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William H. Campbell Main Point Records

Notifications

Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Call Number:
SCRC 249
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
2.59 linear feet (4 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], William H. Campbell Main Point Records, SCRC 249, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1963-2009 (inclusive)
Creator:
Campbell, William H., 1915-2012
Form:
Clippings, Ephemera, Posters, Financial records, Ledgers (account books), Photographs, and Press releases
Abstract:

Main Point, located at 874 Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA, was a coffee house that jumpstarted the careers of performers such as Bruce Springsteen, Arlo Guthrie and Joni Mitchell to name a few. It was started in 1964 by four couples, including William H. Campbell and his wife Jeanette (the other three couples dropped out during the first year). They wanted to create an atmosphere where folk singers could perform in an intimate setting (it only seated 200 people) and they did not serve alcohol which allowed those underage to enjoy performances they normally would not be able to attend.

Main Point was operational from 1964-1981. This collection covers the period when William H. Campbell was part of it, 1964-1970. Included in the collection are financial ledgers, programs, promo kits, posters, newspaper clippings and a few photographs. There are also files of specific performers (i.e. Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Doc Watson, etc.) that include newspaper clippings from the last 40 years that are not specific to Main Point, but are performers that played at Main Point.

Collection covers the period when William H. Campbell ran the Main Point cafe from 1964 to 1970. Included in the collection are financial ledgers, programs for performances, promotional kits, posters, newspaper clippings and a few photographs. Also included in the collection, are files on specific performers such as Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, and Doc Watson that include newspaper clippings over a period of 40 years that are not specific to the Main Point.

The collection is arranged into 9 series as follows:

Series 1: Administration, undated
Series 2: Financial/Business, 1964-1976, undated
Series 3: Publications, 1974, undated
Series 4: Photographs, 1965, undated
Series 5: Publicity, 1964-1998, undated
Series 6: Notes, 2009
Series 7: Performer Files, 1968-2009, undated
Series 8: Secondary Materials, 1964-2009, undated
Series 9: Oversized and Audio Materials, 1963-1965, undated

Donated by William H. Campbell in October 2009. On July 20, 2011 Campbell gifted several more posters and playbills which were added to Box 1 Folder 10 and Box 4 Folder 1. He also gifted the Phil Ochs LP located in Box 4.

Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy.

Collection processed and finding aid prepared in January 2010 by Holly Beth Wilson. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards May 2017.

Subject

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
May 2024
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The William H. Campbell Main Point Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Stationary/Forms, undated.
Box 1 Folder 1

Ledgers, 1964-1968, undated.
Box 1 Folder 2
Newspaper Clippings, April 1964, May 1976.
Box 1 Folder 3

Menus, undated.
Box 1 Folder 4
Miscellaneous, 1974, undated.
Box 1 Folder 5

Performers, etc., 1965, undated.
Box 1 Folder 6

Promo Kits – Eric Andersen & Joni Mitchell, 1968.
Box 1 Folder 7
Radio, undated.
Box 1 Folder 8
News Releases, 1967.
Box 1 Folder 9
Programs/Playbills, 1964.
Box 1 Folder 10
Newspaper Clippings, 1967-1998, undated.
Box 1 Folder 11

Notes by William H. Campbell, 2009.
Box 1 Folder 12
Obituary: Jeanette Campbell, November 6, 2006.
Box 1 Folder 13

Emmylou Harris, 1998-2006, undated.
Box 2 Folder 1
Bruce Springsteen, 1994-2009, undated.
Box 2 Folder 2
Phil Ochs, 1976-2006, undated.
Box 2 Folder 3
Joni Mitchell, 1968-2007, undated.
Box 2 Folder 4
Woody Guthrie and son Arlo, 1994-2007, undated.
Box 2 Folder 5
Len Chandler, Sun Ra, Bernice Reagan, Odetta, 1993-2009, undated.
Box 2 Folder 6
Gene Shay, Ed Sciaky, Kenneth Goldstein, 1995-2007, undated.
Box 2 Folder 7
Doc Watson, 1985-2006.
Box 2 Folder 8
Don McLean, 1998, undated.
Box 2 Folder 9
David Rabe, 1994-2005, undated.
Box 2 Folder 10
Tom Rush, December 1999, February 2009.
Box 2 Folder 11
Rick Nelson, 1997, 2002.
Box 2 Folder 12
Tom Waits, 1993-2002, undated.
Box 2 Folder 13
Ed Bacon/Bacon Bros, 1998-2002.
Box 2 Folder 14
Patchett & Tarses, 1993-1995, undated.
Box 2 Folder 15
Miscellaneous (Eric Andersen, Jeff Buckley, Bonnie Raitt, etc.), 1990-2006, undated.
Box 2 Folder 16

Susan Graham Campbell, 1991-1999, undated.
Box 3 Folder 1
Folklore, 2009, undated.
Box 3 Folder 2
Magazines & Books (Books are catalogued separately for Contemporary Culture Collection).
Box 3 Folder 3
Carawan, Guy and Candie. Ain't You Got a Right to the Tree of Life?: The People of Johns Island, South Carolina – Their Faces, Their Words and Their Songs. New York: Simon and Schuster, print, 1966.
Box 3
Okun, Milton. Something to Sing About!: The Personal Choices of America's Folk Singers. New York: Macmillan Co., print, 1968.
Box 3
Saunders, Sally Love. Fresh Bread. Francestown, NH: The Golden Quill Press, print, 1982.
Box 3
Saunders, Sally Love. Pauses. Francestown, NH: The Golden Quill Press, print, 1978.
Box 3

Publicity: Posters, undated.
Box 4 Folder 1
Graphic Materials: Floor Plans, 1963-1964, undated.
Box 4 Folder 2
Graphic Materials: Original Art, 1965, undated.
Box 4 Folder 3
Audio Recordings: Phil Ochs: "I ain't marching anymore" N.Y., Elektra Records. Verso of album cover inscribed and signed by Ochs to "Bill" [William H. Campbell], 1965.
Box 4

Print, Suggest