Kimball Traditional Music Collection: Audio, Video and Ephemera from Rural New York State to the World

Material Description

The project focuses on the digitization of audio and audiovisual recordings, specifically cassette audio tape, reel-to-reel audiotape, VHS and 8mm videotape and 8mm motion picture film. Each item was reviewed by James Kimball and Karen Canning for basic content and condition, and organized according to artist, ensemble and/or genre. Recordings consist of musical performances and interviews of traditional NY State musicians. Some examples include: fiddlers Mark Hamilton, Clarence Maher, and Lewis Minckley; Eastern style square dances; Irish music concerts, including Marty O’Keefe, William Sullivan, Sean Walker and Ted McGraw; music festivals including the Genesee Country Museum annual Fiddlers Fair and those sponsored by the New York State Old Tyme Fiddler’s Association; and regional music and dance from Danish American, Native American, Italian/Italian American, Gospel, Puerto Rican and Polish/Polish American traditions. Overall Totals and Condition: 832 Audio Cassettes—good condition, with 10-20 with some damage; 96 VHS tapes—good condition; 10, 8mm videotapes—good condition; 22 reel-to-reel audio tapes—poor condition (mold); 5, 8mm motion picture reels—fair condition. Other materials related to the proposed media to be digitized include: Manuscript tune books and sheets (1807 – early 20th c.), 30+ Published tune books (19th – 20th c.), 150+ Songsters (c. 1800 – 1940s), 150+ Folio song and piano collections (c. 1800 – 1940s), 100+ Sheet Music (1790s – 1980s), 10,000+ Bound Collections (1820s – 1870s), 50 Dance/Theater Orchestra sets of parts (1850s – 1930s), 500+ Village/military band music, including parts (1840s – 1920s), 50+ Hymn, singing school and gospel song books (1790s – 1940s), 300+ Diaries, 200+ Historical newspapers, 30+ Historical Trade catalogues & directories, 40+ Historical posters/flyers (19th – 20th c.), 300+ Dance cards, invitations and programs (19th – 20th c.), 2000 Old photographs (music or dance related), 300+