Bill and Andy Spence Papers, 1960-2022

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Summary

Abstract:
This collection contains materials related to the lives of Bill and Andy Spence, including folk and traditional music and materials documenting the Fox Hollow and Old Songs Festivals.
Extent:
22.19 cubic ft.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Bill and Andy Spence Papers, 1960-2022. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Spence Papers).

Background

Scope and content:

The Bill and Andy Spence Papers are divided into five series: 1.) Fox Hollow, 2.) Subject Files, 3.) Pickin' and Singin' Gatherin', 4.) Old Songs Administration and 5.) Old Songs Activities. The records were originally compiled by Andy, with handwritten notes explaining the couples' relation to and the significance of organizations like Fox Hollow and the Hudson River Sloop. The collection includes flyers, newsletters, news clippings, publications, conference records, financial statements, meeting minutes, pamphlets, advertisements, correspondence, photographs, and audiovisual materials.

The bulk of the Fox Hollow materials are from Andy Spence's scrapbook on the folk festival as well as LPs. The Subject Files series deals heavily with the Spences' association with the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance, the Hudson River Sloop "Clearwater," and arts in the New York Capital Region, as well as the musicals created and directed by Andy. Newspaper clippings saved by Andy relating to folk musicians and events are available in this series. Some folk albums and CDs retained by Andy also are part of Subject Files. Pickin' and Singin' Gatherin' is a smaller series consisting of newsletters and information on the folk music organization's events. The Old Songs Inc. materials comprise the bulk of the collection, given its founding by Bill and Andy in 1977 and Andy's executive role with the organization and the Board of Directors. The organization's administrative records include correspondence between Andy and her fellow Board members, finances, meeting minutes, emails, and reports. The Old Songs Activities series contains a large portion of information on the Old Songs Festival, including paper records, CDs, and photographs of the festival, as well as flyers from the wide variety of general events that Old Songs staged. Oversize posters from the Fox Hollow Festival and Old Songs productions are notable in the series. Maps and site plans for the Dutch barn on the Altamont Fairgrounds sponsored by Old Songs may also be of interest to researchers.

Biographical / historical:

Born in Iowa, spouses Bill (1940-2019) and Kay "Andy" Spence relocated to Voorheesville, N.Y. in 1965. For decades, the two were involved with folk and traditional music in the Capital Region. In 1966, Bill and Andy joined other area folk music lovers to form an organization that would promote the singing and playing of folk music at home, which became Pickin' and Singin' Gatherin' (PSG). The first newsletter was released in May of 1967. That same year, Bill and Andy Spence attended the Fox Hollow Festival in Petersburgh, N.Y. where PSG members served as volunteers. PSG helped Bob Beers, the festival's founder, clear land and build areas for the performances and activities. The Fox Hollow Festival was a weekend full of events bringing together folk artists and folk music fans to enjoy performances and vendors. In May 1972, Bob Beers died in a car accident, and, by September 1973, Andy Spence had resigned from her position on the Board of Directors for the Fox Hollow Festival.

Fox Hollow inspired Bill and Andy Spence to establish the nonprofit Old Songs, Inc. in 1977 to present folk and traditional music and dance to the public through concerts, performances, and group instruction. The first Old Songs Festival was held in 1981 in Guilderland, N.Y. before moving to the Altamont Fairgrounds the following year. Andy served as director of the festival until 2017. The festival, held each June, is the largest event conducted by the organization, drawing in thousands of folk music devotees annually for a weekend of camping, workshops, and listening to and performing folk music. In 1994, Andy was at the forefront of Old Songs' sponsorship of the construction of an 18th century style Dutch barn on the Altamont Fairgrounds to become the Center for Traditional Arts and Agriculture.

Andy Spence served as executive director of Old Songs, Inc. until 2018 when she became executive director emeritus. In 1998, Bill Spence retired from the University of New York at Albany where he worked as a specialist in television, audio, and graphic design. The two also formed Andy's Front Hall, a full-service mail-order business for selected folk music recordings, books, instruments, and accessories which they operated for decades. Bill was a musician for more than 60 years. He played banjo, guitar, and Autoharp but was best known for playing the hammered dulcimer. In 1970 he formed a string band named Fennig's All-Star String Band with musicians living in the Albany area brought together by PSG. Bill also produced some LPs. From 2008 to 2017, Andy actively created and directed local musicals, with Bill starring as one of the performers.

Bill and Andy Spence were also involved in the launching of the Hudson River Sloop "Clearwater." In 1969 and 1970, Bill served on the Board of Directors for the Hudson River Sloop Restoration Inc., and even conceived the name "Clearwater."

Bill and Andy Spence had one daughter, Hannah, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Oberlin, Ohio.

Acquisition information:
Don Person donated 164 reel-to-reel tapes in October 2020. Andy Spence donated materials in August 2021, May 2022, and November 2022.
Processing information:

Recordings from the Fox Hollow Festival in Series 1 were digitized and shared in this finding aid in 2022. The remainder of the collection was processed in 2023 by Dulcie Beauregard.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into five series - 1.) Fox Hollow, 2.) Subject Files, 3.) Pickin' and Singin' Gatherin', 4.) Old Songs Administration and 5.) Old Songs Activities. With the exception of Subject Files, all are arranged chronologically. Sugject Files is arranged alphabeticcally.

Physical location:
The materials are located onsite in the department.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Access to this collection is unrestricted.

Terms of access:

This page may contain links to digital objects. Access to these images and the technical capacity to download them does not imply permission for re-use. Digital objects may be used freely for personal reference use, referred to, or linked to from other web sites.

Researchers do not have permission to publish or disseminate material from these collections without permission from an archivist and/or the copyright holder.

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright. Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. More information about U.S. Copyright is provided by the Copyright Office. Additionally, re-use may be restricted by terms of University Libraries gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks.

The Department of Special Collections and Archives is eager to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.

Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Identification of specific item, series, box, folder, Bill and Andy Spence Papers, 1960-2022. M.E. Grenander Department of Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University at Albany, State University of New York (hereafter referred to as the Spence Papers).

Location of this collection:
M. E. Grenander Department of Special Collections & Archives
Science Library 350
1400 Washington Ave
Albany, NY 12222, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
518-437-3933