Women's Music Archives Collection: Collection Overview

Abstract:

The Women's Music Archives Collection consists of bibliographies, biographical sketches, clippings, correspondence, flyers, newsletters, photographs, posters, publicity materials, songbooks, sound recordings, videotapes, and memorabilia. The bulk of the collection dates from 1975 to 1995 and consists of live and studio-produced recordings by women musicians and of women's music festivals, retreats, and conferences. There is also a significant amount of papers documenting the work of individual women musicians, women's music groups and choruses; and the production, distribution, concert booking, and publicity infrastructure for women's music recordings, concerts, festivals, and retreats. Included are extensive records of the North East Women's Music Retreat, a 1980s-90s regional festival, and a substantial set of files from Olivia Records, 1973-94.

Terms of Access and Use:

Restrictions on access:

With the exception of the audiovisual items, the materials are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection without any additional restrictions.

Original live recordings are closed to research. In some cases, in-house use copies have been made. Researchers interested in access to live recordings for which there is no use copy should contact the Sophia Smith Collection to discuss options. With the exception of reformatting for in-house research use, permission from all artists is required before any live tape recordings may be duplicated.

Commercially produced recordings are available for in-house research use provided the Sophia Smith Collection has the equipment necessary to play them. Due to copyright restraints, commercially available recordings may not be reproduced. Many of these materials are available for purchase or download via the Worldwide Web.

Restrictions on use:

Copyright is owned by the individual artists or record companies. Permission must be obtained to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights. Permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use" must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.