A Guide to the Rockingham Bird Club Records, 1975-2023 SC 0352

A Guide to the Rockingham Bird Club Records, 1975-2023 SC 0352


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James Madison University Libraries Special Collections

820 Madison Drive
MSC 1706
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Tiffany Cole

Repository
James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Identification
SC 0352
Title
Rockingham Bird Club records 1975-2023
Quantity
2.47 cubic feet, 5 boxes
Quantity
102 Megabytes, 273 files
Creator
Rockingham Bird Club
source
Fovargue, Art
Language
English .
Abstract
The collection comprises administrative files, newsletters, meeting minutes, and scrapbooks documenting the activities of the Rockingham Bird Club.

Administrative Information

Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Other Formats Available

In addition to paper copies, digital files of select meeting minutes and newsletters are available.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Rockingham Bird Club Records, 1975-2023, SC 0352, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Art Fovargue, club historian and member, in February and March 2023. A third donation was made in December 2023.

Administrative History

Established in 1974, the Rockingham Bird Club is a local chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology, Inc. The purpose of the club is to promote interest in the study of birds, and in the conservation of birds and other natural resources. With the exception of a summer hiatus, the club holds monthly meetings and publishes monthly newsletters. The American Goldfinch has been used as the club's emblem since its establishment and is the inspiration for the club newsletter, Goldfinch Gazette. Additional club activities include, or have previously included, publishing seasonal reports on bird sightings and bird activities, conducting Christmas bird counts, holding an annual bird seed sale, hosting speakers, and organizing field trips.

The club has published two editions of Birds of Rockingham County , in 1998 and 2022, respectively.

Scope and Contents

The collection comprises administrative files, founding documents, reports, membership lists, newsletters, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, ephemera, and photographs documenting the activities of the Rockingham Bird Club.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series and further arranged chronologically. Exceptions to this arrangement were made within series to keep like groupings of records together. The newsletters are arranged chronologically and foldered according to volume number.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

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Container List

1
Administrative files
1976-2023
Scope and Contents

Series 1: Administrative Files comprises copies of the club's constitutions and by-laws, general and executive committee meeting minutes, membership lists, bird alert system telephone chains, seasonal reports documenting bird sightings and activities, brochures, and patches.

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2
Newsletters
1975-2023
Scope and Contents

Series 2: Newsletters includes the club's newsletter which was formally titled Goldfinch Gazette in December 1980. The newsletter includes information on monthly meetings and guest speakers, field trips, treasurer's reports, and other relevant news.

There are scattered missing issues throughout the series as well as a gap from September 1984 to January 1987. Researchers should refer to the scrapbooks for copies of newsletters not filed in this series.

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3
Scrapbooks
1978-1995
Scope and Contents

Series 3: Scrapbooks comprises ten bound scrapbooks that include printed ephemera, newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence, newsletters, and Christmas bird count lists.

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