Utilize our free research services
The Barbershop Harmony Society Archives is a live resource for research and information. We cater to members of the Society as well as the public. Our service is FREE of charge and we are happy to help with any and all inquires.
Please feel free to contact Douglas Gordan, Receptionist/Building Maintenance, at dgordon@barbershop.org.
Preservation: The Society Archives
The Society Archives collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the Barbershop Harmony Society and the art form it espouses to enhance the appreciation and understanding of their past, present, and future.
The Archives contain:
Academic:
Published and unpublished papers, articles, master’s theses and books written on various aspects of barbershopping and the Society.
Photographic:
Prints and transparencies of subjects related to barbershop music and the Society.
General:
Material related to a variety of topics: past presidents, medalist quartets; topics from barbershop ballet to racial integration to pre-Society quartets; videos - quartet performances, convention highlights.
Old Songs Library:
Over 125,000 pieces of sheet music relating to many styles of music from the 1860s to the present day.
Manuscript:
Papers of the founder, past presidents, historians; origin and development of the Society at large; genesis of special programs.
Oral History:
Interviews with past presidents, quartet champions, arrangers, personal music background, “barbershop career”, involvement and views on significant Society events, thoughts on direction of style and Society.
Convention:
Material related to International and Midwinter, background planning, art work, programs, score-sheets, tickets, daily bulletins, badges, souvenirs, scrapbooks, trophies and prizes, media coverage, etc.
Costume:
Costumes worn by International quartet champions clothing, accessories, traveling cases, signature props.
District:
Material related to districts- histories, spring and fall convention programs, score-sheets, bulletins.
Recordings:
Records, cassettes and compact discs of convention performances, society quartets, champion quartets; selection of Edison wax cylinders.
Members: find all of our preservation resources in the Doc center!
Donate Artifacts To The Society
The Society Archives houses the world’s largest collection of barbershop memorabilia. We consistently receive artifacts, recordings, papers and photos from multiple sources. While we ALWAYS want to give historically important items a good home, some items offered are already in the collection.
In many cases we suggest the donor offer their items to their chapter, district or local library. Our space is limited but we do everything we can to help the donor by accepting their memorabilia.
We ask you contact us first and let us know what you have to donate. We’ll make a determination quickly as to whether or not we can accept the material.
If we can accept it we will send you our Conveyance Agreement form and ask you to fill it out and include it with the shipment to the following address:
Barbershop Harmony Society
110 7th Ave. N.
Nashville, TN 37203-3704
Attn: Society Historical Archives
(800) 876-7464