Kickstarter

Hello Rounder CD Collection Archives backers. James O'Brien writing. Very pleased to tell you that the sorting and cataloguing effort has begun. 

I spent several days with the archives last month, working with Gavin Kleespies and Sarah Gluck on what the finding aid should include and how it should read. We then set about laying out all of the collection and revising our understanding — on the level of an overview — of what is in each box. [Photo below.]

After that, it was time to hole up in the offices and enter data. In this way, we start to grasp the variables and questions that emerge during these kind of undertakings. The good news: we're well on our way. Special thanks to Bill Nowlin, who's helped already in our work to make new sense out of the labels, imprints, series, and distribution arrangements that surround the collection. 

One of the details that strikes me already, digging into the liner notes of many albums, is that so many of the same players showed up on each other's recordings. A close-knit community, especially among the bluegrass and old-time musicians of the 1970s and 1980s. 

News on our end of things should also include that we're presenting the progress we've made with the project at a Nov. 14 talk, to be held at the Cambridge Historical Society, starting at 6 p.m. Co-hosted by the New England Folk Music Archives, there will be live music and refreshments. 

[Note: this is not the reception that is specified in the project rewards. That comes later, when the archives are in order.] 

While in town for the talk, I plan to spend some more time working on the collection. Thanks, as always, for your excellent support. I hope to meet and see some of you at the presentation, next week.

The wheels are turning! (James O'Brien writing.) 

First things first: many thanks to the Cambridge Chronicle for this very generous story about our work on the Rounder Records CD archives project. Thanks to writer/editor Scott Wachtler for taking an interest in the project.

Next, we welcome Sarah Gluck aboard. 

Sarah has begun working on the creation of the initial finding aid. I'll be on site soon as well, to assist with this phase of the work. In the meantime, I've seen Sarah and Gavin Kleespies' current iteration of what will become the guide to the collection, and it looks very, very good. We're corresponding about the categories and fields for sorting the materials. This is very satisfying. I think that we are moving in the right direction. 

More next week: you should expect some images and video soon!

Best, James

Hello friends. James O'Brien writing. A quick update, to be followed by a more extensive series of them in mid-October. 

Yesterday, I spoke with Gavin Kleespies, director of the Cambridge Historical Society. First steps are now on the calendar to proceed with the Rounder Records CD Archives project that you have funded. Our thanks to you!

The current plan is that we'll sit down with the material in a formal way first on Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, and during that time we'll begin collecting the data that will comprise the early stages of a finding aid. 

I plan to provide much in the way of content from the work that we do on those two days. Words, images, and maybe some audio/video for your consideration. Expect the middle of the month to be busy here on the updates blog! 

Until then, our best to you and yours. 

With thanks,

James

And here we are at the very end of the fundraiser. 

Of course, many thanks are due, but, most of all, everyone involved in this phase of the project thanks you, the contributors. You are the reason we're at goal. You are the reason we'll take the steps needed to put the Rounder Records CD archives in good order. 

Thinking about thanking people, I had a chance to chat briefly by e-mail with the contributor who actually put the fundraiser at precisely $3,800. This occurred at just about 2:15 p.m. on September 12. Here's what Jocelyn had to say. 

James O'Brien: Hello, Jocelyn. What do you do? 

Jocelyn: I'm a ranger with the National Park Service. I've been out doing programs and tours today at work. 

O'Brien: I've been thinking a lot about this recently: what is it that attracted your attention to the project to archive and catalog the Rounder Records CDs? 

Jocelyn: The earliest memories I have of listening to folk music come from my Dad's truck and hearing Pete Seeger. 

O'Brien: You were very young when you first heard this music? 

Jocelyn: I was about 4 or 5 at that time and didn't really have any idea what they were singing about but that it was nice and bouncy usually :). My first concert that I was taken to with my family was Harry Belafonte, with later ones being Peter, Paul, & Mary, Dar Williams, the Indigo Girls, Adrienne Young and Little Sadie, and finally Pete Seeger, which was so awesome. 

O'Brien: We're thrilled to help continue those connections. Thanks for your contribution, and it really made a difference today. 

Jocelyn: I'm happy to help out the CHS because of the connection to my father's family. My grandfather was a Cambridge city police officer, so it's nice to continue the connection with the city.  

Thanks to Jocelyn, and many thanks to each and every one of you. The next step in our work is about to begin, but we wanted to take a moment and acknowledge that it's all because of your support. 

Our best to you and yours. We'll continue to update you as the archival effort begins. 

— James 

People are still helping to make this wonderful thing happen. 

James O'Brien writing. Sitting at my desk, here, and watching the best folks in the world continue to make it clear that our simple idea — to give the Rounder Records CD archives a home at the Cambridge Historical Society — is worthwhile. People are telling us so. They're still helping out. 

All throughout this process, I've wondered about our contributors. Are some of them researchers and writers, like myself? Are others people for whom the collection holds a personal, a historical, or a sentimental connection? 

As it happens, we get to find out. 

We get to find out because, as the happy result of so many individual acts of generosity and support, the Rounder Records CD archives project has reached its funding goal. Surpassed it. And, with some forty-eight hours left to go, it continues to do so. 

And so, until we reach the official fundraiser deadline, every contribution that comes through is still deeply appreciated. Where will it go? It will go straight to the project. It will afford the team working on this archival effort just a little more leeway to make the best choices for the collection. 

Remember that the idea is to turn this material into a resource for the public. This means that every penny of your donations is actually a gift that you're giving not to the Cambridge Historical Society, but to everyone else who will ever tap into the Rounder Records archives. In the near future. In the future to come. For that: please accept our heartiest round of thanks. 

 More updates to follow. For now, we prepare for the work to come.

— James