The Bob Moog Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bob Moog – suffered a setback today as Moog’s widow announced plans to donate Moog’s personal archive to Cornell University, rather than to The Foundation.
The archive includes Bob Moog’s notes, plans, drawings and recordings – a collection that documents the origin of the synthesizer as we know it an important part of electronic music history.
The Asheville, NC Mountain Xpress reported today that Moog’s widow, Ileana Grams-Moog, plans to donate his personal archive to the Cornell University Library in Ithaca, N.Y.. This decision comes over the objections of Michelle Moog-Koussa, head of the Bob Moog Foundation and Moog’s daughter with first wife Shirleigh Moog.
“We believe firmly that Bob Moog’s archives belong in Western North Carolina,” says Moog-Koussa. “Western North Carolina was my father’s spiritual home for 25 years.”
Opposing Views Pit Family Against Family
The decision to move Moog’s archives from Asheville pits opposing views about how best to preserve his legacy against each other – and family against family.
Grams-Moog, Moog’s widow plans to move Moog’s archives from Asheville and the Moog Foundation to Cornell, Moog’s alma matter.
“It was Bob’s wish that his archives be preserved and made accessible to other scientists, inventors, engineers and innovators,” says Moog’s widow, Grams-Moog.
“It has been eight years since my husband’s death and I am happy that my gift to Cornell will finally make this rich collection available,” she adds. “Bob would be pleased to know his life’s work is finally being properly preserved and made available to current and future generations to advance upon his work.”
While Moog-Koussa, right, acknowledges that her stepmother has legal rights to the archives, the bulk of the archive is currently under the care of The Foundation.
“It’s important that the archives remain here with the foundation,” says Moog-Koussa, “Not only are we best suited to care for them, but we’re best suited to interpret them.”
“Our hearts are heavy with this decision,” adds Moog’s first daughter, Laura Moog-Lanier. “Know that my siblings and I have profound respect for my sister Michelle Moog-Koussa and her staff at the Bob Moog Foundation .”
“This move is about nothing more than exerting ones power,” she adds. “The thing that frustrates me the most is putting words in my dad’s mouth – from the grave, no less.
“This sudden, arbitrary decision is extremely baffling and disappointing to me,” laments Moog Foundation Archive and Education Specialist Marc Doty. “There is really nowhere better equipped to interpret Bob Moog’s archives than the Bob Moog Foundation.”
Despite the setback, The Foundation’s Moog-Koussa is looking forward.
“No matter what happens, the Bob Moog Foundation will continue to carry on Bob Moog’s legacy, and that his legacy is alive and well in our educational projects, which are thriving in this area.”
