Flute Network Collection, 1957-2010 (bulk from 1995-2010)

The Flute Network Collection was donated by Jan and Jerry Pritchard and the Flute Network. Founded in 1984 by Jan Spell (later, Jan S. Pritchard), the Flute Network is a non-profit entity, whose purpose is to serve flutists, flute teachers, and the flute community. The overriding purpose of The Flute Network is/was to provide a "bulletin board service" of information pertinent to flutists and flute teachers and to facilitate communications among those interested in the flute. In addition to serving as an information clearing house by phone and mail (before computers were widely used), the Flute Network produced and mailed a publication that went out free of charge, ten times per year, to more than 6,500 different flutists and flute teachers nationwide, as of 2009. With the development and growth of the Internet and the expanded electronic connections between people that came along with that, the Flute Network started a website (www.flutenet.com) and began to share as much of each printed issue as possible through that medium, as well. No membership has ever been required to join the Flute Network. As of February 2013, the print/mail publication remains on planned hiatus, though the website remained active at that time.

The National Flute Association (NFA), founded in 1972, is the largest flute organization in the world. Approximately 6,000 members from more than 50 countries participate in the association, whether in person, online, at conventions, informally and in forums, through publications and classrooms, or in performances. Guided by its goals to encourage a higher standard of artistic excellence for the flute, its performers, and its literature, members include leading soloists, orchestral players, jazz and world music performers, teachers, adult amateurs, and students of all ages (http://www.nfaonline.org/). A quarterly publication is provided to members, and organization membership is required to participate in NFA conventions. The materials from the NFA that are part of this collection were an earned benefit of membership, and were actively used by the Flute Network in performing its services over the years.