James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Bob Bersson Papers
Bersson, Robert
Bersson, Robert
SC 0272
/repositories/4/resources/495
1.22 cubic feet
4 boxes, 3 VHS, 31 audiocassettes, 2 3.5" floppy disks
1981-2017
The Bob Bersson Papers, 1981-2017, are comprised of documents and media related to Bersson's work as a community activist in Harrisonburg, and professor of art at James Madison University. It contains Bersson's professional papers, material related to the Citizens for Downtown organization, Taxpayers against Golf Spending (TAGS), WMRA's "Our Little Radio Show," and images of downtown Harrisonburg and JMU Campus.
English
Access Restrictions
Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box#, folder #], Bob Bersson Papers, 1981-2017, SC 0272, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
Items were donated by Bob Bersson in five separate accessions between 2014 and 2018.
Processing Information
Duplicate copies of materials were discarded. Newspaper clippings related to the JMU Faculty and restructuring were returned to donor. A large number of 3.5 inch floppy discs and zip discs which contain drafts of Bersson's two books, "Worlds of Art," published by Mayfield Publishing Company in 1991, and "Responding to Art: Form, Content and Context," published by McGraw Hill in 2003, as well as other academic work, were returned to the donor.
Cassette tapes containing WMRA recordings of "Our Little Radio Show" were digitized and returned to the donor. In January 2019, 770+ slides from Series 1: Citizens for Downtown (CFD), 1989-2017 were inventoried, photographed, and rehoused. The original slide cases, slide boxes, and slide carousels were photographed and discarded.
Bio/Historical Note
Bob Bersson was a professor of Art at James Madison University from 1983 until his retirement in 2003. He taught modern and contemporary art history, art criticism, aesthetics, and art appreciation. He wrote two art history/art appreciation text books: "Worlds of Art," published by Mayfield in 1991, and "Responding to Art," published by McGraw-Hill in 2004. Bersson founded the Interfaith Initiative for Peace and Justice in Harrisonburg, and remains active in local interfaith activities. In 2016, Bersson served as visiting Jewish Scholar for the Center for Interfaith Engagement at Eastern Mennonite University.
Scope and Content
The collection is comprised of documents and media related to Robert Bersson's work as an art professor at JMU and community organizer in Harrisonburg, Virginia. It is arranged into four series: Citizens for Downtown (CFD) in Harrisonburg, Taxpayers against Golf Spending (TAGS), WMRA "Our Little Radio Show," and Professional Papers.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into four series. Series 1 is arranged further into subseries.
- Citizens for Downtown (CFD), 1989-2017
- Taxpayers against Golf Spending (TAGS), 1992-2002
- WMRA "Our Little Radio Show," 1987-1988
- Professional Papers, 1991-2004
Related Materials
Common Ground Records, 1983-2000, SC 0126, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Membership lists
Reports
Letters (correspondence)
Floppy disks
Color slides
Slides (photographs)
VHS
Maps (documents)
Newspaper clippings
Art -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States
Art appreciation -- Study and teaching (Higher) -- United States
Religions -- Relations
Community organizations -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Citizens' associations -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Social action -- Virginia -- Harrisonburg
Blacks Run (Va.)
Bersson, Robert
James Madison University. School of Art and Art History
James Madison University. Department of Art
James Madison University. School of Art
Citizens for Downtown1/repositories/4/archival_objects/162771989–2017ArrangementArranged into two subseries: Administrative Files, 1989-2017, arranged chronologically, and Subject Files, 1989-2017, arranged alphabetically.
Scope and ContentThe Citizens for Downtown files contain meeting minutes, correspondence, financial reports, newspaper clippings, speeches, membership information, advertisements, and slides related to the historic preservation and revitalization of downtown Harrisonburg. A summary of the history of CFD and the Blacks Run clean-up and restoration project, written by Bob Bersson, can be found in Box 1:8.
The series contains 771 slides with images of Harrisonburg, James Madison University, Rockingham County, and other locales in Virginia and the Northeast. Specific locations include images of downtown Harrisonburg, Hillandale Park, Black's Run, Purcell Park, and JMU buildings and campus. One slide container was labelled, "Good Models for Downtown Development," and contained images of Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond, Alexandria, among other locales. Another slide case was labelled, JMU Architecture, 1909-2003.
The series also contains three VHS tapes with interviews of Bersson related to Harrisonburg downtown revitalization, as well as two 3.5 inch floppy discs labelled, "Citizens for Downtown."
Administrative Files1/repositories/4/archival_objects/162811989–2017Prehistory of Citizens for Downtown/repositories/4/archival_objects/163271981-1989, undated11Citizens for Downtown Documents 1/repositories/4/archival_objects/163281989, undated12Bob Bersson Notebook/repositories/4/archival_objects/163291989–1990Citizens for Downtown Documents 2/repositories/4/archival_objects/16330199013Citizens for Downtown Documents 3/repositories/4/archival_objects/16331199114Citizens for Downtown Documents 4/repositories/4/archival_objects/163321992–199415Citizens for Downtown Documents 5/repositories/4/archival_objects/163331995–200016Citizens for Downtown Documents 6/repositories/4/archival_objects/163342004200617Citizens for Downtown Narrative and Blacks Run Clean-up Narratives/repositories/4/archival_objects/163352014201718Citizens for Downtown Documents 7/repositories/4/archival_objects/16336undatedSC0272-FL3-001Citizens for Downtown Documents 8/repositories/4/archival_objects/16337undatedSC0272-FL3-002Subject Files2/repositories/4/archival_objects/162821989–2017Architectural Awards/repositories/4/archival_objects/163381990-2002, undated19Blacks Run Restoration Project Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/163391989–2003110Blacks Run Restoration Project Photos/repositories/4/archival_objects/16340circa 1992111Blacks Run Restoration Project Newspaper Clippings/repositories/4/archival_objects/163411990–2017112Fridays on the Square/repositories/4/archival_objects/163421992–2013113Gallery Walk/repositories/4/archival_objects/163431989–1990114Downtown revitalization, WHSV TV/repositories/4/archival_objects/16344circa 19811SC0272-VHS-001Identity Crisis, WVPT/repositories/4/archival_objects/163451989 September 71SC0272-VHS-002Citizens for Downtown on TV3 News/repositories/4/archival_objects/1634619891SC0272-VHS-003Slides of Downtown Harrisonburg, Blacks Run, and JMU campus/repositories/4/archival_objects/16347circa 1981-20054Scope and ContentsThe box contains 781 slides with images taken by and compiled by Bob Bersson. The slides depict buildings in downtown Harrisonburg; the Blacks Run River area; Hillendale Park, Harrisonburg; JMU campus and buildings; Bridgewater, Dayton, Citizens for Downtown activities; and various historic districts in northern Virginia, Charlottesville, Boston, Maryland, and other locales. A complete inventory of the slides is available upon request.
Taxpayers Against Golf Spending (TAGS)2/repositories/4/archival_objects/162781992-2002ArrangementArranged chronologically.
Scope and ContentTAGS is comprised reports, memos, maps, studies, advertisements, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and audio recordings related to a campaign against the Harrisonburg City Council's plans to build a municipal golf course in the Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg. The organization eventually formed the Citizens of Harrisonburg Advocating New Government for the Electorate (CHANGE) in 2000, who endorsed three candidates for city council -- Dorn Peterson, Carolyn Frank, and Joe Fitzgerald – all of whom were elected in May 2000. Three audiocassettes contain interviews with individuals in 2002 regarding their involvement with TAGS.
Harrisonburg Golf Course Feasability study/repositories/4/archival_objects/16283199221Studies and Reports by City of Harrisonburg/repositories/4/archival_objects/162841994–200022Advertisements/repositories/4/archival_objects/16285199923Correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/16286199924Financial Analysis of Golf Course/repositories/4/archival_objects/16287199925Newspaper clippings/repositories/4/archival_objects/16288199926Correspondence/repositories/4/archival_objects/16289200027Newspaper clippings/repositories/4/archival_objects/16290200028CHANGE Campaign Material/repositories/4/archival_objects/16291200031CHANGE Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/162922000–200232Ben Fordney recording
/repositories/4/archival_objects/163482002 May 17SC0272-CS-030Warren Dillenbeck recording/repositories/4/archival_objects/163492002 May 19SC0272-CS-029Carolyn Frank recording/repositories/4/archival_objects/163502002 May 27SC0272-CS-031WMRA - Our Little Radio Show3/repositories/4/archival_objects/162791987–1988Scope and ContentThe series, "Our Little Radio Show," contains documents and audio recordings related to a variety show co-founded by Bersson in 1987, and hosted at JMU. Audio cassettes with episodes of the show have been digitized and returned to Bersson.
Our Little Radio Show Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/16293198733Our Little Radio Show Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/162941987 March 3, undatedSC0272-SET-001Scope and ContentsComprised of photographs of a document with a list of Our Little Radio Show programs and dates, and an image of the article, "Show Prepares for Airwaves: 'Our Little Radio Show' Runs Through its Paces," Daily News Record, March 3, 1987.
WMRA Spring fund drive with Our Little Radio ShowSC0272-01/repositories/4/archival_objects/16295April 1987SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Dominion ExpressSC0272-02/repositories/4/archival_objects/162961987 May 10SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Joyce Breeden and Steve ParksSC0272-03/repositories/4/archival_objects/162971987 May 17SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Nick Whitmer, Mel and Karen LeeSC0272-04/repositories/4/archival_objects/162981987 May 24SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Rick Richardson & Steve EdickSC0272-05/repositories/4/archival_objects/162991987 May 31SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Crooked Run String BandSC0272-06/repositories/4/archival_objects/163001987 June 7SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with MusikantenSC0272-07/repositories/4/archival_objects/163011987 June 14SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with MusikantenSC0272-08/repositories/4/archival_objects/163021987 June 14SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Belzona Bluzz RevueSC0272-09/repositories/4/archival_objects/163031987 June 21SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with WindfallSC0272-10/repositories/4/archival_objects/163041987 June 28SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Roy Book BinderSC0272-11/repositories/4/archival_objects/163051987 July 12SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with MandelaySC0272-12/repositories/4/archival_objects/163061987 July 19SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Wanda Hardy and the Hardy BoysSC0272-13/repositories/4/archival_objects/163071987 August 2SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Gary Green and Rick HarrisSC0272-14/repositories/4/archival_objects/163081987 August 9SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with John Glick & Steve Phillips, Mac McCumseySC0272-15/repositories/4/archival_objects/163091987 August 16SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Steve SpeakmanSC0272-16/repositories/4/archival_objects/163101987 October 4SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Reverend Billy C. WirtzSC0272-17/repositories/4/archival_objects/163111987 October 25SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Joyce BreedenSC0272-18/repositories/4/archival_objects/163121987 November 15SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show, Christmas Show with BoffoSC0272-19/repositories/4/archival_objects/163131987 December 20SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Robin and Linda WilliamsSC0272-29/repositories/4/archival_objects/163141988 January 17SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Michael GeddesSC0272-20/repositories/4/archival_objects/163151988 February 7SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Cabin Fever (Side A)SC0272-21/repositories/4/archival_objects/163161988 February 14SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with John D'Earth and Robert JospéSC0272-30/repositories/4/archival_objects/163171988 February 21SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Debbie and Peter HunterSC0272-22/repositories/4/archival_objects/163181988 February 28SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Eddie Adcock and Talk of the TownSC0272-23/repositories/4/archival_objects/163191988 March 6SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Joyce Breeden, Steve Parks and Two-Gun TerrySC0272-24/repositories/4/archival_objects/163201988 March 13SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Wanda and the White BoysSC0272-25/repositories/4/archival_objects/163211988 March 27SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with WindfallSC0272-26/repositories/4/archival_objects/163221988 April 10SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with Kirk EdwardsSC0272-27/repositories/4/archival_objects/163231988 April 17SC0272-SET-001Our Little Radio Show with HeartlandSC0272-28/repositories/4/archival_objects/163241988 May 1SC0272-SET-001Professional Papers4/repositories/4/archival_objects/162801991–2004Scope and ContentProfessional Papers contain the papers and media created by Bersson during his tenure as a professor of Art at James Madison University. There are two folders contain documents related to significant and controversial restructuring under the Carrier Administration in 1993. Files include comments made by President Carrier during a JMU Faculty Senate Meeting in October 14, 1993, as well as other articles and reports related to faculty governance and structure.
AAUP Committee Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/16325199334Faculty Senate Documents/repositories/4/archival_objects/163261993–200735