Archives
Archives
About the Archives
The San Francisco Conservatory of Music's archives documents the century-old history of the Conservatory through the collecting of Conservatory publications, documents, manuscripts, photographs, recordings, and other items of permanent historical value to the Conservatory.
Visit the Archives
The archives are open during the Library's normal hours of operation. For research assistance, please email archives@sfcm.edu .
If you discover any SFCM-related treasures that you would like to donate to the Archives, please contact nepuvirf@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@sevihcra and include a list of the items along with photographs for review.
Not all collections are complete, and restrictions and permissions vary, so please contact the archivist with any questions.
- Annual Reports, 1972-2003
- Artist biographical files
- Board minutes (restricted)
- Catalogs, 1919-Present
- Faculty biographical files
- Papers of Conservatory Members
- John Beckman, trustee
- Ernest Bloch, president from 1925-1930
- Ada Clement, founder
- Albert Elkus, president from 1951-1957
- Tomoko Hagiwara, faculty
- Lillian Hodgehead, founder
- Joan Gallegos, faculty
- Kris Getz, trustee
- Colin Murdoch, president from 1992-2013
- Milton Salkind, president from 1966-1992
- News clippings, 1920s-Present
- Newsletters, 1924-Present
- Objects (artifacts)
- Historical materials relating to Conservatory Leaders
- Ada Clement
- Lillian Hodghead
- Ernest Bloch
- Albert Elkus
- Robin Laufer
- Milton Salkind
- Colin Murdoch
- Performance calendars, 1972-Present
- Photographs
- Posters
- Press releases
- Programs
- Of recorded Conservatory performances, 1969-Present
- Of non-recorded Conservatory performances, 1917-Present
- Scrapbooks, 1917-1967
- News clippings, programs and ephemera
Audio Digitization Project
Sound Archives (Conservatory in-house performances)
The Conservatory's in-house recording collection dates back to 1967, and includes performances by faculty, students and guest artists, orchestra concerts, masterclasses, events and lectures. We have an ongoing audio preservation project, through which we are transferring our older analog recordings to digital format. Performers and composers from these recordings may request copies of their performances.
The Library and Archives aims to preserve recorded sound and information for staff, students, and researchers by migrating analog materials to digital format. Analog materials in the collection include:
- Open reel tapes, 1967-1983
- Audiocassette tapes, 1980-2000
- VHS tapes, 1986-2005
- CDs, 1998-2014
- DVDs, 2003-2014
The main purpose of preserving digital content is for the long-term preservation of recordings, and more convenient access by faculty, staff, students and researchers.
Recordings housed on CDs and DVDs (1998-2014) may still be checked out and used in the Library. Newly created in-house recordings are available for streaming to Conservatory members via your Google Drive folder shared by the Recording Studio. Physical copies of recordings made after 2014 may be requested by filling out this form.
Listening appointments for our historical recordings may be requested by contacting the Library and Archives. These appointments will be held in the Conservatory's Library or Archives. We recommend making your appointment at least a week in advance, as the requested recordings may need to be transferred to digital format before you arrive. Please note that if a recording is very fragile and cannot be safely transferred by Conservatory staff, your listening appointment may be denied or postponed. Please also note that staff time is limited, so lengthy requests may not be possible. Priority is given to requests made by Conservatory members.
If you are a participant (performer, composer) in a recording, you may request a duplication of your performance from that recording. All duplication requests must be submitted via an official request form wherein the requester agrees to comply with all appropriate copyright laws.
Our historical recording collection is a treasure trove of Conservatory and San Francisco musical history. This is an ongoing, lengthy process so we ask you to be patient while we move forward. Please feel free to email nepuvirf@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@sevihcra with any questions, or to stop by the Library and Archives to learn more!
Metadata for digitized historical recordings will be recorded in MARC records, which will be searchable via worldwide Library catalogs. MARC records are currently available for our recordings housed on CDs and DVDs. Creating MARC records for our older recordings housed on open reel tapes, audio cassette tapes, and VHS tapes will be a lengthy process, so please contact the Library and Archives if you are looking for a specific recording.
Digital Collections
Oral History Project
The Conservatory's Oral History Project has the goal of seeking out and collecting memories of historical significance to the Conservatory through recorded interviews with members of the Conservatory's community, which will then be preserved, transcribed, and made available to the public.
Among the narrators will be former administrators, faculty members, trustees, alumni, and family of former Conservatory luminaries. Through this diverse group, we’ll explore the growth and expansion of the Conservatory, including its departments, organization, finances and curriculum. We’ll capture personal memories before they are lost, fill in gaps in our understanding of the Conservatory's history, and uncover how the Conservatory helped to shape San Francisco's musical culture throughout the past century.
Disclaimer: Oral history interviews are a method of collecting historical information from a narrator with firsthand knowledge of historically significant events. These interviews are primary materials, and by nature reflect the personal opinion of the narrators. As with any primary resource, these interviews are not to be viewed as the final and definitive source for any subject.
All literary rights to audio and manuscript, including the right to publish, are reserved for the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Requests for permission to quote for publication should be addressed to nepuvirf@fspz.rqhude.mcfs@sevihcra .
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