Guide to the Music, Dept. of, 1875-[ongoing]

Historical Note

Music at Bates began as a student-led activity, with various clubs and performances on campus by the 1870s. Singing and performing were common enough at social events and at chapel exercises to merit frequent mention in the student newspaper throughout the 19th century. Although no musical instruction was offered as part of the Bates curriculum at that time, according to the Bates Student in 1880 and 1881 a B.F. Wood of Lewiston was offering music classes at Bates for interested students.

The Music Department was not formed until 1925, with Seldon T. Crafts appointed as the first Professor of Music and department head, a position he held until his retirement in 1947.

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Scope and Content Note

Contains materials relating to the activities of the Bates College Department of Music, and numerous musical groups, clubs, and performances on campus. Files include programs, brochures, flyers, correspondence and memoranda, budgets, clippings, and member/performer rosters. Many of the files appear to have been gathered and arranged originally by D. Robert Smith, head of the Bates Music Department and chapel organist from 1950 to 1974.

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Organization and Arrangement

Files are arranged alphabetically by folder title, and then chronologically by academic year. The Admin files folders mostly contain correspondence and memoranda and budgets and financial statements, all pertaining to music events and programs. These types of files are not represented every year. The "Pops Concert" folder contains correspondence pertaining to the annual event of the same name, but financial records for individual years of the Concert can also be found in the Admin Files folders for various years.

The Programs folders contain programs, brochures, and flyers for musical performances at Bates, in the local community, and occasionally across New England. Much of the non-Bates material was included because of interest in the local community, or because a person affiliated with Bates was performing. Program events include chapel services, graduation weekend performances (including Commencement, Baccalaureate, and Last Chapel Service programs), performances by the combined "Bates Musical Clubs," events hosted by the George Colby Chase Lecture Series, various holiday events, and numerous single performances by individuals and performing groups.

Most of this material likely came from the files of D. Robert Smith, Bates Music Director from xxx

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The collection is the physical property of Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library. Bates College holds literary rights only for material created by College personnel working on official behalf of the College, or for material which was given to the College with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication or other purposes that exceed fair use.

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Related Material

CA 02.91, Chaplain's Office records, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie-archives/EADFindingAids/CA0291.html

CA 12.02, Student Organizations records, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie-archives/EADFindingAids/CA1202.html

CA 12.07, Student Organizations, Bobcat Jazz Band, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College, http://abacus.bates.edu/muskie-archives/EADFindingAids/CA1207.html

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Index Terms

These records are indexed under the following headings in the Bates College Library catalog. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Personal Names:

Corporate Names:

Topical Subjects:

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Administrative Information

Acquisition and Custody Information

Accession No.: N/A.

Preferred Citation

Music, Dept. of, Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections Library, Bates College.

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Series Description