Details

RG-0003

recordgrp

General Information and History Records (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Records)

1970-2003, undated

72.42 (Linear feet)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum documents the history of rock music and the artists, producers, engineers, and other notable figures who have influenced its development. Cleveland, Ohio was chosen as the location for the museum in 1986. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on June 7, 1993 and the museum was opened to the public on September 1, 1995.

This record group documents the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from 1970-2003, with the bulk of the records dating from 1986-1996. There are twelve subgroups: artist files, research coordinator files, Development Department records, Membership Department records, photographs, architectural plans, special events, marketing, American Contemporary Music Center Development Corporation, audio-visual materials, Curatorial Department, and petitions. The first subgroup features artist files focused on Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The second subgroup contains information collected and created by Research Coordinator Bonnie Oviatt, including correspondence, publisher catalogs, fan club files, press releases, and audiovisual materials. The third subgroup consists of information collected and created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Development Department, including news clippings, documents on the construction of the Museum, slide images of Cleveland areas and the Museum, and some miscellaneous files. The fourth subgroup contains information collected and created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Membership Department, including agendas, reports, correspondence, financial documents, events, and mailing lists. The fifth subgroup includes photographs of events that may have a connection to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, such as the Grammy Awards. The sixth subgroup contains architectural plans for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. The seventh subgroup consists of the event planning for the Groundbreaking, Topping Off, and Grand Opening. The eighth subgroup contains the materials related to the marketing of the Rock Hall and includes press conferences and outreach events. The ninth subgroup consists of records relating to the various boards and committees that worked to bring the Rock Hall to Cleveland and build the museum. The tenth subgroup contains audio-visual materials that document the Rock Hall and include footage of the construction site, Concert for the Rock Hall, Topping Off ceremony, and ribbon cutting. The eleventh subgroup contains the early records of the Curatorial Department. The final subgroup consists of the petitions to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to Cleveland.

Accruals are interfiled with the collection.

Citation: [Identification of item], Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Records--General Information and History, Library and Archives, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Acquisition Note: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum Records--General Information and History materials were transferred to the Library and Archives from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2010.

Processing Information: Processed by Nova Watson, Intern; Anastasia Karel, Assistant Archivist; and Crystal Matjasic, Project Archivist. Last updated January 29, 2021. Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS and local Style Guide. Accruals processed through an Access to Historical Records grant from the NHPRC.

Language Note: Collection is primarily in English; materials in Japanese, English, and Dutch are indicated at the file level.

Separated Materials: Commercial magazines and audio materials, as well as 45 RPM records have been removed to the library collection.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Records are RESTRICTED. Materials are accessible on a case-by-case basis. Consult the Library & Archives staff to request access to these materials.

The copyright interests in this record group belong to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc.