Oregon Music Teachers Association records, 1915-2017

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Oregon Music Teachers Association
Title
Oregon Music Teachers Association records
Dates
1915-2017 (inclusive)
Quantity
10.36 cubic feet, (4 record cartons; 2 legal document cases; 4 letter document cases; 8 flat boxes)
Collection Number
Mss 1458
Summary
Records of the statewide Oregon Music Teachers Association from its founding in 1915 to the early 21st century, including records of the association's Russian Connection cultural exchange program, newsletters, some district chapter records, several scrapbooks, and memorabilia.
Repository
Oregon Historical Society Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, OR
97205
Telephone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
libreference@ohs.org
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The suspension of the Northwest Music Teachers Association, coinciding with the State of Oregon's efforts to develop music education in public schools, prompted The Musicians Club of Portland to organize a statewide music teachers association in 1915, named the Oregon State Music Teachers Association. Two years later, the name was shortened to the Oregon Music Teachers Association. The OMTA was initially divided into twelve geographic districts and later expanded to fourteen. OMTA developed and maintains teacher certification and a syllabus for private music instruction. The association also publishes a newletter, Music News, and hosts an annual conference. Members of the current fourteen districts meet throughout the year, and offer performance and instructional opportunities for their students. In 1950, the OMTA joined the Music Teachers National Association.

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Joan Gathercoal and her twin sister, Jean, were born in March 1932 in Salem, Oregon to Ruth Gillmore and John Reining Baines. Joan attended Oregon State College (later Oregon State University), where she met her husband, Forrest "Spike" Gathercoal. After living in Texas for several years, the couple returned to Oregon, eventually settling in Corvallis. There, Joan Gathercoal worked as a piano teacher and ran a bakery with her sister. She was a member of the Oregon Music Teachers Association and served as its president and historian. In 1998 and 2001, Gathercoal traveled to Khabarovsk, Russia, as part of the OMTA's Russian Connection cultural exchange program. In 2016, the OMTA awarded her the Nellie Tholen Excellence in Teaching award. She died in September 2017.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The bulk of the collection consists of records of the Oregon Music Teachers Association, including administrative records, newsletters, and instructional materials. The collection includes records for the association's Russian Connection cultural exchange program with Khabarovsk, Russia, sister city to Portland, Oregon. It also includes records of several of the association's district chapters, particularly the McMinnville and Linn-Benton districts. In addition, the collection includes materials relating to national music organizations, especially the Music Teachers National Association (parent organization of OMTA); photographs of events; clippings about members; scrapbooks; and the papers and memorabilia of OMTA president and historian Joan Gathercoal.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Preferred Citation

Oregon Music Teachers Association records, Mss 1458, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library prior to any use of reproductions. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use of reproductions may require seeking additional authorization from the copyright holders.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in the following series: Series 1. OMTA records; Series 2. District records; Series 3. National organization records; Series 4: Scrapbooks, photographs, and memorabilia.

Acquisition Information

Gifts of Ella C. Jesse, Lucille Cummins, and the Oregon Music Teachers Association made between 1967 and 2019 (Lib. Accs. 11153, 12920, 17380, 19952, 21407, 27200, and RL2019-072).

Separated Materials

Medals were separated to the Oregon Historical Society Museum collections.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Series 1:  OMTA records, 1916-2015Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: General administrative records
1916-2015
Box Folder
1 1
Founding documents, Oregon State Music Teachers Association
1916
2 1
Announcements
1925; undated
13 1
Application for 501(c)(3) exemption
1991
13 2
Articles of Incorporation
1929 April 29
13 3
Restated Articles of Incorporation
1991
13 4
Constitutions and bylaws
1936-1994
1 5
Constitution and bylaws
1943 June
13 5
Certificate example and guidelines
undated
13 6
Blank certificate and forms
1989
13 7
Competition rules and forms
1996
13 8
Correspondence and records re debate over number of competitions
1994
13 9
Blank contest entry and participation trophy forms
2003-2004
13 10-11
Committee and program reports
1980-1998
13 12
Directory Committee records
1989-1990
2 2
Correspondence
1959-1966
1 7
Convention programs
1916-1967
13 13-17
Convention programs, speech notes, and planning records
1946-2005
1 8
Convention resolution
1921 November 26
1 6
Financial records - Treasurer's report, receipts, notes
1920-1924; undated
13 18
Financial records - credit union ledger
1933-1940
4 1
Financial records - Dues book, by district
1935-1941
13 19
Financial records - tax records
1961, 1992
13 20
Job descriptions
1986-1988
13 21
Materials relating to leadership seminar and education
1994
13 22
Legislative advocacy
1967; 1992-1994
13 23
Membership materials and mailings
1979-1988; undated
13 24
Membership certification and dues records
1992-1994
13 25
Membership records and historical chronologies of OMTA
circa 1954-1980
13 26-31
Membership directories
1965-2015
13 32
Correspondence and notes re publication and distribution of 1992-1994 and 1994-1996 directories
1992-1994
1 2
Minutes, Volume 1
1915-1965
1 3
Minutes, Volume 2
1931-1947
1 4
Minutes, Volume 3
1948-1968
13 33
Music festival bulletins and syllabus examinations
1944-1950
2 7
Musical programs presented by OMTA
1957 March 3; 1967 March 29
14 24-25
Oregon Junior Bach programs, evaluation forms, and instructions
2005-2012; undated
14 26
President's records - guidelines, schedules, handbooks
1984-1990
14 27
Public School Liaison records and forms
1986-1987
14 28
Responses to questionnaire for music teachers
undated
14 29
Recital workshop form and rosters
1989-1990
1 9
Report on conventions, past presidents, and membership
1965-1980
1 10
Reports and related documents
1937-1974
2 9
Resumé of the Oregon Music Teachers Association, compiled by Lavina R. Honey, plus notes on OMTA's relationship with the Oregon Historical Society
1981
14 30
Resumé of Oregon Music Teachers Association, compiled by Lavina R. Honey
1981
15 18
Scholarship forms and publicity materials
2006-2015
15 19
Scholarship and Ensemble Recital information
1987-1988
15 20
Minutes book for Sick and Relief Fund trustees
1931-1960
15 21-22
State and Executive Board records - minutes, reports, rosters, etc.
1958 October - 1970
16 1-6
State and Executive Board records - minutes, reports, rosters, etc.
1976-2005
16 7
Programs for State Recognition Recitals and similar events
1985-1988
16 8
State Ensemble Festival records
2011
16 9
Student membership
1983-1985
16 10
Teaching materials
1965-2007
16 11
Teaching materials for piano, most likely Joan Gathercoal's
circa 1967-2000
16 12
Teaching guides for music history
1994
16 13
Teaching materials - "The Judicious Music Teacher," by Forrest Gathercoal
1994
16 14
Teaching materials - Royal American Conservancy Examination materials
circa 2004
16 15-16
Teaching materials - syllabi
circa 1920; 1969-1999
2 4
Teaching materials - "Syllabus Concerning Local Examinations in Music in Various Centers Throughout Oregon"
circa 1920
2 5
Teachers' manuals, State of Oregon
1928 September; 1937 January
16 17
Correspondence, forms, etc. re OMTA and universities
1992-1993
16 18
OMTA Young Artist Certificate requirements
circa 1990
Subseries 2: Newsletters
1946-2011
Box Folder
13 34
"Oregon Music Educator," Volume XXXVII, No. 2
1985
13 35
"The Oregon Musician," scattered issues
1993-1995, 2002, 2008
14 1
Historical index to "Music News"
circa 2002
2 11
"Music News" issues removed from OMTA 1951-1953 scrapbook
1946 February 26; 1949 July - 1953 July
2 10
"Music News," scattered issues
1962 September - 1970 May
2 12
"Music News," scattered issues
1966 March - 1969 April
2 13
"Music News," scattered issues removed from Portland District 1985-1989 scrapbook
1985 September - 1989 October
14 2
"Music News," Volume I, No. 7, and Volume VI, No. 6 - Volume XI, No. 8
1947 August; 1952 February - 1958 May
14 3-11
"Music News," Volume XII, No. 2 - Volume L, No. 5
1958 October - 1996 June
14 12
"Music News," no volume numbers listed
1996 September - 1997 February
14 13-17
"Music News," Volume N, No. 2 - Volume V, No. 5
1997 November - 2006 June
14 18-23
"Music News," Opus 61, No. 1 - Opus 65, No. 9
2006 September - 2011 June
Subseries 3: Russian Connection program records
Most materials kept in original order.
1998-2009
Box Folder
15 1-2
Clippings, programs, schedules, e-mail correspondence, and ephemera
1998-2002
15 3
Concert programs, photographs, and clippings
1999-2001
15 4
Correspondence
2000 August-September
15 5-6
E-mail and fax correspondence; obituary for Peter G. Rossbacher
2000-2007
15 7-8
Correspondence, concert programs, budget, and clippings
1998-2001
15 9-11
Correspondence, programs, schedules, and notes
2000-2009
15 12
Russian-language publication and packet folder
1998
15 13
Schedules, correspondence, and student materials
1998-2002
15 14
Materials concerning Vyacheslav ("Slava") Sobolevky
1998-2008
15 15
Song lyrics, event programs, correspondence, and visas
1998-2002
15 16-17
Student rosters, resources, correspondence, clippings, etc.
1998-2001

Series 2:  District records, 1920-2017Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
16 19
Correspondence of Local Districts Chairwoman Julia M. Frantz
1986-1988
16 20
Records and correspondence re formation of local districts
1989-1990
16 21
Constitution and bylaws for South Coast District, Clatsop District, Central Oregon District, Klamath Basin District, Roseburg District, and Salem District
1977-1992
16 22
Directories and schedules for McMinnville-Newberg, McMinnville, and Lincoln County districts
1966; 1994
16 23-24
Membership directories for Blue Mountain District, Central Oregon District, Clatsop District, Eugene District, Linn-Benton District, McMinnville District, Rogue Valley District, Roseburg District, and Salem District
1981-2004
4 2
Annual reports of district presidents
1952 June 19-21
16 25
Compiled district reports and minutes
1989 September; 1998 February
16 26
District reports and correspondence
1995-1997
16 27
Linn-Benton District - Concert programs
2002-2007
16 28
Linn-Benton District - Minutes, reports, correspondence, and Honors Recital program
1986-2008
16 29
Linn-Benton District - Syllabus records
2016-2017
2 14-15
McMinnville District - Minutes
1927-1948
2 16
McMinnville-Newberg District - Minutes
1947-1958
4 3
McMinnville District- Certificates
1970-1973
3 1
Walnut City [McMinnville] District - Minutes
1920-1927
3 2
Walnut City [McMinnville] District - Music Notes by Gertrude Lindsay
1921-1959
3 4
Portland District - Rosters
1918-1919; 1920-circa 1922
3 5
Portland District - Bulletin
1943
16 30
Rogue Valley District - Newsletter, "Keeping in Touch," Volume II, No. 1
1994 September-October

Series 3:  National organization records, 1953-2005Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Subseries 1: Music Teachers National Association records
1953-2005
Box Folder
16 32
Administrative flow chart
1993 December 12
16 33
Competition handbooks, programs, and signs
1995-1996
16 34
Student performance competition records
2004 January 17
16 35
Student competition rules; blank adjudication forms and certificates
1991-1992
16 36
Convention programs
1971-1994
17 1
Convention programs
2001-2005
17 2
Directory of certified teachers
1993
17 3
Records re legislative issues (public school credit, zoning law effects on private instructors)
1959-1980
17 4
Memos and newsletters
1980-1999
17 5
Northwest Division minutes
1981-1989; 1995
2 8
"Program Notes" by Andre Watts
undated
17 6
Publications
1976-2000
17 7
Questionnaires
1991; undated
17 8
Reports
1993-1994
17 9
Syllabus
1970
17 10
Western Division Second Biennial Convention
1953 August
Subseries 2: Other national organization records
circa 1978-2000
Box Folder
16 31
American Association of Composers and Publishers, Music Publishers Association, etc. - Materials re copyright law and music publishing
circa 1978-1995
17 11
National Federation of Music Clubs - Junior Festivals Bulletin, 1998-1999-2000
1998
17 12
National Federation of Music Clubs - Newsletter, "Junior Keynotes"
1996, 1999

Series 4:  Scrapbooks, photographs, and memorabilia, 1915-2016Return to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
3 5-7
Scrapbook, "Elizabeth Levy Steiner, 1897-1987: Her History with OMTA," compiled by Diana Steiner, and displayed at 1988 Convention
1988
5
OMTA Scrapbook
1915-1966
6
OMTA Scrapbook
1951-1953
7
OMTA Scrapbook
1961-1967
7
OMTA Scrapbook
1967-1971
8
OMTA Scrapbook
1971-1975
9
OMTA Scrapbook
1975-1982
6
OMTA Scrapbook
1982-1985
10
OMTA Scrapbook
1985-1989
11
McMinnville District scrapbook
1954-1973
11
McMinnville District scrapbook
1973-1977
12
Portland District scrapbook
1967-1977
12
Portland District scrapbook
1977-1984
Folder
4 4
Portland District scrapbook
1985-1989
2 3
Clippings
1916
17 13
Clippings, obituaries, and other materials about OMTA members and students
circa 1960-2015
17 14
Materials re college music programs
1995
17 15
Concert and recital programs
1947-2009
17 16
Convention programs: Oregon and Washington State Music Teachers Associations; Toronot Collaborative Conference
1997 June; 2007 March
18 1
Papers and memorabilia of Joan Gathercoal
1996-2014
18 2
OMTA history compiled by Joan Gathercoal, including course syllabi, minutes, images, and flyers
1925-circa 2010
18 3
"OMTA Memories" compiled for state convention
2016
18 4
Notes on parliamentary procedures
undated
18 5
Programs of American music festivals
1958-1960
18 6
Oregon State University Music Department newsletter, "Musically Speaking"
1990-1991
18 7
Piano magazine, piano catalog, and piano marketing mailer
1992-2005
18 8
Materials possibly gathered and created for undated workshop about teamwork
circa 1920-1994
18 9
Photograph album, MTNA convention
1993
18 10
Photographs of OMTA members and students
1997-2003
18 11
Photographs, MTNA and OMTA events
1996; undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Music teachers--Oregon--History
  • Music--Oregon--History
  • Musicians--Oregon--History
  • Performing arts--Oregon--History

Personal Names

  • Gathercoal, Joan Baines, 1932-2017

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Music Teachers Association

Form or Genre Terms

  • Administrative records
  • Newsletters
  • Programs (documents)
  • Scrapbooks