Fonds uofa-2638 - Violet Archer fonds

The Violet Archer fonds provide a valuable record of the composing, research, teaching and life experiences of a noted University professor and internationally recognized composer of music. The fonds is unusually complete, with intact records that illustrate both professional and personal facets of her life. Two large series were determined, that of professional and personal papers, and several sub-series delineated within each of these two series. The professional papers form the largest series; sub-series designations within this series are based on the contents of the records, and are often chronological in terms of order within each sub-series. These include student records (Archer as student); teaching records chronicling her years on faculty at North Texas State College, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Alberta; correspondence files; composing records; and reference records. The composition and composing sub-series of records is further organized into performing rights organization records, music publishers contracts and correspondence, conference and workshop records, performances, honors and awards, and original Archer compositions. A significant number of her compositions are represented in these holdings, and provide evidence about the steps involved in creating a piece of music from manuscript beginnings to a final published piece of music. Series two, Violet Archer's personal papers, include extensive correspondence files; particularly significant are the incoming and outgoing correspondence with her younger sister Carolyn. The letters to and from Carolyn document the emotions, struggles, triumphs and challenges she faced as a woman functioning in a male-dominated field and time period. Rounding out the personal records in Series two are other correspondence files, financial records, insurance records, artwork and photographs. The completeness, extent, and condition of the Violet Archer fonds ensures its strong informational and evidential research value.