Title
William H. Campbell Main Point Records

Dates
1963-2009

Collection ID
SCRC 249

Creator
Campbell, William H., 1915-2012

Quantity
2.59 linear feet (4 boxes)

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English

Detailed Collection Information

Historical Note

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.

Description of Collection

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.

Organization and Arrangement

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

Patron Information

Research Access

Collection is open for research.

Collections Stored Off-Site

This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.

Technical Access

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.

Publication and Copyright Information

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.

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.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information

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.

Processing Information

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

Index Terms

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

Personal/Family Names:
Campbell, William, H.

Subjects:
Music—Societies, etc.
Folk musicians—United States
Concerts

Material Types:
Clippings
Ephemera
Posters
Financial records
Ledgers (account books)
Photographs
Press releases