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Collection Overview
Title: Foster Music Camp Collection, 1937-1999
Extent: 7.5 Cubic Feet
Date Acquired: 02/18/2010
Subjects: Music.
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Artificial collection of Foster Music Camp photographs, concert recordings, programs, publications and other records.
Collection Historical Note
James E. Van Peursem founded the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp in the midst of the Depression in 1936. Balding, mustachioed, and wiry, "Mr. Van" (as contemporaries called him) exuded an impish charm when he smiled or a pugnacious will when the occasion demanded. And nothing demanded in Mr. Van's opinion more pugnacity than to find in 1936 a solution to the problems he faced as chairman of the Department of Music at the small and unpretentious Eastern Kentucky State Teacher's College in Richmond, Kentucky. As chair of the music area, Mr. Van was constantly faced with the reality that the music programs in the public schools of the Commonwealth were sparse and often did not produce the trained young musicians needed to develop a strong program at the college level.
As a result, Mr. Van founded the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp following the concepts promulgated a year earlier with the founding of the famous Interlochen Music Camp. The concept was simple: Teenage musicians would be invited to campus where college faculty could instruct them with lessons and provide them with performance experiences in band and orchestra; the campers would return to their homes and help improve the local school program; high schools would graduate better musicians who, in turn, would enter college and thus improve that program; the college would graduate higher caliber music educators who would secure positions in county schools, and onward and upward the ascending spiral would go!
Thus, in the summer of 1936 the camp opened for the first season with Henri Schnabl, a former member of Kaiser Wilhelm's personal band as camp director. With Prussian rigor, Schnabl handled the 100 or so energetic and active teenagers during a five-week summer camping period. Mr. Schnabl continued as camp director until 1940 when Mr. Van took personal charge of the camp. Experiences in the early days included concert band, orchestra, small ensemble and private lesson opportunities as well as social activities such as a 30 minute, early morning period of marching. Violinists and other string players who had signed up for orchestra were not exempt from this stimulating early morning activity! Mr. Van served as Camp Director from 1940-1963 followed by Nick Koenigstein, 1964-1967, Dr. Robert Hartwell from 1968-1999, Dr. Joseph Allison from 2000-2007, and Benjamin Walker 2008-present.
One of the factors which permeates the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp is the number of students returning year after year to attend the camp. It is not unusual for students to enter the camp as a sixth grader to attend the Middle School Instrumental Camp and to find that student attending the High School Instrumental Camp five or six years later! Certainly, one of the reasons campers return is because faculty and staff are picked for their patience in dealing with teenagers as well as for their proficiency in music.
Occasionally, this tradition of kindness and warmth has been augmented by the nonhuman realm. Between 1948 and 1964 every Foster camper was greeted by the wag of a tail or a watery lick from the music department's mascot, named appropriately, Mozart, whose grave is located immediately behind the outdoor pavilion used for many concerts and named after the founder of the camp, Mr. James E. Van Peursem.
The fact that even the local mascot (a dog named *Mozart!) carried the name of a famous composer highlights the longest and strongest tradition associated with Foster -- MUSIC! The original concept of the camps has been expanded and modernized to fit today's young musicians. But, the spirit and the purpose of the Stephen Collins Foster Music Camp remains the same outstanding musical experiences for the young musicians of the Commonwealth and surrounding states.
Subject/Index Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Office Files, 1968-1980],
[
Series 2: Photographs, 1936-1965],
[
Series 3: Recordings, 1968-1999],
[
All]
- Series 1: Office Files, 1968-1980
- This series includes participant lists, faculty lists, programs, financial records and other materials pertaining to Foster Music Camp
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Final Banquet, 1969
- Folder 2: Recreation Fund, 1969
- Folder 3: Federation Activities, 1968
- Folder 4: Photos, 1969
- Folder 5: Final Program, 1969
- Folder 6: Programs - Final Concert, 1968
- Folder 7: Campers, 1968
- Folder 8: Faculty, 1969
- Folder 9: Campers, 1969
- Folder 10: Banquet (Final), 1970
- Folder 11: Foster Camp
- Folder 12: Financial Accounts, 1970
- Folder 13: Faculty & Staff (Adjunct), 1970
- Folder 14: Photos, 1970
- Folder 15: Faculty, 1970
- Folder 16: Foster Faculty, 1971
- Folder 17: Program (Final), 1970
- Folder 18: Final Banquet, 1971
- Folder 19: Photos, 1971
- Folder 20: Foster Faculty, Adjunct Staff, 1971
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Foster Camp Budget, 1973
- Folder 2: Teachers Biography for Foster, 1973
- Folder 3: Visiting Faculty, 1973
- Folder 4: Foster Gala Concert, 1973
- Folder 5: Guest Conductors, 1973
- Trautwein Vivian Dunn
- Folder 6: Foster Faculty, 1974
- Folder 7: Foster Camp Visiting Faculty, 1974
- Folder 8: National Federation of Music
- Folder 9: Foster Gala Concert, 1974
- Folder 10: Foster Purchase Requisition, 1974
- Folder 11: Gala Concert Program Foster, 1974
- Folder 12: Foster Music Camp Payroll, 1974
- Folder 13: Foster Bandanna, 1975
- Folder 14: Foster Gala Concert Speech, 1975
- Folder 15: Foster Purchase Requisition, 1975
- Folder 16: Gala Concert Program, 1975
- Folder 17: Foster Financial Breakdown, 1976
- Folder 18: Foster Financial Student Breakdown, 1975
- Folder 19: Foster Gala Concert Program, 1976
- Folder 20: Recreation Fund, 1976
- Folder 21: Foster Camp Application, 1977
- Folder 22: Administrative Details During Camp Foster, 1977
- Folder 23: Foster Music Camp Advertising, 1977
- Folder 24: Foster applications on Hold, 1977
- Folder 25: Administrative Details for Close of Camp Foster, 1977
- Folder 26: Administration Prior to Camp, 1977
- Folder 27: Administration Prior to Camp, 1977
- Folder 28: Foster Music Camp Budget, 1976-1977
- Folder 29: Foster Camp Cancellations, 1977
- Folder 30: Congratulation Letters, Student Recital Foster Camp, 1977
- Folder 31: Counselors, 1977
- Folder 32: Delta Omicron, 1977
- Folder 33: Foster, 1977
- Folder 34: Foster Faculty Schedules, 1977-1978
- Folder 35: Foster Faculty Inquiries, 1977
- Folder 36: Foster Visiting Faculty, 1977
- Folder 37: Food Service, 1977
- Folder 38: Foster Financial Breakdown, 1977
- Folder 39: Foster, 1977
- Folder 40: Gala Concert Invitations, 1977
- Folder 41: Guest Conductors, 1977
- Folder 42: Gala Concert Program, 1977
- Folder 43: Housing, 1977
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Foster Camp Inquiries, 1977
- Folder 2: Instrument Count, 1977
- Folder 3: Instrument Count Forms, 1977
- Folder 4: Foster Campers Insurance Information, 1977
- Folder 5: K.M.E.A. Exhibit, 1977
- Folder 6: Music 101, 1977
- Folder 7: Foster Mailings, 1977
- Folder 8: National, 1975
- Folder 9: National, 1976
- Folder 10: Planning File, 1977
- Folder 11: Instrumental Purchase Requests & Requisitions, 1977
- Folder 12: Foster Proposal, 1977
- Folder 13: Recitals - Student & Faculty, 1977
- Folder 14: Recreation Fund, 1977
- Folder 15: Requests to Go Home, Jul 1-3, 1977
- Folder 16: Foster Room Requests, 1977
- Folder 17: Student Workers Foster, 1978-1979
- Folder 18: Seating for Bands and Orchestra, 1977
- Folder 19: Guest Conductors, 1978
- Folder 20: Supplies, 1977-1979
- Folder 21: Scholarship Applications, 1976
- Folder 22: Scholarships, 1977
- Folder 23: Transportation Pick-Up Foster, 1977
- Folder 24: Transportation, Safety & Security, 1977
- Folder 25: Travel, 1977
- Folder 26: Request for Money Withdrawal Forms, 1975
- Folder 27: Youth Orchestra, Foster, 1977
- Folder 28: Foster Booklets, 1974-1979
- Folder 29: Correspondence General, 1977-1979
- Folder 30: Foster Camp Applications, 1978
- Folder 31: Foster Vocal Applications, 1979
- Folder 32: Guest Conductors, 1979
- Folder 33: Concert Seating Band & Orchestra, 1979
- Folder 34: Cancellations, 1979
- Folder 35: Food Service, 1979
- Folder 36: Foster Faculty Inquiries, 1979
- Folder 37: Foster Visiting Faculty, 1979
- Folder 38: Foster Faculty, 1979
- Folder 39: Concert Programs, 1979
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Foster Applications, 1982
- Folder 2: Foster Advertising, 1981
- Folder 3: Administration Prior to Camp, 1981
- Folder 4: Administration Details Prior to Camp, 1982
- Folder 5: Administration Details for Close of Camp, 1982
- Folder 6: Faculty Bulletins, 1981
- Folder 7: Foster Faculty Bulletins, 1982
- Folder 8: Faculty Bulletins, 1983
- Folder 9: Cancellation, 1982
- Folder 10: Counselors, 1982
- Folder 11: Foster Dittos, 1980
- Folder 12: Duplicating, 1982
- Folder 13: Foster, 1982
- Folder 14: Delta Omicron, 1981
- Folder 15: Delta Omicron, 1982
- Folder 16: Deposit Account, 1981
- Folder 17: Food Service, 1981
- Folder 18: Food Service, 1982
- Folder 19: Foster Faculty Inquires, 1981-1983
- Folder 20: Foster Keyboard Camp Faculty, 1981
- Folder 21: Foster Visiting Faculty, 1981
- Folder 22: Foster Faculty, 1982
- Folder 23: Foster Faculty, 1981
- Folder 24: Foster Camp, 1982
- Folder 25: Foster Keyboard Faculty, 1982
- Folder 26: Gala Banquet Invitations, 1981
- Folder 27: Gala Banquet Speech, 1981
- Folder 28: Housing Foster, 1982
- Folder 29: Gala Banquet Invitations, 1982
- Folder 30: Gala Banquet Speech, 1982
- Folder 31: Housing Foster, 1981
- Folder 32: Foster Camp I.D. Number, 1981
- Folder 33: Instrumentation, 1981
- Folder 34: Instrumentation, 1982
- Folder 35: Foster Keyboard Camp Applications, 1982
- Folder 36: Foster Camp Mailings, 1982
- Folder 37: Foster Publicity, 1981
- Folder 38: Publicity, 1982
- Folder 39: Purchase Orders & Requisitions, 1979
- Folder 40: Purchase Requests, 1981
- Folder 41: Purchase Requests, 1982
- Folder 42: Recitals, 1982
- Folder 43: Foster Camp Refunds, 1981
- Folder 44: Recreation Account, 1982
- Folder 45: Student Workers, 1980-1981
- Folder 46: Schedule - Department of Music, Fall 1970
- Folder 47: Student Workers, 1982-1983
- Folder 48: Foster Outside Scholarship Contributors, 1982
- Folder 49: Youth Orchestra, 1982
- Folder 50: Youth Orchestra, 1983
- Folder 51: Foster Vocal Camp Applications, 1975
- Folder 52: Foster Vocal Camp Applications, 1977
- Folder 53: Foster Vocal Camp Applications, 1978
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Foster Inquiries, 1980
- Folder 2: Housing, 1980
- Folder 3: Gala Concert Program & Invitations, 1980
- Folder 4: Gala Concert Speech, 1980
- Folder 5: Faculty Bulletins, 1980
- Folder 6: Counselors, 1980
- Folder 7: Administration Details for Close Of Camp Foster, 1980
- Folder 8: Foster Camp Ditto, 1979
- Folder 9: Foster Budget, 1978-1979
- Folder 10: Delta Omicron, 1980
- Folder 11: Cancellations, 1980
- Folder 12: Food Service, 1980
- Folder 13: Visiting Faculty, 1980
- Folder 14: Foster Vocal Scholarships, 1977
- Folder 15: Vocal Camp Scholarships, 1976
- Folder 16: Vocal Camp Scholarships, 1975
- Folder 17: Foster Vocal Purchase Requests & Requisitions, 1979
- Folder 18: Foster Vocal Duplicating, 1979
- Folder 19: Vocal Camp Counselors, 1980
- Folder 21: Foster Vocal Camp Counselors, 1979
- Folder 22: Foster Vocal Budget, 1978-1979
- Folder 23: Foster Vocal Camp Applications, 1980
- Folder 24: Administration During Camp - Vocal, 1980
- Folder 25: Foster Vocal Former Camper Letters & Acceptance Letters, 1979
- Folder 26: Faculty Bulletins, 1979
- Folder 27: Foster Vocal, 1978
- Folder 28: Foster Vocal Camp, 1974
- Folder 29: Foster Duplicating, 1973
- Folder 30: Foster Vocal Scholarships, 1980
- Folder 31: Foster Vocal Scholarships, 1978
- Folder 32: Phi Mu Alpha, 1969-1970
- Folder 33: Schedule of Classes Booklet
- Folder 34: Foster Music Camp Financial Report, 1972
- Folder 35: Foster Applications, 1981
- Folder 36: Administrative Details for Close of Camp Foster, 1981
- Folder 37: Foster Budget, 1980-1981
- Folder 38: Foster Cancellations, 1981
- Folder 39: Foster Correspondence, 1981
- Folder 40: Foster Correspondence, 1982
- Folder 41: Counselors, 1981
- Folder 42: Youth Orchestra, 1981
- Folder 43: Recitals, 1981
- Folder 44: Recreation Account, 1981
- Folder 45: Foster Duplicating & Reproduction, 1981
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Foster Mailings, 1979
- Folder 2: Youth Orchestra, 1980
- Folder 3: Travel, 1980
- Folder 4: Youth Orchestra, 1979
- Folder 5: Small Ensembles Concert Set-Up-Foster, 1978
- Folder 6: Foster Scholarship Applications & Distribution, 1980
- Folder 7: NSOA Bulletin Story, 1979
- Folder 8: Class Piano, 1979
- Folder 9: Foster Publicity, 1980
- Folder 10: Foster Publicity, 1979
- Folder 11: Purchase Orders & Requisitions, 1980
- Folder 12: Recreation Fund, 1979
- Folder 13: Recreation Fund, 1980
- Folder 14: Recitals - Student & Faculty, 1979
- Folder 15: Recitals - Student & Faculty, 1980
- Folder 16: Student Workers, 1979-1980
- Folder 17: Scholarships, 1979
- Folder 18: All State Band & Orchestra, 1979
- Folder 19: Foster Applications, 1980
- Folder 20: Bandana Costs, 1979
- Folder 21: Foster Advertising, 1980
- Folder 22: Administration Prior to Camp, 1979
- Folder 23: Foster Advertising, 1979
- Folder 24: Kentucky Federation, 1979
- Folder 25: Gala concert Program & Invitations, 1979
- Folder 26: Gala Concert Speech, 1979
- Folder 27: Gala Program, 1979
- Folder 28: Housing, 1979
- Folder 29: Instrumentation, 1979
- Folder 30: Foster Inquiries, 1979
- Folder 31: Foster I.D., 1979
- Folder 32: Instrumentation Memo, 1979
- Folder 33: Administration Details for Close of Camp Foster, 1979
- Folder 34: Delta Omicron, 1979
- Folder 35: Foster Counselors, 1979
- Folder 36: Foster Budget, 1979-1980
- Folder 37: Guest Conductors, 1980
- Folder 38: Foster Camp Mailings, 1980
- Folder 39: Foster Instrumentation, 1980
- Folder 40: Kentucky Federation, 1980
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: Office Files, 1968-1980],
[
Series 2: Photographs, 1936-1965],
[
Series 3: Recordings, 1968-1999],
[
All]
