National Ragtime and Jazz Archive 30th Anniversary of the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive Display Celebrates Its History
In March 1974 the Board of Trustees, in recognition of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s role in the St. Louis metropolitan area and its rich cultural tradition of jazz and ragtime music, established the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive (NRJA). The Old Guys Jazz Band (composed of SIUE faculty), the record collector and donor John Randolph, and the Friends of Lovejoy Library provided initial funding and materials for the archive. Since 1974 the NRJA has documented early recorded jazz and the lives of national and particularly St. Louis area jazz musicians. Today the archive contains more than 20,000 recordings, as well as audio and videotapes, photographs, sheet music, piano rolls, and oral history materials, most of which have been generously donated. Throughout January everyone is welcome to see the 30 th anniversary display of archive memorabilia and resources that is located on the first floor of Lovejoy Library. Featured items trace the development of ragtime and jazz during the 20 th century, both nationally and in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The display was designed by Doug Meyer and Therese Dickman. For additional information about the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive, consult the National Ragtime and Jazz Archive web page or the Fine Arts Librarian, Therese Dickman. |
