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Caffè Lena collection, 1960-2013

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Series 1: Manuscripts
Digital items received from the donor are not yet processed. The item ID information in the finding aid refers to the physical items, as the digital item IDs are different from the analog item IDs.
Subseries 1: History and activities
BOX-FOLDER 1/1 Correspondence (folder 1 of 2), 1989-1991
Correspondence from various individuals regarding Caffè Lena, its management, and Lena Spencer's legacy.
BOX-FOLDER 1/2 Correspondence (folder 2 of 2), 2001-2007, undated
See note for folder 1/1
BOX-FOLDER 1/3 Correspondence from Dan Stetkar to Jocelyn Arem, 2011-2013
Printouts of emails and other documents, some of which help identify individuals in photos taken by Joe Alper.
BOX-FOLDER 1/4 Caffè Lena history, circa 1980s
Includes broadcast permission forms for WMHT, a Caffè Lena menu, typed histories of Caffè Lena, newspaper articles, announcements, etc. Photos from this folder, plus a photo ID related to images elsewhere in the collection, have been relocated to the folder "Caffè Lena: history (photos)," in Series 3.
BOX-FOLDER 1/5 Caffè Lena documentary, 1989-1990
Includes planning documents, notes, contact lists, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 1/6 Recipes collected by Lena Spencer
At least one recipe (from Rosalie Sorrels) was given to Spencer. The rest may be in Spencer's handwriting, and originally hers.
BOX-FOLDER 1/7 Caffè Lena food and beverage menus 1997, undated
Two laminated menus from 1997 and one paper menu (undated).
BOX-FOLDER 1/8 New York State Folk Arts Roundtable, May 19-21, 2010
Program and related materials
BOX-FOLDER 1/9 Saratoga History Museum: Jocelyn Arem's research notes, May 19-21, 2010
Photocopies include materials from 1972-1989. Research notes date from circa 2003-2005.
BOX-FOLDER 1/10 The early days of Caffè Lena: the socio-historical identity of an American music venue (copy 1), 2003-2004
Jocelyn Arem's senior Capstone project at Skidmore College. The velo-bound document is an ethnography and oral history account. Copy 1 has handwritten notes at the back.
BOX-FOLDER 1/11 The early days of Caffè Lena: the socio-historical identity of an American music venue (copy 2), 2003-2004
See note for folder 1/11.
BOX-FOLDER 1/12 Jocelyn Arem's Caffè Lena project updates and related documentation, 2004-2010
Letters to the Caffè Lena Board, meeting notes, project goals, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 1/13 Caffè Lena history project: oral history questionnaire, 2005-2006
BOX-FOLDER 2/1 Caffè Lena history project: planning stages, 1999-2006
Includes names, lists, correspondence, and other documentation.
BOX-FOLDER 2/2 Caffè Lena history exhibit project plan and related documentation, 2004-2009; undated
Includes both plans and Jocelyn Arem's research on other exhibits.
BOX-FOLDER 2/3 Caffè Lena Community Drum Circle
1 flyer, giving the statement of intent, rules, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 2/4 Great Saratoga Music Hall
Photocopies of articles about the reopening of the hall, and related materials. Lena Spencer was one of three people who leased the hall when it reopened.
BOX-FOLDER 2/5 "The Commandant of Auschwitz" (Caffè Lena Theatre production)
A one-page program/summary for the production.
BOX-FOLDER 2/6 "Every drop of water: voices from the Caffè Lena poetry stage," vol. 1, 2008
A professionally-printed compilation of poems.
BOX-FOLDER 2/7 "Monday is the opposite of Batman," 2011
Poetry written as part of a workshop held at Caffè Lena in 2011.
Subseries 2: Honors
BOX-FOLDER 2/8 Skidmore College commencement exercises program, May 9, 1987
Skidmore College granted Lena Spencer an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1987.
BOX-FOLDER 2/9 Lena Spencer Award
1 promotional flyer.
BOX-FOLDER 2/10 Caffè Lena Day (May 22, 2010)
Two copies of the proclamation, in presentation folders.
Subseries 3: Media coverage, press kits, and publicity
BOX-FOLDER 2/11 Media coverage (folder 1 of 20), 1960-1976
Includes Caffè Lena newsletters from 1961 and 1962, as well as media coverage regarding performers and the venue itself. A letter to Lena Spencer from Kenneth E. King (commissioner of public safety), dated January 24, 1968, is included. No materials for 1963-1964 and 1969-1970. All materials are photocopies or thermofaxes.
BOX-FOLDER 2/12 Media coverage (folder 2 of 20), 1977-1988
Includes media coverage for performers and the venue, as well such materials as programs (e.g., "The Mousetrap," staged in 1978, a typed letter from Lena Spencer requesting financial support from friends of Caffè Lena, sent in 1981, a color photocopy of a proclamation declaring May 19, 1985 as Lena Spencer Day in Saratoga Springs, New York, etc.). No materials for 1982. All materials are photocopies.
BOX-FOLDER 2/13 Media coverage (folder 3 of 20), 1989
Includes media coverage for performers and the venue, as well such materials as a mock-up for the cover of the brochure "Caffè Lena: the second thirty years," and numerous tributes to Lena Spencer. Almost all materials are photocopies, except a few original articles. An original issue of "Eye on Saratoga" has been relocated to box 17 (a photocopy remains in this folder).
BOX-FOLDER 3/1 Media coverage (folder 4 of 20), 1990-1997
Includes media coverage for performers and the venue, as well such materials as copies of the brochure "Caffè Lena: the second thirty years" and a letter to friends of Caffè Lena announcing it would be sold to a non-profit organization (1990), an original flyer for the 4th annual Caffè Lena Folk-A-Thon (1993), an original issue of Bluegrass (magazine), with an article on Caffè Lena (1993), a copy of the minutes of a 1995 meeting (printed on orange paper), and photocopies of Board meeting minutes (1995). A significant majority of the materials are photocopies.
BOX-FOLDER 3/2 Media coverage (folder 5 of 20), 1998
Includes tickets, programs, brochures, and other materials, and documentation and publicity related to the fund-raising campaign to buy the building, etc. Contents are a combination of original and duplicated materials. Two ads for the fund-raising event, created on film, have been relocated to Series 3.
BOX-FOLDER 3/3 Media coverage (folder 6 of 20), 1998
Includes newspaper articles (photocopies and printouts).
BOX-FOLDER 3/4 Media coverage (folder 7 of 20), 1999
Includes copies of a fax sent to Bernice Johnson Reagon from Abigail Reid, the faxed response from Reagon, photocopies of newspaper clippings, and related materials.
BOX-FOLDER 3/5 Media coverage (folder 8 of 20), 2000
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), plus related documentation of Caffè Lena's history, and a printed, general thank you to Caffè Lena supporters.
BOX-FOLDER 3/6 Media coverage (folder 9 of 20), 2001
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), a tribute to Alfredo Lombardi, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/7 Media coverage (folder 10 of 20), 2002
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), a certificate naming Caffè Lena as the best coffeehouse in the Capital Region for 2002, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/8 Media coverage (folder 11 of 20), 2003
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/9 Media coverage (folder 12 of 20), 2004
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/10 Media coverage (folder 13 of 20), 2005
Includes newspaper clippings (original and photocopies), a laminated menu, a flyer for the production of Two Gentlemen of Verona , etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/11 Media coverage (folder 14 of 20), 2006
Includes newspaper clippings (photocopies), promotional materials for various companies, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 3/12 Media coverage (folder 15 of 20), 2007
Includes newspaper clippings and publications (original and photocopies).
BOX-FOLDER 3/13 Media coverage (folder 16 of 20), 2008
Includes newspaper clippings (original and a photocopy).
BOX-FOLDER 3/14 Media coverage (folder 17 of 20), 2009
Includes a copy of a magazine article, two copies of the Poetry Festival program, and two copies of the Chowderfest Chanty Sing.
BOX-FOLDER 3/15 Media coverage (folder 18 of 20), 2010
Includes articles (one original and one photocopy), a membership flyer for Caffè Lena, and a flyer for a poetry festival.
BOX-FOLDER 4/1 Media coverage (folder 19 of 20), undated
Includes newspaper clippings (photocopies and one original).
BOX-FOLDER 4/2 Media coverage (folder 20 of 20), 2009-2013, undated
Includes original clippings from magazines and newspapers on the 50th anniversary of Caffè Lena. One subfolder of photocopies, submitted to Jocelyn Arem by Joan Kosby and Paul Mercer, have a variety of dates.
BOX-FOLDER 4/3 Publicity materials, circa 1970s
Includes publicity materials for various artists. Photos have been relocated to Series 3; photocopies are in this folder.
BOX-FOLDER 4/4 Quotations and miscellaneous writings, 1972-2007; undated
Includes quotations compiled for publicity as well as writings by people paying tribute both to Lena Spencer and to Caffè Lena.
BOX-FOLDER 4/5 Publicity: meetings, notes, etc. (folder 1 of 2), 1996
BOX-FOLDER 4/6 Publicity: meetings, notes, etc. (folder 2 of 2), circa 1990s
BOX-FOLDER 4/7 Caffè Lena, Inc., 1989-1990, undated
Various promotional items, plus a letter to New York Telephone (phone company) informing them of Lena Spencer's death.
BOX-FOLDER 4/8 Lena Spencer's accident and Caffè Lena's future: media coverage (folder 1 of 2), 1989-1991
Newspaper clippings (original and photocopies). Oversized materials have been relocated to box 17.
BOX-FOLDER 4/9 Lena Spencer's accident and Caffè Lena's future: media coverage (folder 2 of 2), 1989-1991
See note for 3/8.
BOX-FOLDER 4/10 Caffè Lena's future and the Trust Fund, 1980s, undated
BOX-FOLDER 4/11 Memorial service for Lena Spencer, 1989
Documentation of some parts of the planning phase, plus an announcement flyer, draft of the program, final program, and various notes.
BOX-FOLDER 5/1 Articles written by Jocelyn Arem, 2008
Two articles, in the original published format: "Lena's Legacy: the lasting power of Caffè Lena, America's oldest continuously running folk coffeehouse," North Carolina Folklore Journal , 55, no. 1 (Spring-Summer 2008): 17-31, and "Forty-seven Years at 47 Phila Street: America's oldest continuously running folk coffeehouse," Voices: the Journal of New York Folklore , 34, nos. 1-2 (Spring-Summer 2008): 12-18. Jocelyn Arem is the historian for Caffè Lena.
Subseries 4: Caffè Lena: Inside America's Legendary Folk Music Coffeehouse
BOX-FOLDER 5/2 Book project overview
Spiral-bound and index-tabbed; includes mock-ups, book and exhibit proposal, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 5/3 Caffè Lena's history (folder 1 of 2), 2008-2011
Includes early proposals and drafts, revisions, etc.
BOX-FOLDER 5/4 Caffè Lena's history (folder 2 of 2), 2008-2011
See note for folder 1/17.
BOX-FOLDER 5/5 Mock-ups (folder 1 of 2), 2010-2013
Also includes Jocelyn Arem's handwritten notes.
BOX-FOLDER 5/6 Mock-ups (folder 2 of 2), 2010-2013
See note for folder 1/19.
BOX-FOLDER 5/7 Page proofs (folder 1 of 2)
BOX-FOLDER 5/8 Page proofs (folder 2 of 2)
Subseries 5: Artist files
BOX-FOLDER 6/1 Ad-At
BOX-FOLDER 6/2 Austin, Hattie
BOX-FOLDER 6/3 Ba-Bro
BOX-FOLDER 6/4 Bruchac, Joe
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