TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Index Terms

Detailed Description/Box and Folder Listing

Jacksonville-MacMurray Music Association

An Inventory of the Papers at MacMurray College

Biographical Note

After many years of sponsoring an annual concert and lecture series, in 1953 the college merged with local artistic groups within the community to form the Jacksonville-MacMurray Music Association. Thirteen members formed the executive committee and, in separate working committees, located and contracted musical performers to present exceptional music programs during a season to small town America. Membership drives, financial sponsorship from the college and local businesses funded the association for many years to cover the costs of contracting quality talent from many genres of music. Concert goers enjoyed all performances on the college campus in the Annie Merner Chapel. Eventually, the excecutive board became the board of directors and expanded to 24 members, with equal representation from MacMurray and the community. In 1964, a constitution and bylaws established policies for directors and enabled the association to register as a non-for-profit. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, as expenses increased, combined with the dwindling college support and decrease in membership, grants were sought, and often awarded, from the Illinois Arts Council. The association had to decrease the yearly number of concerts in order to meet expenses. To garner more interest from the local community, the association started a Young Talent Competition whereby local musical talent vied to receive the award for the best in Jacksonville. By the late 1980s, competing dollars for membership to the Jacksonville Symphony and the JMMA caused the demise of the JMMA.

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Scope and Contents

The collection consists of minutes from board meetings, copies of grant applications and awards, correspondence with performers, concert programs, several versions of the constitution and bylaws, and treasurer's reports.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

This collection is not restricted.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Organizations:

Places:

Subjects:

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Detailed Description/Box and Folder Listing