Teacher Summit: Archival Resources

Listed below are notable collections and items from the Rock Hall's Archives. You can find more by searching our catalog here.

Archival collections are described in Finding Aids that provide you with historical and organizational information on a collection, subject headings that tie it to other library and archival materials, and an inventory to help you pinpoint what you need. The detail of inventories vary. Search the full text of finding aids via our online catalog.

These collections may be of particular interest to educators:

ARC-0281 "Poetry of Popular Music" Course Materials
The "Poetry of Popular Music" Course Materials consist of 156 1/4-inch audiotape reels with music and interviews, textbooks, quizzes, and assignments that were used for the high school course, "Poetry of Popular Music," taught by Anthony C. Moore, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey from 1972 to 1998. The collection provides rich documentation and insight to the teaching of rock music at the high school level.

ARC-0453 Jay Ruby Rock 'n' Roll Conference Lecture
This collection includes a disc recording of "'You're Probably Wondering Why I'm Here': The Social Implications of Rock 'n' Roll," a lecture by Jay W. Ruby given at the Rock 'n' Roll Conference at Mills College in Oakland, California, on March 18, 1967. Topics of discussion include musical communities of the era--particularly the rock and roll community's fascination with hallucinogenic drugs and religion--and the marketing methods of popular radio stations of the time.

Need a starting point for your research or a photo for a project? Here you go!

RG-0008 Photograph File (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Records--Curatorial Division)
The Photograph File consists of approximately 1,500 artist files, as well as files dedicated to specific locations, rock photographers, subjects, and exhibits held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The bulk of the artist files consists of photocopies of images from Corbis, Getty, and the Michael Ochs Archives that include information on obtaining permission for the use of those images, but some of the files also contain original publicity stills, performance shots, negatives, and slides.

RG-0009 Subject Files (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Records--Education and Public Programs Division--Library and Archives Department)
The Subject Files is an artificial collection created by the Library and Archives. Materials span the years 1952 to 2012, and consist mainly of newspaper and magazine clippings of articles, many of which were compiled by a clipping service in the 1990s. Additional items in the collection include press releases, promotional brochures, and artist biographies.

Need firsthand accounts from the individuals who shaped rock and roll? Take a look at the Oral History Project! This exciting project, which began in late 2011, is creating a collection of filmed interviews with the performers, songwriters, producers, and record executives who shaped rock and roll. Generously funded by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, these in-depth, extensive interviews, conducted by experts in the field, provide an essential resource for the study of rock and roll. Please note, these videos are only available for viewing within the Library and Archives. Here are a few to get your started:

Bobby Bland
David Ritz interviews blues singer Bobby Bland, discussing his life and work in the Memphis music scene.

Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino.
Writer Peter Guralnick and guitarist Robbie Robertson speak with Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis, about their careers and the beginnings of rock and roll. Footage includes group and individual interviews.

Clive Davis
Anthony DeCurtis interviews record executive Clive Davis, who signed such legendary artists as Janis Joplin and Santana, and who founded Arista Records.

Frankie Valli
David Wild interviews singer Frankie Valli, discussing his work with the Four Seasons, playing Ed Sullivan, surviving the Beatles, Vee Jay Records, the New York/New Jersey pop scene, signing with Berry Gordy and Motown, Ahmet Ertegun, and Joe Pesci.

Martha Reeves
Rock Hall VP of Education and Public Programs Lauren Onkey speaks with Vandellas front-woman Martha Reeves.

Mary Wilson
David Ritz speaks with Supremes singer Mary Wilson, and they discuss growing up in Detroit; Motown with Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and writing/producing team Holland-Dozier-Holland; fellow Supremes Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Cindy Birdsong, and Jean Terell, and their first incarnation as the Primettes; fellow Motown artists Jackson 5, the Temptations, and Stevie Wonder; and the film Dreamgirls.

Smokey Robinson
Alan Light interviews singer, songwriter, and producer Smokey Robinson, discuss Berry Gordon, Motown Records, the Miracles, and fellow Detroit natives Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross