MUS. Music and the Arts

This collection documents performing arts related events and programs associated with Queens College from 1938 to 2004. This includes activities from the early days of the college, such as the Orchestral Society and Choral Society; the Colden Center (founded in 1960); and today's the Kupferberg Center for the Arts. The collection contains photographs, invitations, memos, brochures, programs, and other printed ephemera.

Leo Kraft (1922 – 2014) was an American composer, educator, and author born in Brooklyn, New York. He taught music theory and composition at the Queens College School of Music, to later become the Aaron Copland School of Music, from 1948 to 1989. He was a key member in developing the music theory curriculum. Kraft composed many works of chamber music, and he also contributed orchestral, piano, vocal, and electronic music to his oeuvre.

Scholarly and personal papers of Peter Archer, an accomplished musician, teacher, and academic. Archer is known publicly for his work as a consultant on the Disney movie Soul (2020). As a member of the Disney/Pixar team, Archer provided inspiration and insight for the lead character in the film, Joe Gardner.

This collection consists of items related to numerous collaborative art projects directed by Dr. Rikki Asher, professor of arts education at Queens College, between 2000 and 2011. The collection includes color slides, photos, and postcards, published articles, news clippings, printed booklets and programs, sketches, audiocassettes, DVD’s and other miscellanea. Many of the items have been digitized.