Title and statement of responsibility area
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- Source of title proper: Title from content of the fonds.
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Edition area
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Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
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Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
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Physical description area
Physical description
ca. 80 m of textual records and other material
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
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Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
K-W Oktoberfest was started in 1969 by a small group of interested citizens and the four German clubs, under the auspices of the Visitors and Convention Bureau of the combined Kitchener-Waterloo Chambers of Commerce, with the object of promoting tourism in the area. It was incorporated with a provincial charter as K-W Oktoberfest Incorporated in 1971 on a no-share capital basis. Except for a small professional staff, Oktoberfest is run by volunteers. A Board of Directors, Advisory Council, and committees oversee all aspects of the festival, which is held annually in October. K-W Oktoberfest's function is to plan, co-ordinate and promote the festival. The Corporation's financial support is derived from the sale of souvenirs, accreditation fees, sponsorships and donations.
Originally a beer festival patterned after the famous Munich Oktoberfest, the festival shifted emphasis in the early 1970's to promoting Oktoberfest as a cultural heritage event. Originally five days long, the festival now spans nine days; it is the world's second-largest Bavarian festival and features Canada's only Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Miss Oktoberfest Beauty Pageant, among many other events.
Custodial history
Scope and content
The records of K-W Oktoberfest document all aspects of the growth and day-to-day operation of the festival from its beginnings in 1969. They consist of incoming and outgoing correspondence, committee minutes and reports, publications, ephemera, audio-visual materials, and other material created or received by the Corporation in the course of its business. Records from 1969-1983 are incomplete.
Notes area
Physical condition
Includes ca. 55 m of textual records, ca. 15, 000 photographs, ca. 20,000 slides, 35 scrapbooks, ca. 170 videorecordings, 58 audio cassettes, 34 sound reels, 4 sound discs, 25 film reels.
Immediate source of acquisition
The fonds was acquired in 1992. Since then three major accruals have been received: 1998, 2001 and 2005. These are described separately.
Arrangement
Arranged in seven series:
1. Oktoberfest Administrative Records;
2. Additional Accessions;
3. Ephemera and Realia; .
4. Publications;
5. Publicity;
6. Audio-Visual;
7. Related Finding-Aids.
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Some files contain personal information and are restricted.
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Terms governing reproduction and publication: copyright and trademark are property of K-W Oktoberfest Inc. Releases and requests for reproductions will be obtained as appropriate.
Finding aids
Associated materials
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
General note
General note
Contact us for more information about this fonds.
General note
Article "Oktoberfest archives opened at UW Library" about the official opening of the collection held on September 25, 1993 at the Dana Porter Library appeared on Page B2 of the September 27, 1993 edition of the Kitchener-Waterloo Record.
General note
Article "Oktoberfest! As annual "Bavarian " festival nears, UW shows off archives and photos" about the official opening of the collection held on September 25, 1993 at the Dana Porter Library appeared on Page 3 of the September 29, 1993 edition of the University of Waterloo Gazette.
General note
Article "Oktoberfest display" about an exhibit mounted by Special Collections & Archives appeared on Page 2 of the October 4, 1993 edition of From the Library Office (v.17, n.32).
General note
Article "From chaos to order.. organizing the Oktoberfest Archives" about the donation of the archives to the Library appeared on Page 2 of the 1992 edition of Oktoberfest Update (v.15, n.4), an internal publication for Oktoberfest volunteers. Includes a photo of Susan Mavor and Jane Britton.