I’m working my way through the EMS storage/archive to catalog the final materials (including unmarked tapes, DATs, videos, etc.). I met with Scott from the Sousa and he will be using my master database to serve as a guide to understanding what is moving into the Sousa Archives, what needs to be immediately addressed, and as a step forward to making the materials accessible. Additionally, I talked to Scott regarding my concerns about how materials may be significant to other institutions outside UIUC. It was fun showing Scott around the collection and pointing out some of the finds that I think are most significant. Scott seemed grateful for my work and I was happy to hear him explain how much my work was helping the Sousa Archive (and preserving this collection as a whole). The collection will be moved on 12/9. We approximated it will take twenty-four boxes (cubic foot) and some oversized boxes to house the collection.

Scott S. should be emailing Dr. Fieldsteel to verify the move but all of the papers are already in place for moving the collection to the Sousa (this was done by Scott W. before the arrival of Dr. Fieldsteel).

I talked to Scott S. regarding my conversation with Mrs. Dorothy Martirano who has located more materials to be potentially donated to the Sousa. Scott said he will contact her regarding these materials and also what we have found in the collection pertaining to Sal.

I emailed Scott W. regarding materials and scores that he authored that are in the collection. These materials will be donated to the Sousa unless Scott W. wants to reclaim them.

After the move of this collection, I will write a finding aid and a list of recommendations for the Sousa Archive. This is good form for an archivist and will serve as a good exit project for this Independent Study.

All is moving forward and soon this collection will have a long-term home!

The project has progressed nicely as the majority of the materials have now been cataloged. The database contains all of the information written on each tape case, the type of tape, and an assessment of the medium so as to be able to understand what materials are in the most need of immediate action.

I met with Scott of the Sousa Archives. The entire collection will be moved over the the archives on 12/9. At that point, Scott will decide on a preservation strategy. Scott will also decide which materials to deaccession.

Although I completely understand the space and resource constraints within the Sousa Archives, I am saddened to see that the collection will not be preserved as a whole. As mentioned in a previous post, I do believe there is value in maintaining this collection as a whole but I understand the real-world constraints inhibiting that. I do also lament the fact that we may of had a real opportunity to get this collection in the hands of its creators and originating institutions but reaching out to these other institutions and creators has been discouraged from within our archives. That said, I understand the desire for the music archives to exert as much control as possible over such a significant collection.

In the upcoming weeks, I’m going to clean up the database. I want to put a GUI behind the database so as to make it easy to search but Scott says he does not want such an interface. I’m going to build a finding aid and a report with some recommendations to pass over. I am not sure if they will be utilized but as someone who has worked with this collection over the past ten or so weeks, I do think that I have some valuable observations to share. I have also digitized a significant amount of materials pertaining to the original order of the collection which I will also pass over.

Overall, I am satisfied with this project. I do believe that I brought several departments together in an effort to preserve this material. I also believe that through the work I have done will aid in the preserving materials for the long-term. Additionally, I am still honored that I got to act as the temporary custodian of this collection during this transition time.