Margaret Moser Collection
Scope and Contents
The Margaret Moser collection spans 1974-2014 and documents the role and influence she had in the Austin and the broader Texas music scenes. It is organized into seven series: 1) photographs, 2) correspondence, 3) writings, 4) printed material, 5) publications, 6) event posters, and 7) cassette tapes.
Photographs picture notable musicians from the Austin including: Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Ely, Paul Ray, Dino Lee, the Neville Brothers, Bo Diddley, Clifford Antone, Roky Erikson, Lou Ann Barton, and Lowell George. The series is arranged first by photographs of Margaret Moser, and then by photographer.
Correspondence is comprised of four letters arranged in chronological order.
Writings include a poem, a short story entitled “And Not Heard: A Short Story by Margaret Moser About the importance of Being Young and Earnest,” and articles about Austin musicians and the Austin music scene.
Printed Material includes flyers, badges, and ephemera that Moser has collected from various concerts and events.
Publications include zines and newspaper clippings that discuss Austin music. Posters are exclusively from the Austin Music Awards for which Moser served as Director.
The second largest series in the collection is the audiocassette tapes. The cassettes are arranged in alphabetical order and include Austin bands such as: The Chickadiesles, John Cale, Clifford Antone, Ray Wylie, and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Dates
- 1966 - 2014
- Majority of material found within 1974 - 2014
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Materials from the Wittliff Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user assumes responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish, and abiding by U.S. copyright laws. https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/research/visit/policies/publication.html
Biographical Note
Margaret Moser began her forty-year career in the Austin music scene in the late 1970s. Starting as a groupie, she soon became a fixture at clubs and venues and by 1981 she was working at the Austin Chronicle for the gossip column “In One Ear.” Margaret Moser was a respected music critic and used her experience in the rock n’ roll music scene to write for the column. Margaret would later use her knowledge of the Austin music scene to champion up-and-comers, and to mentor them on which venues would best fit them. This earned her the moniker “the patron saint of Austin Music” by the Paramount Theatre. She was also known for her work as the director of the Austin Music Awards (AMA) which precede the music portion of South By Southwest. In 2012 Moser and Michael Ann Coker founded the South Texas Popular Culture Center (known as "Tex Pop") in San Antonio, in which Moser acted as curator. In 2013 Moser was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. The following year she retired from both director of the AMAs and the Austin Chronicle. In 2016 the AMAs started the Margaret Moser Award to recognize women in the Austin music community. Her legacy was covered by the Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, and NPR. In mid-2017, Moser entered hospice care and died August 25, 2017.
Extent
4 Linear Feet
10 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Metadata Rights Declarations
- The descriptive data created for this finding aid is licensed under the CC0 Creative Commons license and is free for use without restriction.
Abstract
The Margaret Moser collection spans 1974-2014 and documents the role and influence she had in the Austin and the broader Texas music scenes. It is organized into seven series: 1) photographs, 2) correspondence, 3) writings, 4) printed material, 5) publications, 6) event posters, and 7) cassette tapes.
Physical Location
Materials may be stored off-site. Advance notice is required for use: https://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/research/makearesearchappointment.html.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Margaret Moser and Tex Pop, 2017
- Title
- Guide to the Margaret Moser Collection
- Author
- Katie Cole and Darlene Ortega
- Date
- 2017
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- 2022: Revised for ArchivesSpace by Katie Salzmann
Repository Details
Part of the The Wittliff Collections Repository
