jonochshorn.com
Music

Who says architects can't do archival research? An email conversation got me thinking about a Persuasions concert from 1973 that I saw at Cornell when I was an architecture student (they opened for Stevie Wonder). Being at Cornell's Olin Library to return a book, I decided to check out the trove of concert posters in the "Rare and Manuscript Collections" held at the Carl A. Kroch Library, an underground addition to Olin Library designed by Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson and Abbott that opened in 1992. Once there, I was presented with two large folders containing a sample of their collection, including posters for at least two of the concerts I attended: Stevie Wonder and the Persuasions on March 30, 1973 in Bailey Hall; and Joni Mitchell with Tom Scott and the L.A. Express on Feb. 3, 1974 in Barton Hall. On the other hand, I did not come across posters for two other concerts that I attended: the Incredible String Band on May 14, 1971 in Bailey Hall; and Aretha Franklin on Sept. 17, 1971 in Barton Hall. For the record, both Bailey Hall concerts were great, whereas the two held in Barton Hall were marred by a terrible acoustic environment. The ticket prices were in the range of $3.50–$4.50, which seems incredibly low, but it still felt a bit pricey for me at that time, given my student budget ($4.00 in 1971 is equivalent to about $30 in 2024). This may explain why I passed up all those incredible performances. If only I could go back in time…

Samples from Cornell's larger poster collection are here arranged in chronological order, from September 1972 (Elton John) to April 1975 (Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock). I took the photos with my iPhone and straightened them out a bit using PhotoShop. Click on any of the thumbnails to see an enlarged image.

Kroch library entrance from Olin Library at Cornell

Entering Olin Library, one can see the entrance to the underground Kroch Library in the distance.

Kroch library rare and manuscript collections entrance

Moving down the hallway, one sees the entrance to the rare & manuscript collections.

Selfie of Jonathan Ochshorn in rare and manuscript room, Kroch Library at Cornell

I place my order and am directed into a special, secure reading room.


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Cornell concert posters from the early 1970s

Click on any of the thumbnails to see an enlarged image.

Elton John concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Elton John, Sept. 26, 1972 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$5.00).

John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Feb. 23, 1973 (Ticket prices: $3.50–$4.00).

1973-03-30 Stevie Wonder and Persuasions concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Stevie Wonder and The Persuasions, March 30, 1973 (Ticket prices: $3.00–$4.00).

1973-06-12 Deep Purple and Billy Preston concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Deep Purple and Billy Preston, June 12, 1973 (Ticket prices: $5.00).

1973-09-05 Crosby and Nash concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Crosby and Nash, Sept. 5, 1973 (Ticket prices: $3.50–$4.50).

1973-10-19 Paul Simon concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Paul Simon, Oct. 19, 1973 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$5.00).

1973-11-03 Sly and the Family Stone concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Sly and the Family Stone, Nov. 3, 1973 (Ticket prices: $3.50–$4.50).

1973-11-17 Judy Collins concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Judy Collins, Nov. 17, 1973 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$5.00).

1973-11-29 Mahavishnu and Weather Report concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report, Nov. 29, 1973 (Ticket prices: $3.50–$4.50).

1973-12-08 Emerson Lake and Palmer concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Emerson Lake and Palmer, Dec. 8, 1973 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$6.00).

1974-02-03 Joni Mitchell concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Joni Mitchell, Feb. 3, 1974 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$5.00).

1974-02-24 Yes concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Yes, Feb. 24, 1974 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$6.00).

1974-03-02 Four Tops concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Four Tops, March 2, 1974 (Ticket prices: $4.00–$5.00).

1974-03-31 Jefferson Starship concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Jefferson Starship, March 31, 1974 (Ticket prices: $3.50–$4.50).

1974-04-16 Gregg Allman concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Gregg Allman, April 16, 1974 (Ticket prices: $4.50–$5.50).

1975-04-05 Miles Davis-Herbie Hancock concert poster found in Cornell's rare and manuscript collection, Kroch Library at Cornell

Miles Davis & Herbie Hancock, April 5, 1975 (Ticket prices: $4.50–$5.50).


First posted 23 February 2024. Last updated: 23 February 2024