What types of materials are archives looking to have donated? Each archives repository is different. TUSC primarily accepts paper-based items such as business or personal papers, correspondence, memorabilia and other ephemera, and non-commercially available audio or video recordings such as field recordings, interviews, home movies, or personally recorded events.

In the specific case of the Hogan Archive at TUSC, Weber explains that the material should fit their collection policy. Their curatorial vision focuses on the history, culture and community of New Orleans jazz, rhythm and blues, gospel, blues, ragtime, Creole songs, and related musical genres. For example, the archive contains the papers of trumpeter and bandleader Louis Prima, a New Orleans native known for lively swing and jump blues tunes. 

Have you ever thought about donating something to a museum? How does it work and how do you find out what they want?

The Ella Project recently spoke with David Kunian, curator at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, to get the answers to these questions and more. At the branch of the State Museum housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint, the focus is on Louisiana music. But other museums have similar criteria, Kunian said…