Behind the Scenes: Woody Guthrie Archives Tour

Behind the Scenes: Woody Guthrie Archives Tour

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

11:00am – 1:30pm

(followed by optional lunch in Mount Kisco, NY)
Trains from NYC depart Grand Central Terminal at  9:48am

*Please note that registration has closed and the waiting list is now full.*

The Woody Guthrie Foundation & Archives is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote, perpetuate, and preserve the social, political and cultural values that Woody Guthrie contributed to the world through his life, his music, and his work. Open to the public in 1996, the Archives holds the largest collection of Woody Guthrie material in the world, and has provided source material for many award winning publications, special projects, exhibitions, and films.

The collection contains over 10,000 items including Woody Guthrie’s original song lyrics, notebooks and diaries, manuscripts, photographs, correspondence, personal papers, scrapbooks, artwork, films, and audio recordings, all of which document his life and artistry as musician, writer, illustrator, and political activist.

On this special tour, Archivist Tiffany Colannino will host a group of 8 ART members for a behind-the-scenes look at the Archives and collection. After viewing a short documentary film about Woody Guthrie and the Archives, guests will tour the vault, where Guthrie’s material is housed, and will explore some of the unique items – including lyrics, artwork, and diaries – held in the collection. In addition, Ms. Colannino will provide an overview of recent grant-funded conservation work that has been completed on several scrapbooks in the collection, and will discuss recent outreach projects, including books, albums, and films, based around documentary material from the Archives.

2012 marks the centennial of Woody Guthrie’s birth, and the Archives is celebrating with museum exhibits, musical concerts, and academic conferences across the United States, Canada, and Europe. We hope you will join us on this special tour, and help celebrate Guthrie’s 100th birthday.

Cost: $10 (All proceeds to support Woody Guthrie Archives). Please note we are unable to refund money upon cancellation of RSVP.

The tour will be limited to the first 8 ART members who have successfully registered. There will be also be a waiting list in case of cancellation of RSVP.

Please note:

• Metro North train tickets may be purchased prior to departure at the automated kiosks located throughout Grand Central Station. One-way, off-peak fares to Mount Kisco are $10.75 ($17 if purchased on-board the trains). Return fares can be purchased upon departure from Grand Central, or at the station in Mount Kisco.    

• After the tour of the Archives, members are welcomed to join in for lunch in Mount Kisco at Via Vanti!, located in the historic Mount Kisco train station (bring $10/$20 for lunch, if desired.)

• Due to space limitations at the Woody Guthrie Archives, only those members who have RSVPed through the ART website and received a confirmation email may attend. A waiting list of up to 5 ART members will be kept in case there is a cancellation.