Dear Friend,
The Bob Moog Foundation takes seriously its role as the only non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting my fathers work for future generations. It was in this capacity that the Foundation made significant investments over the past seven years to rescue the majority of my fathers archives, and to protect and preserve them to prevent further deterioration from occurring.
Our efforts have included re-housing the collection in archival quality storage materials, securing climate controlled storage, cataloging thousands of items, cleaning and restoring a breadth of materials including almost 100 reel-to-reel tapes in the collection, and most recently securing state-of-the-art archival storage and processing facilities where researchers from around the world could access the archives.
We have also worked to share the archives through many exhibits from California to our local region, exposing tens of thousands of people to the unique information and insights that the archives contain.
We did this based on a verbal understanding that these documents would eventually be donated to the Foundation.
Yesterday, an announcement was made that Cornell University will be receiving Bob’s archives. The announcement was made by Bob’s widow, Ileana Grams-Moog, with whom we have been working closely for the past seven years, up until as recently as February 18, 2013.
The decision to abandon a pending agreement, which ignores the Foundations stewardship of my fathers archives, and move them out of Western North Carolina is disappointing and, we believe, not in keeping with my fathers intent. Asheville was my fathers home for 25 years and, in the end, his spiritual home. It is important that his archives remain in Asheville and that they are administered by the Bob Moog Foundation, where they can be considered within a wide musical and technological context and where they will benefit from being interpreted by the unified network of experts that surround the Foundations work.
The Moog Family is saddened and surprised not to be part of the discussion to move our fathers archives away from the organization where they would receive the most well-rounded care, and away from the area where the Bob Moog Foundation, Moog Music, and Moogfest are located.
Over the years, you have been witness to all of the dedicated work we have done for the archives. Many of you have visited our exhibits and complimented our efforts. At this time, we ask that you support us on Facebook and other outlets by reposting and commenting in ways that are reflective of our work.
With or without Bob’s archives, the Bob Moog Foundation Archives remains a robust collection of historic materials that we have obtained, or that have been donated to us. We remain a repository of materials that represent the evolution of electronic music history. We are excited to be sharing some of the incredible material that we have obtained with you over the coming months. Please keep your eyes open for that.
To take action now please sign this petition to keep the Archives in Asheville with the Bob Moog Foundation.
I may be reaching out soon with other ways that you can help. Until then, I remain
Devotedly yours,
Michelle
Michelle Moog-Koussa
Executive Director
Bob Moog Foundation
P.S. Should you have any concerns about this topic, please be in touch at info@www.moogfoundation.org.php72-35.phx1-1.websitetestlink.com.
Cant we start a petition or something?
This whole affair is a real shame. Clearly, Michelle & the team have not just the funding that is needed to maintain such a collection, but also the TLC and dedication that Cornell would never have. I dont understand why it has taken so long for Bob’s widow to come out with this, after the BMF has spent all this time and money and love on the collection. The artifacts clearly belong in NC. Bob moved there for a reason. A bad day for electronic music, but hopefully it can be turned around.
I’ve been following this debate online, and as one who works in Archives I can relate to what a big decision this is to take the archives away from their intended home at the Foundation. Will all the Archives be moved, or just part of the archives?
Thanks for sharing your perspective, Michelle!
HI, Michelle –
really sad to see this state of affairs and can only hope the boat will change course back to the home port. I can only imagine the discouragement and disappoint coursing through your veins right now. Our thoughts and support go out to you and the BMF during this … event. -Chris
It does seem odd that these pieces would not remain with the many others. What goes through my mind is, though Cornell is a fine institution and no doubt a good candidate to receive such items, if there were not a place already housing many things already.
Considering the nature of Dr. Moog’s work, I believe these item would better serve those working with electronic music, rather than general electrical engineers.
What could be a compromise, have the originals archived at Moog foundation and provide copies to Cornell. It seems that electronic format would better serve the university rather actual paper.
Best of luck, perhaps Cornell would be willing to donate them back to the foundation.
I fully support your statement and am very surprised with Bob Moog’s widows decision.
Here’s hoping this decision can be reversed.
Michelle this is so heartbreaking to hear and it really sucks!!!
I have no words for it, I will share this post as much as possible!
This is truly heartbreaking for me. I know this has to be worse for michele and I am truly sorry. Since I was barely a teenager I have been aware of the Moog name and what it stood for. Music for all. The most cherished part of that aspect to me was the wonderment in a childs eyes when that child could make music from Mr. Moogs creations of genius. For all. A great thing indeed. It however seems that “for all” is being forgotten. I sense and undercurrent of ill intent. I hope I am wrong. Enough of that. Michelle I have always looked up to and admired the work you have accomplished. This is just…..well words cannot describe the wrongness of this situation. Again my heart goes out to you. So sorry.
The memory and legacy must stay at the right place in the right hands. I signed the petition and shared it on Facebook. I wish you all the best Michelle. Keep on doing the Moog work
As a lover of Moog music and reviewer in my opinion the archive must stay in the right hands with the right persons. So I signed the petition and shared it on Facebook. Keep up the good Moog work Michelle.
Michelle, there are no words I can think of that would begin to express how incorrect and unjust this feels to me. I will help in any way I can in your efforts to return the archives to the stewardship of the BMF.
~ John Grabowski
Heartbreaking to see this happening. As others have said, Cornell is a fine institution, but the spirit of Bob Moog and the dedicated work of the foundation calls the work here, to its authentic home. Let it be.
Kids Talk Radio had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle Moog-Koussa at the 2013 NAMM Show. Our goal was to insure that our younger generation would know about the work of Bob Moog. Our kids made a wonderful suggestion. Cornell University needs to now work Michelle to find the best solution the would achieve the goal. We are suggesting a traveling exhibition to Cornell University and keeping the main collection with the Bob Moog Foundation in the Asheville. We feel that everyone could win. We will run Michelle’s interview again to help to keep the conversation going.
Suggestion two: Use the new technology so kids around the world could get a closer look at the wonderful work of Bob Moog. Here again partner with Cornell. Together you might reach a wider audience.
We are sure that their is more to this story. We just hope that the collection does not get lost in the end.
It is our job to act like a bunch of kids not yours.