Johnny Mercer Foundation records

Collection

Identifier: M141

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Contents of the Records

Board meeting minutes, correspondence, legal documents, financial records and audits, and reports from supported charities and initiatives make up the records of The Johnny Mercer Foundation, 1962-2018. These materials were retained by various Board Officers and Board Members, so they cover the breadth of the Foundation’s activities. They document the evolution of the Foundation from its establishment under Ginger Mercer to its expansion and continuation after her death, as well as the evolution of the partnerships established between the Foundation and their many supported charities, projects, and initiatives.

This is primarily a manuscript collection but some audiovisual materials are included. These materials are almost entirely photo, audio, or video evidence submitted by supported organizations and initiatives as part of regular reporting to the Foundation.

Dates

Creation: 1962-2018

Creator

Johnny Mercer Foundation (Organization)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

History of The Johnny Mercer Foundation

The Johnny Mercer Foundation is a charitable organization with a stated mission of supporting the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of Johnny Mercer. It was established by Ginger Mercer, Johnny’s wife, in 1982. The Foundation has contributed funds to several charities for causes championed by Johnny and Ginger Mercer, as well as several initiatives and projects that either support songwriters and musicians, commemorate Johnny Mercer, or both.

One notable initiative has been the development of the "Accentuate the Positive" program since 2002, which includes a student activity guide that teachers can use to teach students about the art of songwriting and the songs of the Great American Songbook. The Foundation also worked with Turner Classic Movies, Rhapsody Productions, and executive producer Clint Eastwood to create a documentary about the life and music of Johnny Mercer, entitled The Dream’s On Me, in 2009.

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors who meet at least twice annually.

Extent

10 Linear Feet (in 24 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Johnny Mercer Foundation is a charitable organization with a stated mission of supporting the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of Johnny Mercer. Board meeting minutes, correspondence, legal documents, financial records and audits, and reports from supported charities and initiatives make up their records, dated 1962-2018.

Arrangement

The records are arranged into five series:

Series I: Board of Directors, 1982-2018
Series II: Legal, 1982-2016
Series III: Administration, 1962-2013
Series IV: Projects and Initiatives, 1996-2014
Series V: Audiovisual Materials

Acquisition Information

Donated by The Johnny Mercer Foundation, courtesy of John D. Marshall, on August 19, 2014 and by Charles Tigerman (Johnny Mercer Foundation Board Member) on October 7, 2019.

Processing Information

Processed by Michelle Leasure at the file level, November 2019. Collection arrived partially organized and partially foldered. Most documentation of Board of Directors meeting minutes arrived bound in binders organized chronologically; binders removed for preservation. Series created and file titles assigned during processing.