Bridger Folk Music Society papers, 1979-2014

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bridger Folk Music Society.
Title
Bridger Folk Music Society papers
Dates
1979-2014 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 boxes, (2.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 507
Summary
Materials concerning the Bridger Folk Music Society of Cache Valley, Utah.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Bridger Folk Music Society was founded in 1979 by Ron Goede, Sue Packer and Steve Nrny after Goede, who moved to Cache Valley in 1966 from West Virginia, began hosting sing-ins to suppliment the lack of local bluegrass and folk bands.

The society sponsored its first concert in 1980 when Bill Staines, folk singer and champion yodeler performed in the Newman Center for an audience of 14. After that, the society continued to develop concert venues in the valley and new volunteers such as Brad Cole and Mike Johnson joined the effort. In 1989, the Bridger Folk Music Society became a non profit organization, and started hosting concerts in the top floor of the Bluebird restaurant. Later, in the 1990s, the society began to support acoustic jam sessions in the Chapter II book store, which eventually developed into twice-monthly sessions in the Whittier Center in 1998.

Closely entwined with the Bridger Folk Music Society is the Cache Valley Contra Dance Group, which was organized by Kay Forsyth in 1990. Kay connected with Jerry Jurniak (a local mandolin player), Ron Goede, and several others to form a Ceili band to play Irish and Scottish Dance Music for contra dances. The the monthly gatherings gave the folk musicians an opportunity to perform thus strengthening the local folk community.

By 1993, the Society was flourishing and strengthening relations with both local and nationally-acclaimed folk musicians. That year they helped select performers to play at the grand opening of the Ellen Eccles Theater and Bullen Arts Center.

In 2003, Blair Larsen took the lead of the society while hosting a weekly show called, “Fresh Folk” on Utah Public Radio. He began booking regular concerts at Crumb Brother’s Bakery. Today, Bridger Folk Music Society continues to contribute a great deal to the cultural ambience of Cache Valley through regular events and concerts.

Source: Bridger Folk Music Society: 35 Years of Live Music and Dance in Logan (see exhibit text in Mss 507, Box 1, Fd 23)

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains the papers of the Bridger Folk Music Society which was established in Cache Valley in 1979. The materials are contained in two archival boxes, and consist of Society records as well as posters for musicians who played at the Bridger Folk Music Society. These papers are beneficial to anyone researching folk music in Cache Valley.

The first box consists of records from the founding of the society in 1989, including an interest survey sent out to Cache Valley residents, photographs from the Bridger Folk Music Society, news clippings of visiting performers, and papers of visiting performers who were connected with the Bridger Folk Music Society, such as Banish Misfortune, Bryan Bowers, Trapezoid, and others. The organizational papers of the society are ordered by material type while the documents concerning specific artists (the latter half of the box) are ordered alphabetically.

Box two contains of the oversized items in the collection including two Cache Valley magazines with published articles on the Bridger Folk Music Society and several posters advertising the upcoming concerts of visiting artists. The items in box two are ordered chronologically and according to material type.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Bridger Folk Music Society papers must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Bridger Folk Music Society papers USU_COLL MSS 507, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_COLL MSS 507, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed in July of 2015

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to Utah State University Special Collections and Archives by Ron and Lisa Goede in 2013.

Bibliography

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Papers of the Bridger Folk Music Society, 1979-2014Return to Top

Container(s): Box 1

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1
Proposed: Bridger Folk Music Society
1979
1 2
Interest survey for the Bridger Folk Music Society
1979
1 3
By-laws of the Bridger Folk Music Society of Logan, Inc.
undated
1 4
Photos of Bridger Folk Music Society members and eventsPhotos of Bridger Folk Music Society members and events
2014
1 5
Bridger Folk Music Society poster locations
2009 January
1 6
Bridger Folk Music Society post cards
undated
1 7
News clippings
undated
1 8
Tickets to upcoming events
undated
1 9
Advertisements/handouts for upcoming events
undated
1 10
List of Bridger Folk Music Society artists 1980-2009
2009
1 11
Banish Misfortune
various dates
1 12
Bob Carlin
1981-1984
1 13
Bryan Bowers
2012
1 14
Christ Proctor
1980-1981
1 15
High Country
1982-1984
1 16
Margaret Macarthur
undated
1 17
Kate Macleod
2000
1 18
John McCutcheon
1986
1 19
Mick Malony, Robbie O’Connell, James Keane, Liz Carroll
1984
1 20
“Sawyer Tom” Hayden
1988
1 21
Trapezoid
1985
1 22
Miscellaneous Correspondance
various dates
1 23
“35 Years of Live Music and Dance in Logan”: Text used for exhibition on the Bridger Folk Music Society
Summer 2014

Posters and advertisements for the Bridger Folk Music Society, 1979-2014Return to Top

Container(s): Box 2

Container(s) Description Dates
Box item
2 1
The State of the Arts in Cache Valley (article concerning the Bridger Folk Music Society on page 28)
2001 March 25
2 2
The Herald Journal’s Bridgerland: One Hundred Things to Love (article on page 20)
1996 March 24
2 3
Mick Moloney, Eugene O’Donnell, Tommy Sands and Regan Wick signed poster, for performance
1994 February 5, Saturday
2 4
The Legendary Bryan Bowers
2001 Sept 22, 2001
2 5
Bridger Folk Music Society 1979-2009 poster (three copies)
2009
2 6
Alan Jabbour and Hal Cannon (2 copies)
2009 October 25, Sunday
2 7
"Margaret Macarthur…..In Concert"
[unknown year] April 21, Wednesday
2 8
Banish Misfortune (three copies)
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Folk music--Cache Valley (Utah and Idaho)

Personal Names

  • Bowers, Bryan.
  • Carroll, Liz.
  • Duckin-Goede, Lisa.
  • Goede, Ronald W., 1934-
  • Hayden, Sawyer Tom.
  • Keane, James, 1948-
  • MacArthur, Margaret, 1928-2006.
  • Macleod, Kate.
  • McCutcheon, John, 1952-
  • Moloney, Mick, 1944-
  • O'Connell, Robbie, 1950-
  • Proctor, Chris (Guitarist)
  • Carlin, Bob.

Corporate Names

  • Banish Misfortune (Musical group)
  • Bridger Folk Music Society.
  • Cache Valley Contra Dance Group.
  • High Country (Musical group)
  • Trapezoid (Musical group)