MASON CITY – On a recent winter afternoon, the archiving room at The Music Man Square was buzzing with activity. One of the many boxes of Meredith Willson memorabilia that had been delivered by semi truck last summer was being viewed for the first time. Through a grant given by the Cerro Gordo County Community Foundation (CGCCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, funding has been provided for materials to support archiving and preservation of these documents.
Acid-free folders, tissue and boxes as well as shelving have been purchased to hold these generous donations that have come from the Willson estate. Volunteers gather on a weekly basis to describe the documents, identify them in the Past Perfect computer indexing system, and store them safely using tissue, plastic laminate folders, and boxes that are made with acid-free materials. These treasures are being kept at The Music Man Square Museum, available to enjoy now and for years to come. According to archiving crew organizer, Barbara Johnk, some of the first displays will go up in April 2013. This is a perfect time to schedule a visit to The Music Man Square Museum and enjoy a historical afternoon in Meredith Willson’s River City.
The CGCCF has a commitment to serve the community through many funding areas such as historic preservation. The CGCCF’s primary goals are to support charitable projects and programs, to attract additional funds, and to assist donors in creating lasting legacies through a variety of giving options within Cerro Gordo County. For more information about the CGCCF, contact the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa at (319-287-9106) or Marcie Andrews, Development Associate for the CGCCF at (641-330-5181).