MS-43 Miami Valley Arts Council Records

Introduction

The records of the Miami Valley Arts Council date from its inception to 1970. Included are papers pertaining to its development, reasons for being, organization, founding members, members, officers, meetings, projects, and goals. The material is located within the Wright State University Archives with easy accessibility. There are no usage restrictions. There are twenty-seven folders of papers and materials filling four average size Hollinger boxes.

Agency Sketch

Organized in 1960 and incorporated in 1961 as a non-profit organization, the Miami Valley Arts Council had at its height over forty-five member groups and a total membership of over several hundred people. A charter member of the sixty-two member Community Arts council, Incorporated of America, affiliated with the American Symphony Orchestra League, the Miami Valley Arts Council was also a member of the City Beautiful Commission of Dayton.

The central office for secretarial work, mailing, and telephone services was the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.

The purpose of the Council was “to establish better communications among existing cultural organizations, encourage support of the community for educational and cultural activities and groups, and to promote broader participation in the cultural life of the community.”

Scope and Content

The papers of the Miami Valley Arts Council start with the date of its beginning and fade away in 1970. The majority of the papers fall into the late sixties. The material is in the form of business correspondence, minutes of meetings, (primarily board meetings, various committee meeting minutes are not available, and some of the board meeting minutes are also missing) information on the history of the Council – why it was formed – members of the various boards beginning with the first temporary board, organizational structure, projects, (these are few and very sketchy) copies of calendars of events, publicity – clippings and write-ups from newspapers, membership and mailing lists, and various councils associated with the Miami Valley Arts Council.

The information on the history and the organization of the Council is very extensive and helpful. The collection is weak on the material that relates to various committees and their functions and the relationship between the various member groups.

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