Wanted: Choir artifacts for museum exhibit
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The Museum of Church History and Art is issuing a casting call of sorts for artifacts connected with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Curators at the museum are putting together a Tabernacle Choir exhibit to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word. At the moment they're a bit light on items reflecting the history, impact and evolution of the world-renowned choir, according to Mark Staker, who is organizing the first-of-its-kind exhibit.
The museum is looking for "any artifacts connected with the choir," Brother Staker said.
Exhibit organizers have already collected many items but say more are needed. Of special interest are any artifacts connected with the first Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. Such items could include clothing worn by choir members during the performance, sheet music, photos of the event, cards announcing the broadcast or even a radio used by family members of a choir member to listen to the broadcast, Brother Staker said.
Music and the Spoken Word was first broadcast on July 15, 1929, from the Tabernacle on Temple Square. It has become the world's longest-running continuous network broadcast, carried over 2,000 radio stations, TV stations and cable systems, according to the broadcast's announcer, Lloyd D. Newell.
Materials connected to the tenure of the choir's first director, Anthony C. Lund, are also in high demand for the future exhibit. Brother Lund headed the choir during that first historic broadcast.
"We've had a hard time finding stuff connected to [Lund]," said Brother Staker, who speculated many such items were likely discarded because few people participating in the initial Music and the Spoken Word would have realized the future impact of the choir and the weekly broadcast.
The museum's choir exhibit — scheduled to open Nov. 14 and continue until October of 2004 — is expected to be displayed in the west upstairs gallery.
Those who have choir-related items can call (801) 240-1754.
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
