Not-So-Hidden Gems by Wendy Sistrunk

Not-So-HiddenGems

Easy ways to explore the Mu Phi Epsilon Music Library & Archives’ cache of resources

Editor’s Note: This is an update of the article, “A Treasure Trove Available to Every Mu Phi,” which originally published in the Fall 2015 issue of The Triangle.

Are you looking for ideas for your next music program? Want to know more about your chapter? Curious about Mu Phi’s history? Look no further than the Mu Phi Epsilon Music Library & Archives, an invaluable resource for all members that archives the organization’s many contributions since its inception. It contains several thousand published and unpublished scores; video recordings of performances, lectures and workshops; numerous periodicals, including every back issue of The Triangle; recordings; books; photographs; memorabilia and more.

The Mu Phi Epsilon library has existed in some form or another since the organization’s early years. For most of that time, organizing and housing it fell on the shoulders of the International Presidents, and thus, each time a new president was elected, the materials were transferred to her. This cumbersome and expensive process ended in 2000, when the holdings (see sidebar) were transferred to their current location near Kansas City, Missouri. Many more historical fraternity materials were transferred from the International Executive Office (IEO) to the Music Library & Archives in 2003 and 2014.

Finding materials

One of the first concerted efforts to provide a finding aid for library materials was in 1954 (just after our 50th anniversary) when Norma Lee Madsen printed the first edition of Mu Phi Epsilon Composers & Authors. Several supplements and updates followed over subsequent decades. In 2003, our centennial year, the fraternity published my much enlarged two-volume edition of Mu Phi Epsilon Composers & Authors, and an updated edition is on the way. Students can find the 2003 finding aid in their own public or academic library. It’s a small representation of what’s out there, which continues to grow daily; however, it’s a good place to start.

Another place to look is on the Mu Phi Epsilon Music Library & Archives website (www.muphiepsilonlibrary.org) under the About tab. Click on Composers & Authors, which lists members who are composers or authors alphabetically and their chapter affiliations. Also on this page, look for a downloadable document entitled musiclibrary.pdf. This list contains the library’s current scores by composer; however, you may find more compositions by these composers by doing a simple Google search or by researching their name(s) at your library. I hope all Mu Phis, alumni and collegiate alike, remember to include music composed or authored by fellow fraternity members on your recitals and other musical programs.

All library and archive materials are available for members’ research and performance needs. I am working on several improvement projects, including a discography of Mu Phi Epsilon performers, full-level cataloging for materials in the library, and a finding aid for archival materials other than music. Another project in the works is to make information about our holdings available via online search.

Accessing content

The fraternity’s Music Library & Archives is not a lending library, but I am always pleased to assist any collegiate or alumni member who wishes to access it for research or to find music by a Mu Phi composer. Although many of our holdings are no longer in print or otherwise available for purchase, we must still observe federal copyright laws, if applicable. Limited-use access to such materials may be possible through me, or public and university libraries may own copies that can be borrowed through interlibrary loan. Some of our print holdings are now in the public domain (published 1923 or before) or are Mu Phi Epsilon property because of previous contest submission rules, and these can be made more widely available. I will gladly provide guidance on the best way to obtain what you’re looking for.

Ongoing effort

Updating the library holdings is a constant, ongoing process. New collections of music and books by Mu Phis arrive on occasion; I am grateful to all who have made donations. Performers’ output (audio or video) is also welcome. I encourage members to donate copies of your own work as well as your Mu Phi historical materials. It is a work in progress, so please visit soon and often to see what’s new.

Wendy Sistrunk is a professional music librarian whose current position is Head, Special Formats Metadata & Cataloging, University of MissouriKansas City. Contact her at 816-836-9961 or sistrunkw@umkc.edu.

BY THE NUMBERS

The current Mu Phi Epsilon Music Library & Archives contains approximately:

• 2,000 published scores • 1,500 unpublished scores (manuscripts) • 330 videos • Hundreds of periodicals issues including

The Triangle • 75 sound recordings • 75 published books • 65 photos • Scrapbooks and memorabilia Check out the library/archive website at muphiepsilonlibrary.org.