Grateful Dead Records: Photographs, 1960-2013, bulk 1970-1995

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Summary

Creators:
Grateful Dead Productions
Abstract:
This series comprises over 10,000 images taken by both professional and non-professional photographers documenting the Grateful Dead and their fans, the Deadheads.
Extent:
39 Linear Feet 39 boxes, 1 oversize folder, 46 framed items and 67.2 GB 2,625 digital files
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Grateful Dead Records: Photographs. MS 332 Ser. 6. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Background

Scope and content:

This series includes photographic prints, negatives, 35mm slides, and digital scans of photographs taken of the band, its performances, and concert attendees by a mix of professional and amateur photographers. Some publicity stills from recording companies are included.

There are currently some duplicate images. Many dates and sizes are approximate or supplied by processing staff.

Biographical / historical:

The Grateful Dead were an American rock band that formed in 1965 in Northern California. They came to fame as part of author Ken Kesey's Acid Tests, a series of multimedia happenings centered around then-legal LSD. Famed for their concerts, the band performed more than 2,300 shows over thirty years, disbanding after the death of lead guitarist Jerry Garcia in August 1995. Although their only Top 10 hit, "Touch of Grey," charted in 1987, their popularity was based on concerts, and in their last decade they consistently placed in the top five tours every year. Known for the range of their repertoire and the caliber of their compositions, the Dead's songbook has been covered by a wide range of other musicians, from Bob Dylan to Jane's Addiction. They released thirteen studio albums and nine contemporary live albums during their career, and more than 100 live releases since then. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Grateful Dead Productions, April, 2008
Arrangement:

Items in this series are arranged by format, then alphabetically by photographer name.

Accruals:

Materials in this series were included with the band's first bequest, donated to UCSC in 2008. Additional photographs were included with the second accrual, received in 2012.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection open for research. Digital files are available in the UCSC Special Collections and Archives reading room. Some files may require reformatting before they can be accessed. Technical limitations may hinder the Library's ability to provide access to some digital files. Access to digital files on original carriers is prohibited; users must request to view access copies. Contact Special Collections and Archives in advance to request access to digital files.

Terms of access:

Copyright for the items in this collection is owned by the creators and their heirs. Reproduction or distribution of any work protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires permission from the copyright owner. It is the responsibility of the user to determine whether a use is fair use, and to obtain any necessary permissions. For more information see UCSC Special Collections and Archives policy on Reproduction and Use.

Preferred citation:

Grateful Dead Records: Photographs. MS 332 Ser. 6. Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Location of this collection:
Special Collections and Archives, University Library
1156 High Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95064, US
Contact:
(831) 459-2547
speccoll@library.ucsc.edu
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