The Keystone
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THE KEYSTONE THE WITTLIFF COLLECTIONS FALL 2010 | SOUTHWESTERN WRITERS COLLECTION | SOUTHWESTERN & MEXICAN PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION ® UNIVERSITY SAN MARCOS A member of The Texas State University System from the INTERIM DIRECTOR Maria en el zócalo, ONE OF THE great joys—and perhaps the only joy—of We weren’t sure what to expect from our review. It’s one (left) Willie Nelson CD 1953, Héctor García being an interim director is getting to work more closely thing to think you’re doing a pretty good job. It’s quite collections including the deluxe Bear Family with some of the fine people who contribute so much to the another to put yourself at the mercy of an independent, OUR VERY Records box set and SINCERE THANKS Wittliff’s success. Over the past few months I’ve met outside appraiser. book with essays and session info, plus a rare to all those who have regularly with our Associate Vice President, Joan Heath, After Lisa closely analyzed our written report, she spent 45 rpm from Pappy provided recent along with our Vice President for Information Technology, two days on campus, interviewing everyone on the Wittliff Daily’s D Records, “The financial support Dr. Van Wyatt. staff as well as meeting with Joan Heath and Van Wyatt. She Storm Has Just Begun” (September 30, 2009 – On a parallel track, I’ve also visited extensively with asked good, tough questions. b/w “Man with the Blues” August 9, 2010). founding donor Bill Wittliff as well as many of our individ - A few weeks later, Lisa responded with her report: a (below) Country Favorites, Willie Nelson Friends of the Wittliff ual donors. And then I’ve had the pleasure of day-to-day solid endorsement of the Wittliff Collections. She described Style LP, produced by # Founder’s Circle interactions with the Wittliff Collections’ terrific, highly us as a “stellar operation,” noting the Wittliff “is operating Chet Atkins featuring Susan Crews Bailey dedicated staff. (They continue to make us proud—see p. from a position of strength, and while the organization has Ernest Tubbs’ Texas Troubadours as the # Curator’s Circle 11 for news of the recent honors they have received.) been on a fast trajectory in terms of physical evolution, backing band, the single Mary Lockwood Crouch What I see in all of collections development, “Good Times,” and the Adrienne & Rick Pappas this is a sense of a shared staff, and programming, the Stardust picture disc Dedee & John Roberts mission regarding the process has been deliberate the WILLIE NELSON recording collection Anne & John Weisman Wittliff Collections. and driven by a professional Friends (cont. from p. 2) # Collector’s Circle These folks have come staff that is invested in the —By Graduate Assistant Alan Schaefer, special contributor Anyone who has attended a Willie Nelson concert can Barbara & Charles Beverly Fondren together in recognition mission of the organization THE WITTLIFF COLLECTIONS recently acquired a tell you about the marathon sets, the surprise guest Chadwell & John Scott that we are building and a respect for their significant collection of Willie Nelson material that includes appearances, and the melting–pot audiences of hippies, Joaquin Cruz Betty & Duncan Osborn something uniquely im - colleagues.” the vast majority of the Texas legend’s discography. As a cowboys, bikers, and whoever else might show up. The J. Patrick Deely Katharine Salzmann portant—a kind of cul - Lisa also noted that, “An lifelong Willie fan, musician, and record collector, I was collection features a rare DVD that captures this euphoric Carollyn Geldart Cathy Supple tural cathedral that active founding donor, Bill thrilled to have the opportunity to inventory the acquisition. atmosphere at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic in 1974, a carnival- Donna & Gerald Hill # Lawrence Hitz Sponsor’s Circle reveres, safeguards, and Wittliff, continues to be an What I was shocked to discover among the 877 like affair emceed by Leon Russell and featuring Jerry & Jim Kimmel Kathryn & Don Counts offers up for contem - enthusiastic proponent of recordings was the very first Willie Nelson record, a 45 rpm performances by Willie and some of the usual suspects such Dorothy Drummer League of Women plation the artistic these distinctive collections, from 1957, “No Place For Me” backed with “Lumberjack.” as Waylon Jennings and Jerry Jeff Walker. Mary Margaret Voters treasures of our region. and Texas State University– Recorded in Vancouver, Washington, while Willie was Other highlights include much of Willie’s early recorded & Ray Farabee Mary Lois & Sloan Regan & Bill Gammon As J. Frank Dobie well San Marcos has responded working as a disc jockey and released on Willie Nelson output on the original vinyl records, deluxe edition CDs, Leonard Nancy & Bobby Inman said, “People living in with a significant invest - Records, the disc introduced one of the and box sets of Willie’s classic albums with previously Dian & Don Malouf Bonnie & Ed Longcope the Southwest will lead ment of financial capital in more singular voices in unheard studio outtakes, rare photographs, well- Melinda & Jim Monica Maeckle fuller and richer lives if facilities, staff, and in American popular song. researched essays, and discs such as “Crazy: The Demo McMichael & Bob Rivard they become aware of support of acquisitions.” His treatment of songwriter Sessions,” a batch of early demos that Willie would Rebecca Bell-Metereau Roseann Mandziuk what it holds.” This AAM assessment and fellow Texan Leon pitch to Nashville record Nelwyn & Jerry Moore & Jim Studer From collecting the underscores the benefits of Payne’s “Lumberjack” executives. Kathy & Randall Morris Francis Nail Ben Shrake artifacts to celebrating cooperation among the staff, displays the nuanced vocal These recordings are a Mary Jane Nalley Suzanne & Marc the authors and artists, university adminis tration, phrasing and characteristic welcome addition to the Winkelman Elizabeth & Michael the Wittliff is a vital and our individual donors. wit that has come to be the Wittliff Collections’ Willie Mitzie & Jim Wittliff O’Brien zócalo, a town center where the arts and the community Our shared sense of mission is one of the Wittliff’s key trademark of a Willie Nelson Nelson holdings, which Cherie & Van Wyatt Charles Pence come togeth er. We seek to engage our audiences on many strengths, and it is responsible for much of our success. We tune. include such artifacts as Eve Phelps # Friend’s Circle levels, including making use of leading social media are committed to meeting every new challenge from here. Acquired from John handwritten lyrics, Richele & Bill Poston Mike & Lulu Abbott platforms. To that end, we have recently developed a And so, if you are among those who believe in our Kalinsky, a consum mate some scribbled on Eleanor & Bob Pulver Eric & Valerie Anderson Patrick Rose Bill Arhos Facebook page and YouTube channel (see p. 4). mission and have confidence in our operations, would you collector of Nelson’s work, the paper scraps, John Scanlan Kathleen Bergeron As part of our efforts to strengthen our operations, the consider reaching out with support for this important materials contain LP and 45 napkins, and hotel Doatsy Shrake Joye & Charles Wittliff Collections recently participated in a museum work? Charged with stewardship, we hope to continue rpm records, audio cas settes, CDs, DVDs, and VHS station ery, and a Marion & Charles Sims Blankenship assessment program, conducted by the American collecting and preserving our cultural treasures, illumi - cassettes. The oldest records here are two 45s from 1954 by handmade songbook Audrey Slate George Bristol Association of Museums (AAM). We began with our staff nating their importance in our region and beyond. As a Dave Isbell that feature Nelson on electric guitar. Released created by the singer when he Denise & Dennis Smart Shirley & Clifton and university administrators completing a self-study, place of instruction as well as inspiration, we look for every by Sarg Records, a small label from Luling, Texas, these are was about eleven years old. See the A-Z Guide in the Joanne H. Smith Caldwell which was submitted as a detailed report to the AAM. In opportunity to invite scholarship, dialogue, and interaction Willie Nelson’s earliest appearances on record. Research section of our website for more on the Nelson Lucette Topper (continued on p. 3) June, we hosted our on-site assessor, Lisa Hanover, who with our many and diverse audiences. Your help makes all The collection chronicles Willie’s entire career, from his materials. We hope this collec tion attracts and inspires Bibb Underwood # directs the Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College in the difference in the world. Thank you. humble beginnings as a studio sideman to renowned young singers, songwriters, and musicians as well as fans Docia & Roy Williams ON THE COVER Pennsylvania and is past president of the Association of —Steve Davis bandleader and songwriter, culminating with his critically and scholars of Willie’s music. We encourage you to come Roberta & Larry Wright Iceland Poppy, 2004, # Kate Breakey 2 Academic Museums & Galleries. Interim Director / Curator acclaimed 2010 release, simply titled “Country Music.” and listen. 3 Alice & Bill Wright THE WITTLIFF ON THE HEELS of the gallery reno va tion, our com - deeply affecting stories of the low- ON FACE BOOK pletely redesigned website recently made its debut. paying, demanding, and often danger - & YOUTUBE good WORD S, fresh FILM , 4,530 New to the site are slideshows spot lighting the literary, ous jobs he and others performed, the is the approximate August 9 we launched photographic, and Lonesome Dove collec tions, more in- un-regulated, often unpredictable number of photocopies our official page on depth information about each, a consolidated Research fine AR T, and live MUSIC ways in which they were treated, and of archival material the Facebook, and at 800+ section, and an About section with visitor infor mation, the camaraderie that grew between staff of the Wittliff fans and growing, it’s Collections has made links to news releases, Keystone issues to download, LAST SPRING WAS another exciting Prize-winning editorial cartoon ist Ben many of the workers.