Notes, the Quarterly Journal of the MLA, 1931-2020

Record Group VI documents the history of Notes as a musicological, artistic, and business enterprise that was and continues to be central to the identity of the Music Library Association. After more than 80 years of publication, the journal has had only 16 editors. MLA first published Notes in 1934 for its members. The first series ran from 1934–1942. The second series began in 1943 and continues as a quarterly, peer-reviewed journal to this day. The first issue of July 1934 describes Notes as “a magazine . . . of assistance and value to music librarians, and by so doing to help them solve their problems and to serve more ably and readily the growing number of readers who come to music libraries for information and relaxation.” The scope of the journal has evolved since 1934 to serve an international readership with “interesting, informative, and well-written articles in the areas of music librarianship, music bibliography and discography, the music trade, and on certain aspects of music history.”1 The seven series include Correspondence and Subject Files; Editorial Staff Records; Drafts and Proofs; Final Publications; Business Office; Advertising Manager; and Ephemera, Realia, and Publicity Materials. A list of notable correspondents may be found in APPENDIX I, including composers, conductors, performers, musicologists, theorists, critics, and other figures in the arts.