an urban renewal project on Chicago’s South Side. They had established their jazz sextet in 1959 and would go on to release 12 albums over the course of 26 years.

Singer Sarah Vaughan is photographed smiling at her reflection in her dressing room at the Chicago Theatre in 1948.  This is one of the earliest photographs in the Ted Williams Archive.

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins is photographed rehearsing in front of a mirror before a 1956 concert at the Civic Opera House in Chicago, IL. Rollins, who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians has had an eight-decade career that has led him from Harlem to the White House and all over the world.

Thelonious Monk is photographed playing piano on stage at Chicago's Birdhouse Club in 1960. The pianist and composer had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire.

American trumpeter Ira Sullivan is photographed performing at Joe Segal’s club in Chicago in the 1960s. Sullivan was also known to play the flugel, flute, and saxophone and left a mark on his hometown of Chicago's legendary jazz culture. 

American jazz musician and singer-songwriter Eleanora Fagan, professionally known as Billie Holiday and Lady Day, is photographed singing into a microphone during an evening performance. This is the only known photograph of Holiday taken by Ted Williams.

American jazz trumpeter and bandleader, Dizzy Gillespie smokes a pipe and chats with onlookers as he plays chess with Canadian music critic, lyricist, and former journalist Gene Lees. Gillespie was seen regularly enjoying a game of chess against friends and fellow musicians when he wasn't performing. 

Ella Fitzgerald is photographed performing on Ken Nordine's show in Chicago in 1961. Often referred to as the First Lady of Song, Queen of Jazz, and Lady Ella, Fitzgerald was the first African American woman to win a Grammy Award and collected an astounding 14 over the course of her career.

Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington is photographed partially lit by the spotlight as he sings into his microphone accompanied by the orchestra. Ellington gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem and in the years following, cemented himself as one of the most significant composers of the genre.

Ted Williams captures an aerial photograph of Duke Ellington and his piano on stage at the University of Chicago in 1960.  Ellington gained a national profile through his orchestra's appearances at the Cotton Club in Harlem and in the years following, cemented himself as one of the most significant composers of the genre.

Paul Desmond is photographed smoking a cigarette outside Soldier Field during the 1965 Downbeat Jazz Festival in Chicago, IL.  The alto saxophonist and composer was best known for his work with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and was one of the most popular musicians to come out of the cool jazz scene.

Miles Davis is photographed playing the trumpet in a dressing room before a performance. The American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet is photographed performing in the Orchestra Hall at Chicago's Symphony Center in April of 1961. The group was comprised of Dave Brubeck on the piano, Paul Desmond on the alto saxophone, Joe Morello on the drums, and Eugene Wright on the double bass.

American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer Count Basie smokes whilst playing the piano during a show at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago, IL. One of jazz music's all-time greats, Basie was a primary shaper of the big-band sound that characterized mid-20th century popular music.