American Recorder Society Collection

Arrangement and Description

American Recorder Society Collection

Scope and Content

   The American Recorder Society Records are composed of 9 series. The series encompasses administration records, publicity brochures, publications, financial reports, documents of the educational committee, photographs, memorabilia, chapter newsletters, and oversized items such as programs and posters.


Series Listing and Description

Series 1 - Administration and Publicity

   These folders contain early promotional items for the Society, such as brochures and concert programs, 50th anniversary materials, directories, as well as early organizational items such as by-laws and copyright applications.

Series 2 - Publications                           

The indices to the American Recorder Magazine, vols 1-33 [1950 – 1992] are included, plus the ARS Newsletters, 1950 – 2004.  Also included are music scores published by the Society under the Erich Katz Contemporary Music series and the Members Library Edition.  A few additional scores include correspondence with the composer which has been kept together in this series. Scores published for the ARS 50th anniversary are included as well.

Series 3 - Financial Reports 

The statements called either “income and expenses,”  “receipts and expenses,” or “reports” are included in these folders, dating from 1951 – 1993.

Series 4 - Educational Committee

Most of these folders contain reports, correspondence, drafts and final revisions of the exams given by the Society to recorder players wishing certifications.  The exam levels begin with the Elementary School Program and continue through Level 1 – Level IV.

Series 5 - Photographs 

This series contains pictures of board meetings, workshops and the Berkeley and Boston Early Music Festivals in the 1980s and 1990s.  Many of the festival events and participants are identified. Some festivals are unidentified.  There are also pictures of the Society’s 50th anniversary and National Play the Recorder Day, 1992.

Series 6 - Memorabilia

This series contains five t-shirts. Four  shirts celebrate “National Play The Recorder Month” 1992-1995. The remaining t-shirt  displays the “ARS  American Recorder Society” logo with no date.

Series  7 - Chapter Newsletters 

The folders in this series are stored in their original document cases containing chapter newsletters filed alphabetically by states.   

Note:  a History of the American Recorder Society Chapters written by Marcia Blue and a folder on general information about forming a chapter is in Carton 6, as well as Chapter Information Packets # 3 – 6, 1990 – 1991.

Series 8  - Oversize    

These items include the program for the “Concert of Music by Erich Katz (1900 – 1973)” performed on Oct 20, 1991, and a photocopy of a score for Sonata For Violin and Piano,  1957 by Erich Katz performed at the concert and presented to Martha Bixler as a gift.

The charter for the ARS Toledo, Ohio chapter, signed Oct 1968, is also in the  box.

Series 9 - Oversize Posters

There are 3 posters for Renaissance festivals in Colorado. The month and days on which they were held are printed on the posters, but not the year.

Related Collections

Other related collections stored within the Regis University Archives and Special Collections include;