Northland receives more than 8,000 albums as donation

September 26, 2008

The Music Department at Northland College has received a donation of more than 8,000 albums previously owned by 1979 alumnus Robert Travaglini. The collection features 3,768 compact discs and 4,669 vinyl records for a total of 8,437 titles. The albums cover a myriad of styles from jazz and country to glam rock and classical.

"This extensive record collection will give students access to a large amount of bluegrass, folk and other music that they simply would not be able to find anywhere else," said Jared Anderson, assistant professor of music at Northland College. "It's very unusual for a school the size of Northland to have a collection of this size. There is an immense amount of material here for students to learn from and enjoy."

The albums are currently kept in the Bro House, the music facility on the Northland College campus. All students will have access to the collection and selections from it will be used in new courses focused on popular and folk music. The recordings were donated to the College by the surviving members of his family including brother Mark Travaglini, a 1969 alumnus, following Robert's death in the summer of 2006.
"Our wish is that Northland students who feel strongly about music will take the opportunity to explore the multiplicity of genres represented in this remarkable collection," Mark told us. "As his many Northland friends can attest, listening to these recordings and then learning about the artists, their history, and the culture and events that shaped their musical expression-particularly the bluegrass and ‘old time' American music he enjoyed in his later years-gave Rob immense satisfaction."

Robert graduated from Northland in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in environmental science and chemistry. After graduation, he worked as a chemist, eventually taking a position with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., his employer until his passing. He was passionate about his work, the outdoors and, most of all, music. Since his boyhood, he collected and listened to a wide range of music including blues, jazz, rock'n'roll, folk, country, and bluegrass (A number of his favorite Native American artists are represented in most of these categories.). In addition to his extensive record collection Robert played and performed on harmonica and, later, bluegrass guitar.
A scholarship fund in the family's name has been established to honor Robert's mother, father and, now, him.