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By Elizabeth Hartman, Thornton Miller, and Somer Pelczar
Collection Overview
Title: Nature's Table Collection, 1979-1999
ID: 12/9/144
Primary Creator: Nature's Table (1971-1979)
Extent: 4.25 cubic feet
Arrangement:
Textiles are arranged by date, with undated items following.
Paper and photographic records are arranged according to the original order of the materials.
Date Acquired: 08/17/2015. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Art, Bluegrass Music, Blues-rock music, Jazz, Local History, Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Restaurants
Formats/Genres: Clothing and Textiles
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
Consists of textiles, paper records and photographs, audio recordings, and digitized scrapbook, documenting Nature's Table restuarant and music venue in Urbana, Illinois from 1979-1991. Of note are rare recordings of local jazz performers Ron Dewar, Guido Sinclair, Joan Hickey, the Sorgum Quartet, the Memphis Nighthawks, the Jeff Helgesen Quintet, the Tom Paynter Trio, the Jack Webb Band, Condition Blue, and Ray Sasaki and Morgan Powell.
Biographical Note
Nature's Table was a small health food restaurant and jazz club in Urbana, Illinois, that was operated by Terry Masar from 1979 to 1991. It was located on Goodwin Street across from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to providing customers in the local and campus communities with reasonably priced meals, inside the restaurant patrons could attend live shows and also view and purchase art produced by local artists. Featuring live performances by many local and regional bands, the restaurant created a lively environment for budding new musicians and artists. Nature's Table was known for attracting nationally recognized jazz artists, such as Von Freeman, Herb Ellis, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Peter 'Madcat" Ruth, and Jon McNeil, who frequently performed there. It was also considered a home for many local jazz, blues, alternative rock, and bluegrass ensembles, including a young Alison Krauss. Nature's Table was built on campus property, and in 1991 the university forced the closure of the restaurant and venue to make way for a new Chemical and Life Science Lab building. Numerous reunions of the Nature's Table staff and the artists who frequently played there took place after its closing until Terry Masar passed away on October 23, 2011.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals:
Reel to reel recordings were donated to the Center by Paul Mueth February 27, 2019.
Acquisition Source:
Donated by Jeff Machota and Sean Kutzko
Acquisition Method:
Gift.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: T-shirt and Sweatshirt Collection, circa 1987],
[Series 2: Paper Records and Photographs, 1979-1999],
[
Series 3: Audio Cassette Recordings, 1977-1991],
[
Series 4: Digitized Scrapbook],
[
All]
- Series 2: Paper Records and Photographs, 1979-1999
- Series 2 consists of records pertaining to Nature's Table as a restaurant (cookbooks, recipes, business records, health evaluations, and food supplies) and as a music performance venue. The latter category includes concert schedules, flyers, performer and band photographs, appointment books, set lists, and the promotional material and biographies of many artists including Tony Brown, Herb Ellis, Kristin Lems, Peter "Madcat" Ruth, and Guido Sinclair. This series also includes digital audio recordings and images. These materials were donated by Jeff Machota and Sean Kutzko.
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Cookbook, 1990
- Folder 2: Jazz Posters (1 of 2), undated
- Folder 3: Jazz Posters (2 of 2), undated
- Folder 4: Concert Schedules and Flyers (1 of 12), 1991
- Folder 5: Concert Schedules and Flyers (2 of 12), 1990
- Folder 6: Concert Schedules and Flyers (3 of 12), 1989
- Folder 7: Concert Schedules and Flyers (4 of 12), 1988
- Folder 8: Concert Schedules and Flyers (5 of 12), 1987
- Folder 9: Concert Schedules and Flyers (6 of 12), 1986
- Folder 10: Concert Schedules and Flyers (7 of 12), 1985
- Folder 11: Concert Schedules and Flyers (8 of 12), 1984
- Folder 12: Concert Schedules and Flyers (9 of 12), 1983
- Folder 13: Concert Schedules and Flyers (10 of 12), 1982
- Folder 14: Concert Schedules and Flyers (11 of 12), 1981
- Folder 15: Concert Schedules and Flyers (12 of 12), 1980
- Folder 16: Set Lists, 1981-1987
- Folder 17: Performer and Band Photographs, 1983-1994
- Includes photographs of David Liebman, Ron Dewar, and Jeff Stiley [sic]
- Folder 18: Biography of Guido Sinclair, 1983-1994
- Folder 19: Art Exhibit Flyers, 1983-1985
- Folder 20: Food Menus and Advertisements, undated
- Folder 21: Appointment Book (1 of 6), 1989
- Folder 22: Appointment Book (2 of 6), 1988
- Folder 23: Appointment Book (3 of 6), 1987
- Folder 24: Appointment Book (4 of 6), 1985
- Folder 25: Appointment Book (5 of 6), 1984
- Folder 26: Appointment Book (6 of 6), 1983
- Folder 27: Set Lists, 1980
- Folder 28: Health Evaluations and Meetings, 1984
- Folder 29: Cookbook, 1983
- Folder 30: Equipment Manuals and Receipts, 1979-1982
- Folder 31: Phone Numbers, Addresses, and Email Addresses, ca. 1980 - 1999
- Folder 32: Chris's Original Cookbook, undated
- Folder 33: Daily Cleaning Jobs, undated
- Folder 34: Recipes Cookbook, 1982
- Folder 35: Food Supplies, 1995
- Folder 36: Cookbook - Copy, undated
- Folder 37: Promotional Photographs, Contracts, and Flyers, 1981-1987
- Includes materials of Tony Zamora Jazz Quartet, John McNeil, Homesick James, The Joel Spencer Quartet, Kristin Lems, Spaceship Love (Sam Thomas and Maja Rios), Jack Weber, Richard Arnold "Groove" Holmes, Peter "Madcat" Ruth, Tony Brown, Herb Ellis, John Fahey, and Brian Lynch
- Folder 38: Promotional Photograph, Herb Ellis, undated
- Folder 39: Peter "Madcat" Ruth Biography, ca. 1981
- Folder 40: Kristin Lems Promotional Materials and Photographs, 1979-1982
- Folder 41: Tony Brown Promotional Materials, ca. 1983
- Folder 42: Promotional Materials and Biographies of Various Artists (1 of 3), ca. 1982-1984
- Includes materials of Brother Jack McDuff, George T. Freeman, Richard "Groove" Holmes, The Persuasions, Brian Lynch, Norace Silver, No Guitars, and Bill Kirchner
- Folder 43: Promotional Materials and Biographies of Various Artists (2 of 3), ca. 1983-1985
- Includes materials of Hal Russell, Peter "Madcat" Ruth, Spaceship Love ("Bebop" Sam Thomas and Maja Rios), Tony Zamora Jazz Quartet, Michael Weiss, and Jack Wright
- Folder 44: Promotional Materials and Biographies of Various Artists (3 of 3), ca. 1985-1987
- Includes materials of L.C. Roby, Jim McNeely, Nadene Steinhoff, Catfish Keith, The Essential Trio, Tony Brown, Kristin Lems, John Fahey, and Jeff Kaye and the Jazz Prophets
- Folder 45: Promotional Photographs of Various Artists, ca. 1984
- Includes materials of Thrust, Rhythmic Union, The Persuasions, Guido Sinclair, George Freeman, Joel "The Mole" Spencer, Brad Wheeler, Mike Kocour, Kent Eanes [sic], NY Bebop Quartet, Groove Holmes, and Peter "Madcat" Ruth
- Folder 46: Article about Dave Brubeck and Peter "Madcat" Ruth, 1980
- Folder 47: Fliers and Sketches, 1980-1985
- Includes sketches of Rob Dewar, Mike F., M. Foster, Holiday, Bill Sussman [sic].
- Box 6
- Item 1: Community Recycling Center Award, 1986
- Item 2: Bar Tap, undated
- Box 7
- Folder 1: Flyer Transparencies, undated
- Folder 2: Cookbook Materials, undated
- Folder 3: Flyers, undated
- Includes Flyers for the Arts Coalition Gallery, Festival of the Performing Arts, and the Jack Webb Jazz Band; and the schedule for First Nature's Table Jazz Festival.
- Folder 4: Spacialism by Harold Schwann and Chiree St. Cyr, 1975
- Champaign, Illinois: Paradigm Publishing.
- Folder 5: Sketches and Flyers (1 of 4), circa 1980
- Includes flyer for Nature's Table New Orleans Theme 4th of July Party featuring the Jack Webb Band, Bayou's Barry's Going Away Party, poetry reading with Arnold Wohlman, Estror [sic] Dinaire (poet), and Pablo Proveda (guitar); and a sketch of Terry.
- Folder 6: Sketches and Flyers (2 of 4), circa 1980-1981
- Includes photograph of Kristin Lems and Guido Sinclair; and a sketch of Sal Martirano, Ray Sasaki, and Morgan Powell by Shelly.
- Folder 7: Sketches and Flyers (3 of 4), circa 1980
- Includes sketches of Tracy Campbell, Lin Haliday, "Sol," and Jack Webb; and a flyer for a poetry reading by Arnold Wolman.
- Folder 8: Sketches and Flyers (4 of 4), circa 1980
- Contains sketches by Shelly Mason including sketches of Jay Bee, Bill, Brent, Buff, Mr. Choles, Debb, Tom Hayes, "Karen," Alan L., Mack, Paul Megida, Paul, "Ron," Stacy, Don Thea, and Jack Webb's Jazz Band.
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: T-shirt and Sweatshirt Collection, circa 1987],
[Series 2: Paper Records and Photographs, 1979-1999],
[
Series 3: Audio Cassette Recordings, 1977-1991],
[
Series 4: Digitized Scrapbook],
[
All]
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