Series I. Minutes of the Governing Bodies, 1908-91 (2.4 l.f.)

Organized into three subseries by governing body: Subseries 1. Conservatory Faculty Council, Minutes of; Subseries 2. Conservatory Faculty, Minutes of; and Subseries 3. Conservatory Board, Minutes of.

Subseries 1. Conservatory Faculty Council, Minutes of, 1908-09, 1911-13, 1915-43, May 1946, 1949-85, 1987-92

Minutes of council meetings are filed with attached and related materials and chronologically arranged. The council includes seven faculty members and two ex officio members, the President and Provost of Oberlin College.

Subseries 2. Conservatory Faculty, Minutes of, 1914-92

Minutes are filed with attached and related materials; they are chronologically arranged. Some minutes (1978-80 and 1988-1991) are missing.

Subseries 3. Conservatory Board, Minutes of, 1969-90

Incomplete set of minutes (with attachments) of meetings of the Conservatory Board. The Board is an organization open to any Conservatory student or College of Arts and Sciences music major. There are four elected officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Minutes of the Board are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 4. Senior Staff, 1988-91

Reports and institutional publications, collected by Senior Staff, concerning campus programs, departmental financial and academic issues, and college staff.

Series II. Board of Trustees Records, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1976, 1981, 1983-85 (0.2 l.f.)

Miscellaneous materials relating to Board of Trustees meetings, including several reports presented by Conservatory deans to the Board.

Series III. Correspondence, 1928-99, n.d. (18.1 l.f.)

Administrative correspondence of the Directors, Assistant Directors, and Deans of the Conservatory, arranged into two subseries: Subseries 1. General Correspondence, Subseries 2. Inter-office Memoranda of the Deans, Subseries 3. Student Correspondence.

Subseries 1. General Correspondence, 1928-99

Consists of routine, administrative correspondence pertaining to personnel matters, fund-raising, artist recitals, building and equipment needs, and professional activities. This correspondence was separated from a larger alphabetical run of correspondence by the Project Archivist in 1992. Files contain extremely brittle file copies of outgoing letters with attached incoming originals. Correspondence is alphabetically arranged by name or subject. Additional correspondence, 1988-1999, of Conservatory Dean Karen Wolff was received as a late accretion and is located at the end. These files concern primarily arrangements for visiting artists and also include some general correspondence and material on the College's 1993 legal audit.

Subseries 2. Interoffice Memoranda of the Deans, 1958-92, n.d.

Includes an incomplete run of incoming and outgoing inter-office correspondence and memoranda chronologically arranged. Memoranda date mainly from the deanship of David Boe (1975-91). Included also are annual reports of the conservatory dean to the college president (1962-1965, 1967-1972, 1975-1987).

Subseries 3. Student Correspondence, 1928-91

Includes correspondence which was segregated from the general correspondence files by the Project Archivist in 1992. Files contain incoming correspondence with the Director's and Assistant Director's file copies attached. Outgoing correspondence includes letters of reference and letters pertaining to students' academic progress. There are numerous letters of inquiry from students and parents. Correspondence is alphabetically arranged by student name.

Series IV. Budgetary and Development Records, 1876-1933, 1960-83, 1986-87, 1990-91 (2.2 l.f.)

Ledgers, cash books, cash journals, and loose papers relating to the yearly development of the budget (1960-80) and to the receipt and acknowledgment of financial gifts, especially those designated for the David Ritchie Robinson Memorial Fund, established in 1962. The earliest records are fragmentary in nature; these precede development records. Thereunder, files are chronologically arranged.

Series V. Admissions, Enrollment, and Degree Program Files, 1957-92, 1999 (1.4 l.f.)

Includes student enrollment and admissions statistics, data on teaching loads and schedules, reports on admissions and recruitment procedures, and files relating to degree programs offered by the Conservatory. Arranged into three subseries: Subseries 1. Admissions Files; 2. Enrollment and Scheduling Files; and 3. Degree Program Files. Within subseries, records are arranged alphabetically by topic or type of material and thereunder chronologically.

Subseries 1. Admissions Files, 1957-85, n.d.

Includes admission logs and reports for Oberlin and also for other peer liberal arts colleges.

Subseries 2. Enrollment and Scheduling Files, 1960-92

This subseries contains information regarding semester enrollment numbers, faculty assignments, teaching loads, and class schedules.

Subseries 3. Degree Program Files, 1958, 1965-92, n.d.

Includes various documents concerning different degree programs offered through the Conservatory, such as Double Degree program, BM/MM Conducting, Master of Music in Teaching, Church music program, and other programs.

Series VI. Personnel Records, 1928-95, n.d. (25.9 l.f.) *

Faculty and staff personnel records, arranged into five subseries *Access to this series is restricted.

Subseries 1. Appointment, Salary, and Grievance Files, 1949-95, n.d.

Includes salary statistics and reports, grievance procedures, and legal documents associated with litigation involving Oberlin College and Conservatory faculty, and search files for various positions. Access by permission of the Archivist.

Subseries 2. Inactive Faculty and Staff Files, 1935-92

Files contains routine administrative correspondence pertaining to salary and terms of appointment or termination and are arranged alphabetically by name. Accessions 1990/10 and 1992/20 are interfiled. Accessions 1998/77 and 1999/17 are listed separately (boxes 37-40). Access by permission of the Archivist.

Subseries 3. Recruitment Files, 1974-87, n.d.

Includes recruitment strategies and recruitment and appointment activity records for Oberlin College personnel in the various departments of the Conservatory.

Subseries 4. Topical Files, 1965-90

Miscellaneous files including: Agreement, Copyright Law, 1977-84, Reorganization, Division Directors, Early Retirement, Health Benefits, Sabbatical Applications, Sexual Harassment, and Staff Reports.

Subseries 5. Public Relations Files, 1990s-2000

Files containing articles, releases, correspondence, and photographs relating to formal faculty and stuff s of the Conservatory of Music. See also the inventory for accession 2004/064

Series VII. Committee Files, 1912-94 (6.0 l.f.)

Organized into seven subseries: Subseries 1. Artist Recitals Series Committee Files; Subseries 2. Conservatory Educational Policy Committee Files (includes Evaluation Committee minutes, 1955-56 [2000/103]); Subseries 3. Miscellaneous Committee Files; Subseries 4. College-wide Committee Files; Subseries 5. Visiting Committee; Subseries 6. Admission Committee; and Subseries 7. Strategic Issues Steering Committee. Within subseries, files are arranged chronologically or alphabetically by committee name. For additional records relating to college-wide committees and the Strategic Issues Steering Committee, consult Record Group 33, Committees.

Subseries 1. Artist Recitals Series Committee Files, 1912-93

Includes minutes of committee meetings and correspondence with guest artists and their representatives regarding scheduling, repertoire, and local arrangements; contracts with visiting artists; and publicity brochures. The annual recital series features solo performers as well as ensembles and now includes two Cleveland Orchestra concerts. See Series XV for photographs of performers and Series III, Subseries 1, General Correspondence.

Subseries 2. Conservatory Educational Policy Committee Files, 1958-95

Minutes and memoranda are chronologically arranged.

Subseries 3. Miscellaneous Committees, 1927-92, n.d.

Records of various Conservatory committees are arranged alphabetically by committee name.

Subseries 4. College-wide Committee Files, 1965-91

Records of various college-wide committees in which members of the Conservatory faculty were involved. Arranged alphabetically by committee name.

Subseries 5. Visiting Committee, 1987-89

Miscellaneous documents regarding the Visting Committee, including committee itineraries, biographical sketches and minutes of meetings.

Subseries 6. Admission Committee, 1953, 1963-76, 1981-1989

Miscellaneous reports, minutes, and demographics concerning Conservatory admission and other institutes admissions.

Subseries 7. Strategic Issues Steering Committee, 1991-95

Correspondence, Minutes, and Reports of the Strategic Issues Steering Committee and the Conservatory Study Group.

Series VIII. Instructional Divisions and Special Services Files, 1950-93 (8.8 l.f.)

Records of Conservatory instructional divisions and of the Audio Services Department and Conservatory Library. Arranged into the following subseries: Subseries 1. Records of Applied Studies Departments; Subseries 2. Other Instructional Departments; Subseries 3. Music Education Department Files; and Subseries 4. Records of the Conservatory Audio Services and Library.

Subseries 1. Records of Applied Studies Departments, 1963-92

Includes miscellaneous administrative files of nine applied studies departments and studio change request forms completed by students (1973-78). Arranged alphabetically by type of material.

Subseries 2. Other Instructional Divisions, 1955-90

Includes the records of instructional divisions other than Applied Studies or Music Education. Files are arranged alphabetically by division and thereunder chronologically or alphabetically by topic or type of material.

Subseries 3. Music Education Department Files, 1950-93

Includes State of Ohio certification records, minutes and memoranda, and files relating to the Music Therapy Consortium program. For files of graduates of the Music Education program, consult Series X, Student Files.

Subseries 4. Records of the Conservatory Audio Services and Library, 1958-90

Includes annual reports, correspondence, and memoranda relating to the operation of the Audio Services division and the Conservatory Library. Records are arranged alphabetically by division and thereunder chronologically or alphabetically by topic or type of material. For additional records relating to the Conservatory Library, consult Record Group 16, Subgroup II.

Series IX. Special Program Files, 1937-96 (17.2 l.f.)

Records of special musical and academic programs sponsored by the Conservatory, arranged into five subseries by program: Subseries 1. American Soviet Youth Orchestra Files; Subseries 2. Baroque Performance Institute Files; Subseries 3. Contemporary Music Festival Files of Walter Aschaffenberg; Subseries 4. Salzburg Program Files; and Subseries 5. Various Special Programs, Performances, and Ensembles.

Subseries 1. American Soviet Youth Orchestra Files, 1986-93, n.d.

Includes correspondence, memoranda, facsimile documents and telex communications, fund-raising and budgetary records, income and expense reports, personnel records, staff reports, audition files, music scores, concert programs, and publicity. Some material is in Russian. Arranged alphabetically by topic or type of material.

Subseries 2. Baroque Performance Institute Files, 1972-85, 1989

Includes correspondence, memoranda, and publicity, which are arranged chronologically.

Subseries 3. Contemporary Music Festival Files of Walter Aschaffenberg, 1950-70

Correspondence with festival organizers and participants, minutes, and publicity brochures, which were maintained by Professor of Composition and Music Theory Walter Aschaffenberg. Correspondents include composers Roger Sessions, Benjamin Britten, Aaron Copland, Elliott C. Carter, and Lukas Foss. Files are arranged alphabetically by type of material and thereunder chronologically.

Subseries 4. Salzburg Program Files, 1957-64

Correspondence and general files documenting the compulsory third year program in Salzburg, Austria. Correspondence precedes General Files and includes letters arranged alphabetically and chronologically. General Files are alphabetically arranged. Files include extensive administrative correspondence of Mozarteum President Eberhard Preussner and his Oberlin colleagues, Robert Deahl, Paul Steg, and Emmy K. Miller; orientation and travel information for students; publicity; faculty and student evaluations of the program (with some material in German);a scrapbook; and a set of lithographic prints of the city of Salzburg (1959). For photographs, see Series XV.

Subseries 5. Various Special Programs, Performances, and Ensembles, 1937-96

Miscellaneous files documenting a range of musical programs, arranged alphabetically by program name. See also series XIV for miscellaneous programs.

Series X. Student Files, 1956-83 (46.65 l.f.) Restricted -- Access by permission of the office of origin or of the College Archivist.*

Individual student files, arranged into three subseries by accession: Subseries 1. Student Files, 1956-74 (Accession 1983/25); Subseries 2. Student Files, 1970-83 (Received 1989); and Subseries 3. Music Education Student Files, 1974-80 (Accession 1991/27).

Subseries 1. Student Files, 1956-74 [1983/25] *

Files include faculty evaluations of junior and senior recitals and may also include transcripts of record. Arranged alphabetically by student name.

Subseries 2. Student Files, 1970-83 [1989/102] *

Files include faculty evaluations of student recitals and routine transactional documents. There is some overlap between these files and those of Subseries 1 and 3. Arranged alphabetically by student name.

Subseries 3. Music Education Student Files, 1974-80 [1991/27] *

Includes faculty evaluations and routine transactional documents. Arranged by graduating year and thereunder alphabetically by student name. Consult Subseries 2 and 3 above for files of those students who graduated prior to 1974.

Series XI. Buildings, Grounds, and Musical Equipment Files, 1904, 1928-91, 1997 (7.25 l.f.)

Records are arranged into two subseries: Subseries 1. Buildings and Grounds Files; and Subseries 2. Musical Equipment Files. Within subseries, files are alphabetically arranged by name of architect or type of material.

Subseries 1. Buildings and Grounds Files, 1904, 1940-91

Files pertain to the construction and renovation of Conservatory buildings and musical equipment. Records include correspondence, memoranda, and consultants' reports on space and acoustics. Architects' drawings of buildings and organs are housed in Case 2, Drawer 15, and in Box 3 of this series.

Subseries 2. Musical Equipment Files, 1904, 1928-82, n.d.

Includes correspondence and attachments relating to the purchase, construction, transport, dedication, use, and maintenance of the Conservatory's organs, harpsichords, stringed instruments, and pianos. The bulk of the files concerns the Conservatory's organs. See also Series III, Correspondence, Subseries 1, General Correspondence, for correspondence with various piano and organ companies.

Series XII. External Organizations' Files, 1925-89 (2.65 l.f.)

Arranged into two subseries: Subseries 1. Grants, Funds, and Fellowship Files; and Subseries 2. National Music Organizations. Within subseries, records are arranged alphabetically by organization name.

Subseries 1. Grants, Funds, and Fellowship Files, 1925-89

Includes general information on grants and fellowships available to Conservatory faculty as well as grant files arranged alphabetically by granting institution. Grantors include the National Endowment for the Arts and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Subseries 2. National Music Organizations, 1926-83

Files of national music organizations with which the Conservatory was affiliated, by virtue of membership or through the activities of its faculty. Organizations include the American Society of Composers, the Music Educators National Conference, and the Seven Springs Group of Music Schools. Arranged alphabetically by organization.

Series XIII. Institutional Awards and Certificates, 1930, 1964-65, 1968-69 (0.8 l.f.)

Certificates of merit received by the Conservatory, arranged chronologically.

Series XIV. Conservatory Publications/New Releases, 1841- , n.d. (16.21 l.f.)

Files consist of Conservatory catalogs, annual student recital programs, a comprehensive run of concert programs, and miscellaneous programs and publications, public relations materials, and news releases. Arranged alphabetically by type of material and thereunder chronologically for Boxes 1-8; Boxes 9-45 are miscellaneous programs/publications (mostly concert programs) and news releases. The miscellaneous programs consist of the recent accretions of concert and recital programs. This series is divided into two subseries: Subseries 1. Publications; and Series 2. News Releases/Clippings.

Series XV. Photographs and Postcards, ca. 1870-1991 (5.45 l.f.)

Arranged into three subseries by accession: Subseries 1. Artist and Program Files, 1930's-present; Subseries 2. Building and Construction Photographs, c. 1950-1967; and Subseries 3. Conservatory Library Slides, 1977-82

Subseries 1. Artist and Program Files, 1930's-present

Photographs maintained by the Conservatory for its own use, including photographs of conservatory ensembles, classes, buildings, and musical instruments; Salzburg program participants and environs of the city of Salzburg; and artist publicity photographs. Arranged alphabetically by subject. Includes several oversize items housed separately.

Subseries 2. Building and Construction Photographs, c. 1950-1967

Photographs created and maintained by the College Photographer. Photographs depict students practicing, various ensembles, and Conservatory buildings. Arranged alphabetically by subject.

Subseries 3. Conservatory Library Slides, 1977-82

Slides of the interior of the Conservatory Library.

Series XVI. Recordings, [1960], [1972], 1979, 1984 (4 items, 0.2 l.f.)

Includes one promotional LP for performer Robert Hill, one promotional reel for pianist Andre Watts, and a cassette recording of a conversation between Dean David Boe and Gunther Schuller. The Conservatory maintains its own Audio Archives, which includes approximately 4,000 tapes of student, faculty, and special recitals.

Series XVII. Scrapbooks, 1941-91, n.d. (3.0 l.f.)

Scrapbooks and loose items documenting fifty years of activity in the Conservatory, including students, faculty and programs.