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Reel, Tom A Guide to the Tom Reel Papers MG 124

A Guide to the Tom Reel Papers MG 124


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ODU Community Collections

3000 Perry Library
4427 Hampton Blvd.
Norfolk, VA 23529
Business Number: 757-683-5350
libspecialcollections@odu.edu
URL: https://www.odu.edu/library/special-collections

M. Erlandson

Repository
ODU Community Collections
Identification
MG 124
Title
Tom Reel Papers 1986-2018, undated Date acquired: 03/26/2012
URL:
Archon Finding Aid location
Quantity
1.50 Linear Feet
Quantity
1 Hollinger document case, 1 archival notebook, and 1 oversized box boxes
Language
English .
Abstract
Tom Reel is a bassist and active member in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and became a leading proponent for the musicians during the strike in 1988. This collection outlines the strike and its aftermath and incudes a scrapbook, newspaper articles, correspondence, and newsletters.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.

Conditions Governing Access

Open to researchers without restriction.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

Source of Acquisition

Thomas P. Reel

Method of Acquisition

Gift.

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Melissa Erlandson, Special Collections and University Archives Student Assistant, in 2016.

Biographical or Historical Information

Tom Reel is an active member in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and became a leading proponent for the musicians during the strike in 1988. After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1970, Tom received two degrees in music from the University of Kansas and joined the Virginia Symphony in 1984, as a double bassist. Quickly filling a role in the Symphony, he was among the first musicians to join the Symphony Board in 1989. He became the Secretary-Treasurer for the Local Musicians' Union in 1989 and served briefly as Vice-President and President. Tom Reel was a large part of the Virginia Symphony and his role in the bettering of the organization cannot be overstated.

Beginning in 1965, the Virginia Symphony quickly became a cultural landmark in the Hampton Roads area. It serviced multiple cities with its performances and became the thirty-third ranked symphony in the nation, yet the musicians of the symphony were some of the least compensated in the industry. In spring of 1988, the musicians of the Virginia Symphony advocated for more benefits and better wages which, with little success, resulted in a six-week long strike starting in late September. Tom Reel became the president of the musicians' organization and worked with the Symphony Board to come to an agreement. Much of the issue was caused by the Symphony's financial strife, which lasted much of the 1980's and the 1990's, as they directed majority of their funds towards marketing instead of the players. The six-week strike gained a large communal backing and in November of 1988 the Symphony settled on a small increase in wages and benefits.

Note written by Joe Smith

Scope and Contents

This collection contains material collected and created by Tom Reel concerning the Virginia Symphony Orchestra strike in 1988 and its aftermath. Included in the collection are a scrapbook, newspaper articles, correspondence between the musicians and the Board of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and newsletters concerning the symphony.

Arrangement Note

The collection is organized into four series: Series I: The Musicians' Strike; Series II: Aftermath and Symphony Legacy; Series III: Scrapbook; and Series IV: Artifacts.

Related Material

Virginia Symphy Orchestra Records (MG 81-A)

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • Orchestral musicians--Virginia
  • Reel, Thomas P.
  • Strikes and lockouts--United States--Orchestras
  • Virginia Symphony

Container List

Series I
Series I: The Musicians' Strike
1986-2004
Scope and Contents

This series contains material related to the 1988 Virginia Symphony Orchestra musicians strike. Included in the series are musician wage scales, correspondence, programs, and strikes from other symphonies.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
    Box 1
    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1 Folder 1
      Folder 1: Musicians Wage Scales
      1986-2004
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Musicians Wage Scales, 1986-2004, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2 Folder 2
      Folder 2: Musician's Strike Newspaper Articles
      1988-1989
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Musician's Strike Newspaper Articles, 1988-1989, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3 Folder 3
      Folder 3: Tom Reel Correspondence
      1988-2001
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Tom Reel Correspondence, 1988-2001, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4 Folder 4
      Folder 4: Letters to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Board
      1988
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Letters to the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Board, 1988, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5 Folder 5
      Folder 5: Organ of the Species Newsletter
      1988
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Organ of the Species Newsletter, 1988, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6 Folder 6
      Folder 6: Musician and Board Correspondence
      1988
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Musician and Board Correspondence, 1988, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7 Folder 7
      Folder 7: Picketing Information
      1988
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Picketing Information, 1988, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8 Folder 8
      Folder 8: Strikes of Other Symphonies
      1988-1989
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Strikes of Other Symphonies, 1988-1989, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9 Folder 9
      Folder 9: Programs and Brochures in Support of Musicians
      1988-1998
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 9, Programs and Brochures in Support of Musicians, 1988-1998, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series II
Series II: Aftermath and Symphony Legacy
1988-2018, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes material related to the aftermath of the 1988 Virginia Symphony Orchestra musicians strike. Included in the series are newspaper articles, copies of the Lines and Spaces newsletter, and a biography of Joann Falletta.

  • Mixed Materials box: 1 Box 1
    Box 1
    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 10 Folder 10
      Folder 10: Symphony Miscellaneous
      1988-1989
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 10, Symphony Miscellaneous, 1988-1989, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 11 Folder 11
      Folder 11: Benefit Concert with David Ogden Stiers
      1988
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 11, Benefit Concert with David Ogden Stiers, 1988, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 12 Folder 12
      Folder 12: Newspaper Articles
      1989-1997
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 12, Newspaper Articles, 1989-1997, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 13 Folder 13
      Folder 13: Lines and Spaces Newsletter
      1992-2005
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 13, Lines and Spaces Newsletter, 1992-2005, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 14 Folder 14
      Folder 14: Articles
      2000-2010
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 14, Articles, 2000-2010, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 15 Folder 15
      Folder 15: Biography on Joann Falletta
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 15, Biography on Joann Falletta, undated, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 16 Folder 16
      Folder 16: Tribute to David Ogden Stiers
      2018
      Preferred Citation

      [Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 16, Tribute to David Ogden Stiers, 2018, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series III
Series III: Scrapbook
1988-1989
Scope and Contents

This series consists of a scrapbook of newspaper articles related to the 1988 Virginia Symphony Orchestra musicians strike.

  • Mixed Materials box: 2 Box 2
    Box 2
    • Mixed Materials box: 2 Item 1
      Strike Newspaper Scrapbook
      1988-1989
      Preferred Citation

      Strike Newspaper Scrapbook, 1988-1989, Box 2, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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Series IV
Series IV: Artifacts
circa 1988-1994, undated
Scope and Contents

This series includes Virginia Symphony Orchestra t-shirts, including those specifically designed for the 1988 Virginia Symphony Orchestra musicians strike.

  • Mixed Materials Oversize Box: 3 Oversize Box 3
    Oversize Box 3
    • Realia Oversize Box: 3 Item 1
      Supporting the Arts Means Supporting the Artists T-shirt
      circa 1988
      Preferred Citation

      Supporting the Arts Means Supporting the Artists T-shirt, circa 1988, Oversize Box 3, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Realia Oversize Box: 3 Item 2
      Stand Up for Your Symphony T-shirt
      circa 1988
      Preferred Citation

      Stand Up for Your Symphony T-shirt, circa 1988, Oversize Box 3, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Realia Oversize Box: 3 Item 3
      Virginia Symphony T-shirt (Black)
      1994
      Preferred Citation

      Virginia Symphony T-shirt (Black), 1994, Oversize Box 3, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

    • Realia Oversize Box: 3 Item 4
      Virginia Symphony T-shirt (White)
      undated
      Preferred Citation

      Virginia Symphony T-shirt (White), undated, Oversize Box 3, Tom Reel Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.

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