the California Music Educators Association Papers

Processed by Aaron Richardson
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: archivesweb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2007
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the California Music Educators Association Papers

Collection number: C105

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Aaron Richardson
Date Completed:
October 2007
Encoded by:
Aaron Richardson
© 2007 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Inventory of the California Music Educators Association Papers
Dates: 1947-1990
Collection number: C105
Creator: California Music Educators Association
Collection Size: 4 cubic feet of textual records
Repository: California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: The California Music Educators Association records consist of 4 cubic feet of records and three audiocassette tapes documenting the activity of the Association from 1947-1990.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], California Music Educators Association, C105.[Series Number], [box and folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition and Custodial History

Daniel Parsons donated the collection to the California State Archives in 1981.

Administrative History

California music educators officially created the California Music Educators Association (CMEA) in 1948. Prior to this time the association existed as a Section of the Western Division of the Music Educators National Conference. Dr. Clarence Heagy served as the first CMEA President.
CMEA is a federated unit of the MENC: The National Association for Music Education. Membership in the CMEA is open to all music educators working in public and private schools, colleges and universities in California. The stated purposes of the association are: to promote access to a sequential music education for all Pre-K through grade 12 students taught by fully qualified music educators; to support and improve existing music programs; to promote quality pre-service and in-service music teacher preparation programs; and, to create a greater awareness of the value of music education through partnerships with other associations and advocacy among state and local agencies.
In the late 1970s the MENC Historical Center, located in the McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland, lobbied the MENC National Executive Board to designate a council of MENC State Historical Representatives. Led by Historical Center Curator Bruce D. Wilson, the Historical Council sought to collect and preserve archival materials for both the MENC and State-level associations. The CMEA appointed Daniel C. Parsons to the position of Historical Representative for California. The first meeting of State Representatives for Historical Collection was held in Atlantic City on March 12, 1976. The purpose of the meeting was to establish formal channels of cooperation between the state associations and the Historical Center for the preservation of historic materials. Parsons collected the bulk of the materials that were then deposited at the California State Archives in 1981 and which form this basis of the collection described here.

Scope and Content

The California Music Educators Association records consist of 4 cubic feet of records and three audiocassette tapes documenting the activity of the Association from 1947-1990. The records are organized into nine series: Executive Board Minutes, Board Minutes, State Music Committee Files, Subject Files, History Files, Correspondence, Affiliated Organizations Files, Convention Files, and Newsletters. Files contain meeting minutes, correspondence, planning documents, newsletters, newspaper clippings, bibliographies, financial records, and audiotapes.
Researchers interested in the history of music education in California will find valuable information in the records. Of special interest are the oral histories of founding members and significant music educators in state history. Other topics of interest concern efforts of the CMEA to promote education in California public and private schools.
The State Music Committee series and the Affiliated Organizations series contain information about the political aspects of fine arts education in California, as do the Subject Files on Advocacy and Textbook adoption. Newsletters and Correspondence illuminate the general relations among California music educators as well as their professional and artistic activities.
Information found in the Convention Files series may be useful for researchers interested in examining the development of music teaching methods. Convention Files also shed light on historically important high school and college band programs (and their directors) in California history. Concert programs contained in the files provide information on the history of symphonic band and orchestra repertoire.

Accruals

No further accruals are expected

Related Collections at other repositories

Music Educators National Conference Historical Center Records, University of Maryland Library.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Music--Instruction and study.
Music Methods
Ensemble playing


ID C105.001, Box 1, Folders 1-6

Series 1 Executive Board Minutes. 1965-1974

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

The Executive Board Minutes contain meeting agenda, minutes, correspondence, financial reports, CMEA budgets, CMEA officer lists and convention-planning documents. The series provides information about the activities and decisions of the CMEA Executive Officers. In particular, the board was interested in planning conventions, financial operations of the association, and election of CMEA officers. President, President-elect, Vice President, Secretary and immediate Vice-President comprise the Executive Board.
ID C105.002, Box 1, Folders 7-17

Series 2 Board Minutes. 1965-1974

Physical Description: 11 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

The Board Minutes contain meeting agenda, minutes, correspondence, financial records, CMEA officer lists and convention planning records documenting the Board's work. The series provides information about the activities and decisions of the CMEA Executive Officers. The Board consists of the Executive Board members plus Directors elected by and representing CMEA sections.
ID C105.003, Box 2, Folders 1-4

Series 3 State Music Committee Files. 1954-1965

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

The files include all correspondence not filed in individual commissioners' files or under a group or agency in the subject files series. Subjects include textbook adoptions, state meetings, and curriculum supervision.
ID C105.004, Box 2, Folders 5-18

Series 4 Subject Files. 1951-1987

Physical Description: 14 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by topic.

Scope and Content Note

Files contain pamphlets, positions papers, correspondence, voting records, curriculum guides, planning documents for Anaheim conference, and concert programs. Subjects found throughout the files include: music advocacy and education legislation, Music Education Week, the Mancini Award, textbook adoption, California Music Education Framework, California Night Concert, and the Music Educators National Conference in Anaheim.
ID C105.005, Box 2, Folders 19-27

Series 5 History Files. 1949-1989

Physical Description: 9 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

History files contain oral histories with founding members of the CMEA, newspaper clippings, journal articles of the history of music education, bibliographies on music history, documents from the MENC History Center on historic preservation, and CMEA Constitutions and by-laws.
ID C105.006, Box 2, Folders 28-30

Series 6 Correspondence. 1947-1951

Physical Description: 3 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

The series contains general correspondence about the earliest CMEA conventions, discussion of CMEA projects and other organizational business.
ID C105.007, Box 2, Folders 31-34

Series 7 Affiliated Organization Files. 1966-1980

Physical Description: 4 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Affiliated Organization Files contain information about CMEA-affiliated organizations such as local and national music organizations, arts-related associations, and humanities groups. The CMEA worked with these groups to advocate music and arts education in California schools. The series also contains information about the Coordinating Council for the Fine Arts and Humanities that served an advisory role to the California State Board of Education in the late 1960s.
ID C105.008, Box 3, Folders 1-20

Series 8 Convention Files. 1968-1982

Physical Description: 20 file folders

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Convention Files contain correspondence, convention planning documents, financial records, program outlines, reports, maps, brochures, convention programs, and concert programs. The series contains information about the yearly meetings of music educators in California over approximately a twenty-year span.
ID C105.009, Box 4, Folders 1-12

Series 9 Newsletters. 1948-1990

Physical Description: 5 bound volumes and 7 file folders.

Arrangement

Arranged chronologically.

Scope and Content Note

Newsletters are mainly in bound volumes and document the activities of the CMEA. The series contains a forty-two year run of the CMEA News publication. This official organ of the CMEA contains information about music education techniques, curriculum, instrumental and performance, music-related legislation, and CMEA decisions affecting music education in California schools.