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I shudder to think about someone carelessly tossing around the "milk boxes" full of shellac, which is how I envisioned Barr's collection. Agree that it should have been examined by an expert. Probably 90% of it was OK in the dumpster, but that 10% may be very rare and worth having in a professional archive. -- Tom Fine ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Seubert" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 10:58 AM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] steven barr > I'll be candid here as what prompted my post is that Steve and I had talked about his collection > coming to UCSB a few years ago and I realized I hadn't seen him post anything in a couple of > years. I'd never seen his collection and while I suspect that it was more "catalog" than rarities, > the sheer amount of stuff he'd seen and amassed in order to figure out all the various catalog > series for his book said to me that a lot of records passed through his hands. He also was > interested in the Grey Gull family, and in order to make sense of that mess you have to have a lot > of records to examine. > > I hope the collection didn't end up in a dumpster and somebody recognized whatever unusual content > was in Steve's "half vast horde" as he called it. I've seen other collectors put off the hard > decision on the disposition of their collections with sad consequences. All collectors should have > a written plan in place of what they want to happen to their collection, whatever that may be. > > If anybody talks to Steve, give him my best. > > David Seubert > > > On Dec 3, 2013, at 7:07 AM, John Haley wrote: > >> It's a real issue, and we should all mark Tom's words. I have bought >> collections and particpated in clean-outs for relatives and others, and >> believe me, the real enemy of the great collection is the dumpster. That >> is where a lot of them go. My goal is to skinny down what I have while I >> am alive, and then leave some kind of list or markings of what is really >> valuable. To the non-collectors in our families who have tolerated our >> collections for years, it is usually all junk to be got rid of. >> >> Best, >> John Haley >> >> >> On Tue, Dec 3, 2013 at 9:07 AM, eugene hayhoe <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >>> I, when I walk into my basement, feel like 'what a lucky guy.' My wife, >>> OTOH, goes 'OMG!' and mostly won't even come down here. >>> >>> The concern I have is finding the spot where 'she gets the most value' and >>> 'the recordings, etc. end up in the right places' meet - most dealers have >>> personal financial interests, and the moving 'would not be a quick, casual >>> job.' I've suggested more than once that she 'hire someone to open a >>> temporary store' as the best way to liquidate, but she doesn't display much >>> enthusiasm, despite the quite profitable nature of that idea. One friend >>> could be interested in some, but has his own space issues of the same >>> nature. As a retired college faculty member, I wouldn't trust much of any >>> school to 'use them appropriately.' >>> >>> I've also told her that 'if Koester is still around when that time comes, >>> he'd probably be interested.' >>> >>> And in NO way is that a dis; only spoke to him once, but 'have been >>> appreciating his efforts in preserving American music for over 45 years.' >>> >>> Gene >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------- >>> On Tue, 12/3/13, Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >>> >>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] steven barr >>> To: [log in to unmask] >>> Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013, 8:03 AM >>> >>> One lesson that can be learned is >>> that we who collect should explore, while we are healthy, >>> vital and with full faculties, who might want to inherit our >>> collections. Is there an institution or archive we trust, >>> and is interested? Another collector? Would we like to >>> pre-arrange an auction with an expert in the topic areas >>> where we focus our collection? Don't assume spouses or >>> children or friends know or care about your collection, >>> unless you have included them in it and they have expressed >>> interest. >>> >>> Having inherited a few collections of records and vintage >>> audio gear, I will say that it is never an easy process >>> because of the bulk, logistics, storage and other issues. >>> There is always expense and time-burden put on the person >>> taking over the collection, so make sure that person wants >>> the collection enough to put in the time and put up the >>> money. In my case, it helped very much in the cases where >>> the collection was well-documented. It also helped that two >>> of the collections had been introduced to me gradually, with >>> detailed explaination from the original owners. In fact I >>> treasure those times, with people I respected and cared for >>> explaining something they loved and about which they knew a >>> great deal, more than I treasure the actual items. >>> >>> In the other cases, it was "hey I know you like this kind of >>> stuff and we need to clean out XX's house so we can sell it, >>> if you'll come and take it away you can have it." In those >>> cases, I was much more likely to sell off pieces in order to >>> cover my logistics and storage expenses, very soon after >>> taking possession. I do not regret any of those sales, >>> because some very nice items passed into hands that >>> appreciate and use them today. In these cases, I have passed >>> back all other sales proceeds to the people generous enough >>> to call me rather than put stuff in the dumpster or turn it >>> over to an estate-sale hack to get pennies on the dollar of >>> the true values. Net-net, I ended up keeping fewer items >>> from these collections, but it's nice to have those things. >>> >>> The final case I've been involved in was my friend, 10 years >>> my junior, who died suddenly earlier this year. His father >>> needed help assessing his house-full of audio gear, tapes >>> and records, and finding buyers for what had monetary value >>> and takers for the rest. We managed to get 90% of it sold >>> and given away, and the rest really was dumpster junk. I >>> bought some equipment items, which I am happy to have, and >>> his father gave me his records and tapes, which I am very >>> pleased to have and will remind me of my good friend gone >>> too soon. >>> >>> The point of this is, if you care about what happens to your >>> collection when you're gone, you need to be proactive. The >>> best time to be proactive is when you have the energy and >>> the presence of mind to do it, ie not at the very end. You >>> can't take it with you, and you must assume that no one else >>> values it and nothing good will happen to it unless you make >>> preparations and enlist allies who will outlive you. >>> >>> -- Tom Fine >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "eugene hayhoe" <[log in to unmask] >>>> >>> To: <[log in to unmask]> >>> Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 7:26 AM >>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] steven barr >>> >>> >>>> All that work collecting and organizing for naught? A >>> shame. Hope they ended up with 'someone who appreciates what >>> they have.' >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -------------------------------------------- >>>> On Mon, 12/2/13, Dave Burnham <[log in to unmask]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] steven barr >>>> To: [log in to unmask] >>>> Date: Monday, December 2, 2013, 9:00 PM >>>> >>>> David Lennick is your best bet, >>>> however I'm not sure he has the info either. I don't >>> think >>>> there is an e-mail address because the reason he >>> stopped >>>> posting on 78L was because he didn't have a computer. >>> He may >>>> well be out of reach. I understand his records have >>> been >>>> liquidated to cover debts owing. >>>> >>>> db >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Dec 2, 2013, at 8:43 PM, David Seubert <[log in to unmask]> >>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Anybody heard from Steve Barr lately and have a >>> current >>>> contact email? The >>>>> email I have for him bounces. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> David >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> > >