About the Project
Did you know that the largest collection of music therapy historical items is located in the archive at Colorado State University? In a secure, humidity and UV controlled environment, materials are sorted and stored for future generations to enjoy. However, we have some problems:
- Papers and photos are deteriorating, yellowing, and becoming fragile.
- Many historical videos are on media that are no longer available and must be converted before we lose the technology for conversion.
- Materials can only be accessed in person.
We are at risk of losing important pieces of our history if we do not act as a profession. Archivist William Davis has been working tirelessly on the archives for years. This is an unpaid position that is truly an altruistic service to the profession.
About the AMTA Sponsored Archive Fund
With the support of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), we are asking you to take action to preserve our past for our future. The funds raised will be used to:
- Establish an online registry of all archive materials and digitize key pieces of music therapy history. This will give music therapists access to our history from their own homes!
- Preserve photos, documents, and media that are at risk of deterioration or that have mold growing.
- Convert old-form media (reel-to-reel, betamax, phonograph) to digital media.
- Pay for the man power (student hourly) and equipment needed for digitization.
The Impact
If we do not raise these funds, we risk losing valuable items from our past. For example, there are numerous photos of leaders from our field. Do you recognize this individual?
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That is E. Thayer Gaston at an early banquet of the National Association of Music Therapy! This photograph is yellowing at the edges and needs proper preservation to last.
Have you ever seen this logo?
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This is the American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT). The archive has many documents from AAMT that are in need of preservation.
Do you know what music therapy pioneer these belonged to?
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Not sure? This is one of the problems - items such as this would benefit from the digital database, ensuring that future generations will know what they are and to whom they belonged! These belonged to William Sears, who used these in the marching band!
Other items in the archive in need of digitization, media transfer, and/or preservation include:
- Early videos of pioneers including Paul Nordoff and Clive Robbins.
- Personal items from music therapy pioneers including Helen Bonny's personal notebooks.
- Interviews with historic individuals such as Karl Menninger.
- Early conference transcripts.
- Countless photographs.
- The first bylaws and newsletters from organizations including AAMT, NAMT, and AMTA.
- Newspaper articles dating back years and years.
- Past conference items, programs, and video/audio.
- Materials from many regional groups.
Why should you donate?
- After a small deduction from Indiegogo, 100% of the funds will go to the archive.
- This is a tax-deductible donation (to the extent allowable by law).
- You can win prizes! Yea, prizes!
- Feel good about your contribution towards preserving the future of music therapy past.
Other Ways You Can Help
Spread the word - talk to other music therapists and music therapy allies about this important project. Together, we can make sure our future knows about our past!
More Video Info!
and a message from Annette Whitehead-Pleaux:
THANK YOU from the Archive Project Team,
The American Music Therapy Association
William Davis
Annette Whitehead-Pleaux
Blythe LaGasse
