Performing Arts History Committee records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 314

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of minutes, 1966-1976, from meetings of the Performing Arts History Committee (also named the Music History Resources Committee) of the Oregon Historical Society. The minutes are accompanied by attachments, which include correspondence concerning information and materials sought by the committee, and a document by Mary Ann Campbell Drosch titled "A Suggested Outline for a Proposed Study of Oregon's Musical History." Along with the minutes, the collection includes two papers on music history in Oregon, written for seminars at Lewis and Clark College: "Music in Portland Before 1920" by Judy Cervetto (1966), and "Opportunities for Higher Music Education in Oregon before 1900" by Linda Besant (1968).

Dates

Creation: 1966-1976

Creator

Oregon Historical Society. Performing Arts History Committee (Organization)
Oregon Historical Society. Music History Resources Committee (Organization)
Cervetto, Judy (Author, Person)
Besant, Linda (Author, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Administrative history

The Performing Arts History Committee was organized by the Oregon Historical Society around 1966, with the goal of seeking out information and materials documenting the performing arts in Oregon. The group was instrumental in creating the Performing Arts Collection (Mss 1523) at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library. At the time of its establishment, the committee was called the Music History Resources Committee; around 1970, it became the Performing Arts Resources Committee, and later the Performing Arts History Committee. Early committee members included Mary Rosenberg, Mary Margaret Dundore, Susie Aubrey Smith, Mrs. Claud G. Farrow, Jr., David Campbell, Robert E. Fessenden, and Arthur C. Spencer; Mary Tobin Winch would later play an important role.

Sources: Collection materials; Hilmar Grohndahl, "State's Musical History Research Effort Subject," Oregonian, October 30, 1966, Section 2 (features), page 16.

Extent

0.18 Cubic Feet (1 slim letter document case)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Records of a committee organized by the Oregon Historical Society around 1966 to seek out information and materials documenting performing arts in the state. The collection consists primarily of meeting minutes from 1966-1976 and attached correspondence and other documents, and also includes two papers written for seminars at Lewis and Clark College in 1966 and 1968, concerning music history in Oregon.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

In part, gift of Arthur C. Spencer III, August 1969 (Lib. Acc. 11201).

Related Materials

The collection compiled by the Performing Arts History Committee, titled the Performing Arts Collection, Mss 1523, is held at the Oregon Historical Society Research Library. It includes additional minutes of the committee.

Processing Information

Processing of the collection was completed in November 2005. Staples, tape, and newspaper clippings were removed for preservation. Archival copies were produced to replace newspaper articles. Collection description was revised in July 2023 to make corrections and conform to current standard.