Archives Update: Dean Earl Finding Aid

Dean Earl

Thanks to the work of Anne Mansella, archives intern from Simmons College's Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), a new archives finding aid has been completed and posted online for the Dean Earl papers (BCA-010). This collection is comprised of pedagogical arrangements created and/or compiled by distinguished pianist, faculty member, and alumnus Dean Earl as teaching aids for Berklee Piano Department courses in harmony and piano performance. The arrangements consist mainly of popular music and jazz standards, as well as musical exercises. These papers have also been scanned and are available online as part of the college archives' virtual display page. The physical collection is approximately 4.5 cubic feet and may be accessed by appointment on-site at the Stan Getz Library. Email archives@berklee.edu or call 617-747-8001 to schedule an appointment or to learn more about Berklee's archival collections.

Creating Virtual Exhibits - The Franklin McGinley collection on Duke Ellington

Greetings, friends! I'm Anne Mansella, intern from Simmons College's Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), and I'm here to tell you about one of the exciting projects I've been working on in the Berklee College of Music Archives. You may remember that the Franklin McGinley collection on Duke Ellington was recently processed and made available back in June (if not, take a look here: "Archives Update: Two New Finding Aids"). The collection includes memorabilia created and collected by Franklin McGinley for and by Duke Ellington, including a scrapbook, additional clippings, and various commemorative materials. The scrapbook covers the rise of swing music and Duke Ellington and includes autographs by Ellington and other musicians of the period. The remaining loose materials document Ellington's posthumous legacy, with the majority of the clippings consisting of obituaries or coverage of his passing in 1974. We are now pleased to announce that a virtual exhibit has been created for this collection.

A painting from the scrapbook. Such vibrant colors!

Creating a virtual exhibit means digitizing items and presenting them in such a way that is not only user friendly and aesthetically pleasing but also remains true to the collection itself. There is no doubt that digitization is a great way to not only preserve collections but to also promote and make them accessible to a wide audience. That being said, not all collections are in good enough shape to be digitized. Such a process takes up a good amount of time, money, and resources. Rights need to be obtained. Technical support and security must be arranged, and various challenges are bound to arise. What works for one collection may not necessarily work or be the best option for another. One thing is for sure: when it comes to the digitization of collections and the creation of virtual exhibits there are lots of things to be figured out.

McGinley included drawings as well as newspaper caricatures in his scrapbook.

How did we create a virtual exhibit for the Franklin McGinley collection on Duke Ellington? First, we created a vision and workflow plan detailing how we would create files that work best for a digital exhibit. The scrapbook and loose files were scanned, and hundreds of digital items were then cleaned up using Photoshop. Various file versions were created for each item, each with a specific purpose including:

• TIFF (archival copy)

• PSD (modifiable copy)

• JPG (web copy)

• Low Resolution (original presentation)

• Low Resolution Thumbnails (loose materials)

• Hi Resolution (zoomable)

Once we modified the JavaScript used to create the exhibit, the web files were uploaded onto our website. After hours of work this collection is now available for viewing from the comfort of your own home. My favorite parts are the sketches and artwork that are scattered throughout the scrapbook, presumably done by McGinley himself. Other highlights include a rare autograph from bassist Jimmy Blanton, as well as other signatures from notable musicians of the time (Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, Harry Carney, and Duke Ellington).

We hope that you enjoy viewing this virtual exhibit. Check it out here.

A sketch of Duke Ellington found within the scrapbook

Autographs found within the scrapbook, including a rare Jimmy Blanton signature! 

Archives Update: New Finding Aids

Two additional archival collections have been physically processed and have new finding aids available online:

The Jerome Gross and Bert Henry papers on the Schillinger System (BCA-006) consist of correspondence, coursework, and other materials produced and collected by Bert Henry and Dr. Jerome Gross. Both individuals were students and proponents of the Schillinger System of Musical Composition, a method invented by Russian composer and theorist Joseph Schillinger. These papers are available for research use on site by appointment. To schedule a visit, email archives@berklee.edu or call 617-747-8001.

The Lawrence Berk papers on the Schillinger System (BCA-007) contain the foundation of Berklee's early curriculum. This collection is comprised of notes, formulas and other figures compiled and created by founding president Lawrence Berk during his private study with Joseph Schillinger. Following this exposure to the Schillinger System of Musical Composition, Berk founded his own school based on this method: Schillinger House, now known as Berklee College of Music. These papers have been digitized and are freely available online as part of the Archives' virtual display.

While Berklee's Archives remains a work-in-progress, an ever-increasing list of finding aids for all fully processed collections is available here. Physical materials do not circulate, but we are happy to accommodate visitors via appointment. To schedule a visit or request further information on any aspect of the Archives or a specific collection, please contact college archivist Sofía Becerra (phone: 617-747-8001 | email: archives@berklee.edu).

Archives Update: Two New Finding Aids

We're happy to report that two more archival collections have been processed and are available for use here at the Library:

The Franklin McGinley collection on Duke Ellington

A sample scrapbook page filled with autographs

This collection is comprised of memorabilia created and compiled by Franklin McGinley on Duke Ellington, including clippings, various commemorative materials, and a scrapbook documenting the rise of swing music. The scrapbook is a definite highlight of the collection, with artwork by McGinley and numerous autographs from the musicians featured on its pages, including a rare signature from influential bassist Jimmy Blanton. Other notable autographs include Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, Louis Armstrong, Harry Carney, and Duke Ellington.



The Bobby Vince Paunetto papers

A small fraction of the Paunetto papers

This collection includes scores, audio recordings, and other related materials created and collected by vibraphonist and Latin jazz composer Bobby Vince Paunetto '73 (1944-2010). Paunetto was a prolific composer who fused salsa and jazz in innovative ways. He was significantly influenced by Cal Tjader, Gary Burton, John LaPorta, and Herb Pomeroy, among others. Paunetto attended Berklee from 1969-1973 and released five albums over the course of his lifetime: Nuance (1962), Paunetto's Point (1974), Commit to Memory (1976), Composer in Public (1998), and Reconstituted (2001).



As with the rest of our archival materials, these collections do not circulate but may be viewed on site by appointment Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening hours available upon request. Email archives@berklee.edu or call 617-747-8001 to schedule a visit or to learn more about the Archives. You can also peruse other finding aids, as well as some digital collections, online at: library.berklee.edu/archives.

Archives Exhibit

If you've come by recently, you've probably noticed the new exhibit at the entrance of the Library and Media Center. This display features a sampling of items found in Berklee's newly-formalized Archives. 

"From Schillinger House to Berklee School: One College's Journey..."

Here are a few highlights: 

• Official announcement of Berklee’s renaming in 1970 when it became the Berklee College of Music. The College had previously been known as the Berklee School of Music since 1954, following its founding as Schillinger House in 1945.

• Early student records featuring a registration form dating from the College's initial days as the Schillinger House, Arif Mardin's (‘61, H ‘85) certificate of acceptance, and a roster starting with student number 1.

• Commencement 1971 program, featuring commencement speaker Arif Mardin (‘61, H ‘85) and Berklee’s first honorary degree recipient, Duke Ellington (H ‘71).

• Three works by former Berklee faculty member (1959-1985) John D. LaPorta (1920-2004): Developing the School Jazz Band, Tonal Organization of Improvisational Techniques, and “Excursions for saxophone quartet” (original composition). A saxophonist and clarinetist, LaPorta was a prolific composer for professional and collegiate ensembles as well as a dedicated educator who authored a number of instructional workbooks and other teaching material.

• Framed and signed composition written by Berklee faculty members Al Kooper and Dennis Montgomery III for Lee Eliot Berk, president of the College from 1971-2004:

“Musical Fortress: The Lee Berk Song”

Lee Berk didn’t grow up in the style of Tom Sawyer.
Lee Berk went to school to be a lawyer.
But Lee Berk’s name backwards is a musical Acronym,
so he went to work in the school they named after him.
Twenty four years he’s been our leader and the man
and in this space he’s made a place every musician can understand.
The more you know about what it is you do
a better melody will come from deep inside of you.
Lee Berk, all of us salute you tonight.

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!