Country Music HOF Firings - reply to Charles Wolfe

[Greg Simmons]

This is the reply received by Charles Wolfe--

September 17, 2001

Charles K. Wolfe
Professor of English

Dear Dr. Wolfe,

I share your respect and appreciation for Ronnie Pugh and Chris Dickinson, two sticklers for the facts who each made important contributions here and who are deeply appreciated.

Your concern for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's historic mission is also appreciated. I assure you that our mission has not changed.
In fact, at the regularly scheduled third quarter meeting of our Board of Officers and Trustees on Thursday, September 13, a new draft of our mission statement, amended to be even more specific, was distributed for comment, review, and possible Board action. If anything, our mission may be expanded. The Board is also looking at a vision statement, something we haven't had before now.

Also, the country music discography authored by Tony Russell and edited by Bob Pinson (tentatively titled The Complete Country Music Discography: 1922-1942), will be delivered to Oxford University Press -- who have had it under contract for some time -- for publication in 2002.

The Journal of Country Music, which has always occupied a unique position here, will continue to be published. A special issue devoted to Texas music is now in production and complements our first limited engagement exhibit, Nashville Salutes Texas: Country From the Lone Star State.

As you have noted, Bob Pinson had been easing into retirement now for a number of years. Ronnie Pugh, who most recently served as an associate researcher in the special projects division, had not been a part of the library staff for two years.

The Library and Media Center staff includes Lauren Bufferd, library director; Denny Adcock, photo curator; Dawn Oberg, reference librarian; Becky Miley, associate librarian; and Alan Stoker, curator of audio and visual collections. Museum curators include Mark Medley and Dan Cooper. Museum Services includes Diana Johnson, Paul Kingsbury, Brian Hedges, and historian, John Rumble. Our collection is in excellent hands.

Our goal is to make the collection accessible to the largest number of users possible. In this new age, it is possible to do that in ways that were unimaginable when the museum opened 34 years ago. Primary research, interpretation, and analysis by our own staff and by knowledgeable historians and scholars such as yourself are the cornerstone of our mission.
We are absolutely committed to our historic reissue record label and to the continued publication of fine works such as Good Natured Riot: The Birth of the Grand Ole Opry.

I am glad to see support for Ronnie and Chris and join you in wishing the both well. I am also glad to talk with you at any time about the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's mission and focus. It's a complicated place and we need the understanding of all of our constituents. You may also contact our Board Chairman, Bud Wendell, at 4215 Harding Road, PH-6, Nashville, TN 37205, or our President, Marty Stuart, at M.S. Tours, 119 17th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203.

Sincerely,

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

Kyle Young
Director

cc: Bud Wendell
Marty Stuart

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Greg Simmons
Custodian of the Official Sho~Bud Pedal Steel Guitar Website
shobud.cjb.net

[Jim Cohen]

I wonder whether Charles might be able and willing to use this nice open channel of communication with Mr. Young to explore for us the case of the missing Sho~Bro...?

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www.jimcohen.com