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AMERICAN ORGAN ARCHIVEThe American Organ Archive of the Organ Historical Society, Inc., has opened a renovated and expanded building housing the world's largest repository of pipe organ research materials. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, at Talbott Library, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, the Archive is a closed-stack, non-circulating collection. It embraces books, periodicals, pamphlets, photographs and other illustrations, organ plans and specifications, recital programs, catalogues, correspondence, ephemera. It also houses other documentary materials pertaining primarily to organ history and design, organ building and playing, organ music and organists, and records and publications of the Organ Historical Society. Unique manuscripts, rare books, and complete runs of hard-to-find journals from many countries distinguish this Archive. Other areas include American music history, church music and church history, historic preservation, conservation, organ related technology and engineering, acoustics, and architecture. Reference materials include union lists, directories, indexes, guides, maps, genealogies, and chronologies. Extensive manuscript records from the M. P. Moeller Company and other organ-building firms are available for consultation by appointment. Users of the Archive can also consult Talbott Library's large collection of printed organ music and recordings as well as general works on music. Information about the Archives can be seen on the OHS website. An in-progress catalogue of holdings is available on-line through OCLC by clicking 'on-line catalogue'. This catalogue can be searched by author, OCLC subject heading, call number, and key words or key phrases. The Archive participates in the Interlibrary Loan network and can provide photocopies at cost by arrangement with the archivist. Appointments to use research materials, including manuscripts, may be made directly with the archivist at Talbott Library, Hamilton at Walnut Avenues, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (609-921-7100). Limited funds are available in support of research by visiting scholars; application information is also available from Mr. Pinel. Conceived by Stephen Pinel and provided by Rider University, the Archive's new space was configured and furnished during summer 1999 thanks to generous gifts from sixty individuals, foundations, and corporations. To celebrate expansion of the American Organ Archive, an international symposium is to be held in Princeton in the autumn of 2000, tentatively entitled 'American Organ Research: New Century, New Directions'. For information, contact Stephen Pinel or consult the OHS website. |