Rochester Arts & Lectures Collection, 1989-2010?

Summary

Extent:
1.5 Cubic Feet 5 boxes., .7 Cubic Feet, .3 Cubic Feet, .1 Cubic Feet, and 1.0 Cubic Feet
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Rochester Arts & Lectures Collection. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Background

Scope and content:

The Rochester Arts & Lectures series brought authors and artists of national and international renown to speak in Rochester from 1989 to 2017. Founded by Rosemary Mancini and Susan Feinstein, the series continued through multiple changes of leadership for nearly three decades. This artificial collection brings together multiple donations from former leaders of Rochester Arts & Lectures. Each series within the collection represents an accession or accessions from one of these donors. The materials in the collection include event programs, advertising posters, documents, autographed books, 35mm slides, and audio cassette tape recordings of the lectures themselves.

Biographical / historical:

Rochester Arts & Lectures was founded by Rosemary Mancini (later Lloyd) and Susan S. Feinstein in 1988 to bring major authors to the Rochester arts world. From the beginning, the organization succeeded in luring renowned writeers to speak in Rochester; the inaugural 1989-1990 series consisted of Maya Angelou, Jonathan Kozol, Calvin Trillin and Stephen Jay Gould. Rochester Arts & Lectures built on this strong beginning to become a mainstay of Rochester cultural life for the next 27 years. During Feinstein and Lloyd's tenure, lectures were held at Downtown United Presbyterian Church; the 800-seat venue routinely selling to capacity.

After eight years running Arts & Lectures, Mancini and Feinstein stepped down on July 1, 1997. While the organization was as successful as ever and financially sound, they decided to seek a new challenge in an organization called Floom (a musical poetry group) and aiding other cities in developing their own lecture series. They were succeeded by Susan Chekow Lusignan and Susan Herman, both of whom were already well-known figures in the Rochester arts scene. Lusignan stayed with Rochester Arts & Lectures until 2010, when she was succeeded by Andrea Weinstein. Herman continued until 2015; at this time, Weinstein took over sole management of Rochester Arts & Lectures until it closed in 2017.

Acquisition information:
Series I - Gift of Rosemary Lloyd, 2020. Series II - Gift of Susan Chekow Lusignan, 2021.
Arrangement:

This collection consists of 7 boxes and 2 oversize folders arranged in 3 series:

Series I: Rosemary Lloyd Collection on Rochester Arts & Lectures, 1989-1996.
Series II: Susan Chekow Lusignan Collection on Rochester Arts & Lectures, 1997-2010
Series III: Susan Chekow Lusignan Collection of Books Autographed by Rochester Arts & Lectures Authors, 1991-2001
Physical description:
The condition of the materials in this collection is excellent. Audiocassette tapes are playable; all have been digitized as of September 2021.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Preferred citation:

Rochester Arts & Lectures Collection. [box #,folder #]. Local History and Genealogy Division, Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County N.Y.

Location of this collection:
Rundel Memorial Building
115 South Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
585-428-8370
lochist@libraryweb.org