Nashville Gospel Arts Day program records, 1983-1990.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Organized into the following series: I. 1987 Program; II. 1988 Program; III. 1989 Program.

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Administrative and other materials document the three-year history of Nashville Gospel Arts Day (1987-1989). Materials include planning notes, proclamations, publicity releases, grant funding requests, correspondence, performance contracts, local press coverage clippings, expense receipts, souvenir booklets, invitation lists, guest lists, and descriptive reports.

Cite as: Nashville Gospel Arts Day Program Records, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright (Title 17 U.S. Code).

Gift;,Doug Seroff;,2004,Acc. RT-112.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation designating June 19 as "American Gospel Arts Day." Shortly before June 19, 1987, a California organization contacted Tennessee Folk Arts Coordinator Dr. Robert Cogswell and collector/author Doug Seroff, suggesting that they arrange a Nashville commemoration. On this short notice, the first Nashville Gospel Arts Day took place, setting the stage for more ambitious, grant-funded programs the next two years. Nashville Gospel Ministries/Nashville Gospel Productions co-directors Tommie Lewis and Teresa Hannah produced these events, while Seroff served as project director and Cogswell as project advisor. Fisk University hosted all three concert programs, as well as exhibits of photographs and artifacts which were part of the 1988 and 1989 events. Seroff researched and wrote the program booklets for the 1988-1989 concerts, and a one-hour documentary, "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around," was produced as part of the 1989 event. Each of the three programs identified and honored a distinguished individual or group associated with Nashville African-American gospel music history: Reverend Jerome I. Wright in 1987 (at that time the oldest surviving alumnus of the Fisk Jubilee Singers), the Fairfield Four in 1988, and Mrs. James A. Myers (long-time director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers) in 1989.

In English.

Finding aid available in repository;,folder level control,https://assets.library.nashville.org/documents/finding-aids/Special_Collections_Division_Finding_Aid_Nashville_Gospel_Ar.pdf.

These materials were collected by Doug Seroff and were in his possession when he made the donation on June 7, 2004.

Processed,2007 ;,Ronnie Pugh.