Archives Update

Since our official start in October, things have been humming right along here at the Archives. This week, Berklee’s faculty got a sneak peek at some of our treasures, as well as coming attractions as part of Berklee Teachers On Teaching. For the rest of you, here’s a little taste of what we shared and what’s in store.

The main task of these last few months has been getting organized, both physically and administratively. We’ve been putting a lot of thought into the everyday operations of the Archives, drafting a mission statement as well as policies to guide future collecting and use of archival materials. More concretely, we’ve also been wading through boxes of donated materials, conducting inventory and creating finding aids that will be searchable online.

Speaking of online, we’re also hard at work planning a new website for the Archives. Our current page has a small sampling of digitized collections: historical photos from the Office of Public Information and Alma Berk; founder Lawrence Berk’s notes from his studies under Joseph Schillinger; interactive scans of Jazz in the Classroom scores and performances; and a small fraction of the interviews recorded as part of the ongoing Berklee Oral History Project.

Of course, not everything has been (or can be) digitized, so in addition to expanding this virtual display, the new Archives page will include finding aids for processed collections available on site in the Archives room here at the Stan Getz Library as well as general information about the Archives. Archival materials are non-circulating but are available Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment, with evening hours available upon request.

Interested in scheduling a visit or learning more? Email archives@berklee.edu or call 617-747-8001. We’re still very much a work-in-progress, but in the meantime we’re happy to work with faculty, students, and alumni interested in conducting research, donating materials, or incorporating archival materials in the classroom. Stay tuned for more updates from the Archives!