Rockingham Bird Club records

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
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.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have 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 #], Rockingham Bird Club Records, 1975-2023, SC 0352, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
2.47 cubic feet 5 boxes and 102 Megabytes 273 files
Creator:
Rockingham Bird Club and Fovargue, Art
Abstract:
The collection comprises administrative files, newsletters, meeting minutes, and scrapbooks documenting the activities of the Rockingham Bird Club.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Rockingham Bird Club Records, 1975-2023, SC 0352, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises administrative files, founding documents, reports, membership lists, newsletters, meeting minutes, scrapbooks, ephemera, and photographs documenting the activities of the Rockingham Bird Club.

Series 1: Administrative Files comprises copies of the club's constitutions and by-laws, general and executive committee meeting minutes, membership lists, bird alert system telephone chains, seasonal reports documenting bird sightings and activities, brochures, and patches.

File consists of facsimile duplicates (photocopies) of the complete run of "Changing Seasons" reports and 1 digitized reference copy PDF.

Series 2: Newsletters includes the club's newsletter which was formally titled Goldfinch Gazette in December 1980. The newsletter includes information on monthly meetings and guest speakers, field trips, treasurer's reports, and other relevant news.

There are scattered missing issues throughout the series as well as a gap from September 1984 to January 1987. Researchers should refer to the scrapbooks for copies of newsletters not filed in this series.

Series 3: Scrapbooks comprises ten bound scrapbooks that include printed ephemera, newspaper clippings, photographs, correspondence, newsletters, and Christmas bird count lists.

Biographical / historical:

Established in 1974, the Rockingham Bird Club is a local chapter of the Virginia Society of Ornithology, Inc. The purpose of the club is to promote interest in the study of birds, and in the conservation of birds and other natural resources. With the exception of a summer hiatus, the club holds monthly meetings and publishes monthly newsletters. The American Goldfinch has been used as the club's emblem since its establishment and is the inspiration for the club newsletter, Goldfinch Gazette. Additional club activities include, or have previously included, publishing seasonal reports on bird sightings and bird activities, conducting Christmas bird counts, holding an annual bird seed sale, hosting speakers, and organizing field trips.

The club has published two editions of Birds of Rockingham County, in 1998 and 2022, respectively.

Acquisition information:
Donated by Art Fovargue, club historian and member, in February and March 2023. A third donation was made in December 2023.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in three series and further arranged chronologically. Exceptions to this arrangement were made within series to keep like groupings of records together. The newsletters are arranged chronologically and foldered according to volume number.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard