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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterRebecca Barnhart, William & Mary Special Collections Research Center staff.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
The collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Additional portions of the collection were removed from the artificial collection the University Archives Publications Collection. The portions of the collection given to the University Archives prior to 2007 were assigned the accession number 2007.030 except for the material included as part of acc. 1994.032.
The Gentlemen of the College records, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.
The collection was given to the University Archives prior to 2007 and at least a portion was a gift of Michael Fitch. Acc. 1994.032 was also received by the University Archives. Acc. 1995.007, scrapbooks, was received from the organization on 5/14/1993. The provenance of portions of the collection is uncertain and was given the accession number 2007.030. Accession 2007.78 was received on 11/20/2007 from the Gentlemen of the College via business manager Dan Maguire.
Records received prior to 2007 were described as part of the University Archives Publications Collection. This material was reprocessed by Rebecca Barnhart, SCRC Staff, when additional material was received from the Gentlemen of the College in November 2007.
The Gentlemen of the College, a men's a cappella group at the College of William and Mary, was organized in January 1990 and formally recognized by the Office of Student Activities in November 1990. Founding members identified in a photograph taken in Fall 1990 include Doug Stambler, class of 1992, and Michael Fitch, class of 1993. As of December 2007, the group remains active on campus and is the oldest men's a cappella group at the College of William and Mary. The group performs live many times throughout the academic year. Performances are both on and off campus in the Williamsburg area in addition to their annual spring tour and any competitions in which they compete throughout the year. The group performs barbershop standards in addition to more modern tunes with traditional a cappella arrangements. Typically the group will consist of anywhere from 10-15 members. Their performances are known for lively antics during the songs and the comedy skits performed between numbers. Every academic year ends with a Gentlemen of the College final concert in Phi Beta Kappa Hall. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
The records of the College of William and Mary men's a capella group Gentlemen of the College include internal and external correspondence related to public performances; the constitution and by-laws; fliers advertising performances and auditions; a history of the group; membership lists; photographs; an extensive collection of audiovisual material documenting both live performances and studio sessions; and several scrapbooks. A portion of the collection was created to mark the group's 10th and 20th anniversaries, however, material from throughout the group's history available.
This collection is arranged into five series: Series 1: Scrapbooks, 1990-1998; Series 2: Audiovisual Material, 1990-2000; Series 3: Photographs, 1990-2000; Series 4: Administrative Records, 1990-2005; and Series 5: Publicity Material, 1990-2006.
University Archives Subject File Collection (UA 9); University Archives Photograph Collection; University Archives Artifact Collection (UA 13) ; University Archives Poster Collection (UA 12); University Archives Audiovisual Collection (UA 58).
Artifacts related to the Gentlemen of the College have been separated from this collection and have been added to the University Archives Artifact Collection.
Two tablecloths that were used at the 2003-2004 banquet were deaccessioned from this collection in May 2010.
Audiovisual material from the Gentlemen of the College have been separated from this collection and have been added to the University Archives Audiovisual Collection under Acc. 2007.030.001-2007.030.093
Scope and Contents This collection contains several scrapbooks, all of which were compiled by the Gentlemen of the College's historian during the years which they chronicle. They all contain photographs, correspondence, schedules, newspaper clippings, fliers, and assorted ephemera. The first scrapbook covers the academic year of 1990-1991. Although it has been removed from its binder, its organization remains intact. The second one is for the academic year of 1991-1992. The third scrapbook covers the academic year of 1992-1993. The fourth scrapbook covers the academic year of 1993-1994. The fifth scrapbook covers the academic year of 1996-1997. The final scrapbook covers the academic year of 1997-1998. In addition to the original scrapbooks, the collection also contains photocopies of the first three.
Scope and Contents This scrapbook has been removed from its binder; however, its organization remains intact.
Scope and Contents The Gentlemen of the College have amassed a vast collection of CDs, cassettes, VHS, DAT, VHSC, Hi8, reel-to-reel, as well as zip drives of album artwork. This collection documents both live performances by the group as well as studio sessions recording their albums.
Scope and Contents Cassette-label reads "Copy of 4/19 and 4/20/93 DAT recording. This side made with Dolby B. Sides A & B"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-studio recording-3 copies
Scope and Contents Cassette-live recording-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-Side 1 is songs with arrangements already in the group's archives. Side 2 is songs where the Gentlemen don't already own copies of the arrangements, but they are available-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-the labels indicates this is a (dub)-2 copies
Scope and Contents Cassette-this is the first part of the show-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-this is the second part of the show-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-side 1 has "Lunchlady (better version)" and "Mighty Love (cut off)." Side 2 has "(1) Mighty Love" and "(2) Monty Python's Philosopher's Song (cut off)"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-this is a tape of the group Keepsake-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-this is a tape of the group Gas House Gang-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-label reads, "Songs where a take was chosen-that is the only take on this tape. Where take was not chosen, all takes are here"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-lyrics and music by Robert Flinn-2 copies
Scope and Contents Cassette-professional version released by S.P.E.B.Q.S.A.-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-label lists individual tracks-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-No label, but it sounds like a GOC final concert, possibly during the years Mike Fitch was still a member-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-label reads, "Gentlemen of the College Original DAT. Recorded 4/19 & 4/20/93. Ends at 4624 on counter"-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-label reads, "Gentlemen of the College, Recordings from 1/30/94 and 2/17/94. Original-all takes"-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-labeled as the original-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-this has a #2 on the label. It is unclear if it is a copy of Item #40 or the second part of a larger recording-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-2 copies
Scope and Contents DAT-labeled as a backup-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-the label states this show was in the Great Hall at 6pm-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-this is 1 of 2-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-this is 2 of 2-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-labeled as final-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-this is labeled as final-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-this is the master recording for their studio release-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-the label lists track names with minimal notes accompanying-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-the label says "Wren, Brett Thompson Rec."-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-the labels indicates this was recorded in the UC auditorium-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-labels says 30 min.-1 copy
Scope and Contents DAT-there is no label on this recording-1 copy
Scope and Contents ZIP-1 copy
Scope and Contents ZIP-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-label reads, "Side 1, 15 I.P.S., Tails Out, No Noise Reduction"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-label reads, "Side 2, 15 I.P.S., Tails Out, No Noise Reduction"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-label reads, "7 1/2 I.P.S. Tails Out. 1/2 Track Stereo."-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-label reads, "7 1/2 I.P.S. Tails Out. 1/2 Track Stereo."-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents Reel to Reel-1 copy
Scope and Contents DTRS-1 copy
Scope and Contents DTRS-1 copy
Scope and Contents DTRS-1 copy
Scope and Contents DTRS-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHSC-this appears to be 2 of 3-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHSC-this appears to be 3 of 3-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-labels says "#1"-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents Hi8-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHS-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHS-label says this is a copy-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHS-raw footage of a spoof Real World video the Gentlemen made-1 copy
Scope and Contents VHS-edited footage from the raw footage in item 86. This is a spoof on the MTV show "The Real World" featuring the Gentlemen of the College-1 copy
Scope and Contents Cassette-studio recording-1 copy
Scope and Contents There is an incredible collection of undated performance, rehearsal, and publicity photographs. While most were not identified, most have been classified as performance and rehearsal related. There are also numerous undated candid photographs of the group, as well as photographs from the 10 year reunion in 2000. This series also contains the negatives for a portion of the photographs in this collection.
Scope and Contents This series chronicles some aspects of the inner workings of the Gentlemen of the College. Included in this series is a collection of alumni newsletters from 1994-1999. There is also an organization file which contains a few papers from 1990-1993, including a version of the bylaws, contact sheets, and correspondence from 2005 regarding official recognition from the College of William and Mary as the first male a cappella group in the College's history. The bulk of information related to the inner organization of the group, at least in the early years, can be found in the scrapbooks. There is a folder of correspondence related to the planning of the 10 year reunion celebration as well as a folder of correspondence both to and from the group and the individual members. There is a folder related to concert planning including schedules and song lists for specific performances from 1990-1998. There is also a folder related to planning for the group's spring retreats from 1993-1996. There is some sheet music in this collection as well as a folder that contains some information on the recording process of the group in 1994-1998. Finally, this series contains some assorted ephemera from 1991-1993 including invitations, airplane tickets, a sticker, and business cards.
Scope and Contents The items in this series were all intended for public viewing. There is an extensive collection of fliers posted around the campus advertising performances and auditions. These span the years 1990-2006. There are also a few performance programs and newspaper clippings. Finally, this series contains a few undated printouts from the group's website.