Resources in the UNM Libraries
Center for Southwest Research
(505) 277-6451
Fine Arts & Design Library
(505) 277-2357
The University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research (CSWR) is the home of John Donald Robb’s personal papers, photographs, musical scores, field recordings, and other materials donated to the University Libraries according to the wishes of Robb and his wife, Harriet. Visit the Center for Southwest Research website for information about the collections, hours, visitor information, policies and forms. Centrally located in the UNM Zimmerman Library, the CSWR welcomes researchers from around the world who make use of our collections throughout the year.
The UNM Fine Arts & Design Library contains CD copies of Robb Field Recordings along with a number of his other recordings and publications. The field recordings and a number of the publications are also available at the Center for Southwest Research. Search LIBROS, the library’s online catalog for details of holdings. The Fine Arts & Design Library is located within George Pearl Hall across from the UNM Bookstore.
(505) 277-6451
Fine Arts & Design Library
(505) 277-2357
The University of New Mexico’s Center for Southwest Research (CSWR) is the home of John Donald Robb’s personal papers, photographs, musical scores, field recordings, and other materials donated to the University Libraries according to the wishes of Robb and his wife, Harriet. Visit the Center for Southwest Research website for information about the collections, hours, visitor information, policies and forms. Centrally located in the UNM Zimmerman Library, the CSWR welcomes researchers from around the world who make use of our collections throughout the year.
The UNM Fine Arts & Design Library contains CD copies of Robb Field Recordings along with a number of his other recordings and publications. The field recordings and a number of the publications are also available at the Center for Southwest Research. Search LIBROS, the library’s online catalog for details of holdings. The Fine Arts & Design Library is located within George Pearl Hall across from the UNM Bookstore.
John Donald Robb Field Recordings (1944-1979)
John Donald Robb began making field recordings shortly after his arrival at UNM in 1941 and continued that work for more than 40 years. His collection eventually grew to 94 reels of audio tapes, containing nearly 3,000 recordings of more than 1,800 songs recorded in the U.S. Southwest, Mexico and Spain. These recordings preserve many of the musical traditions of these areas, especially New Mexico and Southern Colorado, and include Native American, Hispano, Mexican and African American music, as well as railroad and cowboy songs, fiddle music and the music of festivals and fiestas.
The John Donald Robb Field Recordings are available in these formats:
The John Donald Robb Field Recordings are available in these formats:
- Digital Recordings Online: Nearly 3,000 selections from John Donald Robb’s field work are available in the CSWR Digital Collections. Click here to listen to the original recordings.
- Compact Discs: CDs made from Robb’s original reel-to-reel tapes are available for listening at the Center for Southwest Research or the UNM Fine Arts & Design Library. Additionally, the CDs at the Fine Arts library are available for checkout to UNM borrowers. A guide is available at the Center for Southwest Research for Robb Archive # MU7, or may also be searched on the LIBROS Online Catalog. Search title = john donald robb field recordings.
- Song Texts: The J.D. Robb Collection of Folk Music Recordings: Song Texts. Three volumes, in the Center for Southwest Research and also the Fine Arts & Design Library. Call number: ML156.4.F6 R61.
- Melodies: The J. D. Robb Collection of Folk Music: Melodies. Three volumes, in the Center for Southwest Research and also the Fine Arts & Design Library. Call number: ML156.4 F6 R6.
*Books
Robb, John Donald, compiler. Hispanic Folk Music Of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self-Portrait of a People. University of Oklahoma Press, 1980. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4H52. Republished by University of New Mexico Press, 2014. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4H52 2014. UNM Press
Robb, John Donald. Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico: With Selected Songs Collected, Transcribed and Arranged for Voice with Piano or Guitar Accompaniment. University of New Mexico Press, Revised 2008. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1629.R666H5 2008.
Robb, John Donald, compiler. Cancionero: Songs of Laughter and Faith in New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, 2015. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4.R63 2015.
*There are a number of publications and recordings by J. D. Robb in the University Libraries catalog. Please search LIBROS by Author = Robb, J. D.
LINKS to other Sources
Library of Congress New Mexico Collection