Title: Bruce Bollerud collection
Inclusive Dates: 1919-2009
Bulk Dates: 1960-2009

Creator:

• Bollerud, Bruce

Unique Identifier: mml006

Quantity: papers; folios; manuscripts; bound volumes; audiocassettes, audiotape reels; compact discs; plaques; framed documents; poster board

• 10.5 Linear Feet
• 18 document boxes, one poster board

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mills Music Library

Abstract:

Materials documenting Bruce Bollerud's life and work as a musician with the Goose Island Ramblers and the Good Time Band, as a solo performer, and his work as a special education teacher.

Language: English .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mus-mml006

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Arranged into three series: I. Music Materials, II. Papers, III. Sound Recordings

Bruce Bollerud (1934-2020) was born on a farm near Hollandale, Wisconsin, and grew-up surrounded by music from the Norwegian-American old-time dance tradition. Bollerud played several instruments, among them the bandoneon, piano accordion, trombone, and jug, and also sang. As a gigging musician, Bollerud played with a number of local Wisconsin bands over the years, including the Rhythm Ramblers, Emil Simpson's Nite Hawks, The Polka Jacks, and Feller's Swiss Band. However, the best-known band was the Goose Island Ramblers, of which he was a founding member. They were a three-piece band, made up of Bollerud (“the Hollandale Wildcat” or “Loose Bruce the Goose”), K. Wendell Whitford (“Uncle Windy”), and George Gilbertsen (“Smokey George”). The Goose Island Ramblers were the house band at two taverns in Madison, Wis., Glen and Ann's and Johnny's Packer Inn, during the 1960s and 1970s, and they recorded for Cuca Records in 1964. They temporarily disbanded in 1975. However, they were featured in documentaries and radio programs in Wisconsin in the late '70s and early '80s. Bollerud also played regular gigs with the Good Time Band around Madison, including at the German-American bar and restaurant Essen Haus. Later, the Goose Island Ramblers performed for the Smithsonian Institution's Folk Masters series in 1994, and made 3 more recordings for Cuca Records in 1999 before Whitford's death in 2000. Bollerud continued to play with his Good Time Band throughout the 2000s, and wrote two books of accordion music, International accordion favorites and Uff da! Let's dance! Scandinavian tunes and house party music.

Some of the collection is in a format that is not currently accessible. The Mills Music Library does not have playback equipment for 1/4" audio tape or digital audiocassettes. Please consult Mills Music Library staff prior to access.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

Gift of Bruce Bollerud, 2003-2020.

[Title of item], Bruce Bollerud collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Bruce Bollerud collection. Includes selected material from this collection. Online. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Bollerud

Down Home Dairyland collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Cuca Records collection. Mills Music Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Goose Island Ramblers Documentation Project Collection, 1990-1991, CSUMC0010-CG. Wisconsin Historical Society Archives.

The Bruce Bollerud Collection is housed in seven archival boxes and one oversize folder, arranged in three series. Series are designated for music materials, papers, and sound recordings. Materials include manuscripts of individual original songs and folios, song lyrics, sound recordings in a variety of formats, newspaper clippings, correspondence, gig contracts, recording contracts, royalty statements, manuscript books, and framed items. This collection provides researchers with a body of material for studying Bruce Bollerud, music arranging, rehearsal, performance, and the old-time music scene in Wisconsin from the 1960s-2000s from the perspective of a gigging musician.

BandoneonFiddle tunesJug bandsNorwegian AmericansNorwegian wit and humorCorrespondence.Country musicFolk musicJigs (Dance music)Ländler (Music)ManuscriptsMazurkas (Music)Old-time musicPersonal narrativesPolkas (Music)Popular musicPostersReels (Music)Schottisches (Music)Song booksSound recordingsWaltzes (Music)Madison (Wis.)Middle WestWisconsinFiddle tunesjugs (musical instruments)Country musicFolk musicjigmazurkaold time musicpolka musicPopular musicschottischewaltzEggum, Sammy; Gilbertsen, George, 1925-2017; Gjerald, Ole; Noll, Ralph; Simpson, Emil; Simpson, Tina; Swingen, Herbert; Weum, Joe; Whitford, Windy, 1913-2000; Emil Simpson's Nite Hawks (Old-time group); Good Time Band; Goose Island Ramblers; Bollerud, Orville; Dix, Bruce; Peters, Max; Sherwood, Dick; Polka Jacks (Musical group : Wis.); Feller's Swiss Band

1	Series: Music Manuscripts Scope and Contents Sheet music is divided into individual pieces and folios; individual song lyrics and folios of lyrics. Of particular note to researchers would be the folders containing sheet music with accompanying lyrics. Also of interest would be the manuscript bandoneon parts (some signed by Ralph Noll).
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 1	Individual songsOther Descriptive Data: General Arranged alphabetically.
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 2	Music folios
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 3	Music folios
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 4	Bandoneon arrangements
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 5	Uncle Windy songbook, A-O
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 6	Uncle Windy songbook, P-W
Folder [89109112409]   1   folder 7	The Goose Island Ramblers songbook
Folder [89109112417]   2   folder 1	Song lyrics
Folder [89109112417]   2   folder 2	Song lyrics, German
Folder [89109112417]   2   folder 3	Song lists
Oversize folder [89109112466]   7	Song lists, oversize
Folder [89109112417]   2   folder 4	International accordion favorites, proof
Folder [89109112417]   2   folder 5	Uff da!, proof
2	Series: Papers Scope and Contents This series consists of manuscript materials documenting Bollerud's music business and aspects of his personal life. Business materials contain papers related to Bollerud's music business, including invoices and contracts. Personal materials include correspondence, newspaper clippings and magazine articles, personal notes and schedules, and several framed items. Of particular note to researchers would be Bollerud's correspondence (arranged chronologically and generally single letters he received from people), as well proof copies for two books of accordion music by Bollerud. Manuscript materials includes reminisences called “My story,” which contains a list of people he played music with arranged chronologically, and recollections about his childhood and learning music. A second manuscript is a proposed publication, Picture-talk reading book, which he wrote as a method for helping special education students and based upon his experience working with them in the Madison public schools. Also of interest would be manuscript music (containing song ideas, chords that could be played on bandoneon or related instruments, music theory notes, etc.)	⇧
1	Subseries: Business materials
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 1	Invoices
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 2	Royalty statements
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 3	Copyright certificates
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 4	Recording contracts
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 5	Performance contracts, 1960-1969
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 6	Performance contracts, 1970-1979
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 7	Performance contracts, 1980-1989
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 8	Performance contracts, 1990-1999
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 9	Performance contracts, 2000-2009
Folder [89109112425]   3   folder 10	Performance documents
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 1	Goose Island Ramblers promotional materials
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 2	Concert fliers
Folder [89109112466]   7	Concert posters
Oversize folder [89131424244]   1	Goose Island Ramblers board poster, 1973
	Subseries: Personal materials	⇧
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 3	Correspondence
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 4	Reminiscences
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 5	Clippings
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 6	Picture-Talk book proposal
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 7	Framed letter
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 8	Commendations
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 9	George Gilbertsen
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 10	Wendel Whitford
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 11	Max Peters
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 12	Dick Sherwood
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 13	Orville Bollerud
Folder [89109112433]   4   folder 14	Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District
4	Series: Sound Recordings Scope and Contents Arranged into three subseries: Cassette Tapes, Audiotape Reels-to-Reel Tapes, and CDs. Cassette tapes consist of interviews with Bollerud, recordings of the Goose Island Ramblers, recordings of radio programs on WIBU (featuring Ray Konkel, etc.), recordings of old-time musicians such as Sammy Eggum and Ralph Noll, dubs of commercial recordings, rehearsal recordings, and unidentified tapes. Reel-to-reel tapes contain recordings of birdcalls, and old-time musicians who Bollerud knew and played with, including Ole Gjerald, Joe Weum, Emil Simpson, Tina Simpson, Herbert Swingen, Sammy Eggum, as well as Bollerud. Includes two audiotape reels of the Goose Island Ramblers' last performance at Glen and Ann's tavern in Madison, Wisconsin circa 1970. CDs consist of early cuts for the music accompanying Bollerud's published booksUff da! Let's dance!, and International accordion favorites, along with a contents list of the songs for Uff da! Let's dance!.	⇧
	Subseries: Cassette TapesOther Descriptive Data: General Some of the audio content of this subseries is available online as part of the Bruce Bollerud Collection. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Bollerud.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers at house party, 1976-12-29 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiocassette : 47 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Home recording of the Goose Island Ramblers performing at a house party at Windy Whitford's home. Song titles include: Golden slippers ; Faded love ; Ryerson's two step ; St. Ann's reel ; Life in the Finnish woods ; No Norwegians in Dickeyville ; Sugar Hill ; Run for the roundhouse, Nellie, they can't corner you there ; Bring me back my blue-eyed boy ; Francuzka polka ; Avoca polka.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers on WTSO, 1999-04-07 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape cassette : 52 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Off-air recording of performances and interviews with the Goose Island Ramblers on WTSO radio Titles include Flop-eared mule ; The letter edged in black ; Ryerson's two step ; Boil them cabbage down ; Gold watch and chain ; Good ol' mountain dew ; Got no reason for going home ; Oscar's Cannonball ; When I get back where the hills are calling me. Broadcast April 7, 1999 on WTSO radio; hosted by Diana Summers.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers on Folk Masters, 1994-03-26 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General The Goose Island Ramblers' performance at Wolf Trap as part of the Smithsonian Institution's Folk Masters concert series. Hosted by Nick Spitzer.
Audio [89109112458]   6	“Those Goose Island Ramblers”, Simply Folk 1982Other Descriptive Data: General Episode of Simply Folk, hosted by Judy Rose. Features interviews and excerpts of recordings.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers on Back to the country, tape 1 2000-09-27 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Part 1 of an episode of Back to the country radio program aired September 27, 2000 on WORT radio, Madison, Wisconsin. Features host Bill Malone interview with Bruce Bollerud, and excerpts from the Goose Island Ramblers' September 24, 1999 concert at the Barrymore Theater.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers on Back to the country, tape 2 2000-09-27 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Part 2 of an episode of Back to the country radio program aired September 27, 2000 on WORT radio, Madison, Wisconsin. Features host Bill Malone interview with Bruce Bollerud, and excerpts from the Goose Island Ramblers' September 24, 1999 concert at the Barrymore Theater.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Goose Island Ramblers rehearsal, 1996-10-07 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette : 55 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Rehearsal tape of the Goose Island Ramblers. Location unknown.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Bruce Bollerud at Wisconsin Folk Museum, cassette copy 1995-06-03 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette : 58 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Live performance by Bruce Bollerud on bandoneon and accordion, including reminiscences between songs and Q&A with audience members. Introductory announcement by Jim Leary. Song titles include: Life in the Finnish woods ; Stegen waltz ; Johnny Homme's waltz ; Bunde brollop vals ; Anna Marie vals ; Ole the hobo from Norway ; Selma's waltz ; Ryerson's two step ; Swiss yodel waltz ; Holzacker buam ; Sentimental Selma schottische ; Nikolina ; I yust don't give a hoot ; Viggen polka ; Merry town boys ; Cuckoo waltz ; Newberry polka. Cassette dubbed from original DAT recording.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Bruce Bollerud at Wisconsin Folk Museum, 1995-06-03 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 digital audio cassette : 58 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Live performance by Bruce Bollerud on bandoneon and accordion, including reminiscences between songs and Q&A with audience members. Introductory announcement by Jim Leary. Song titles include: Life in the Finnish woods ; Stegen waltz ; Johnny Homme's waltz ; Bunde brollop vals ; Anna Marie vals ; Ole the hobo from Norway ; Selma's waltz ; Ryerson's two step ; Swiss yodel waltz ; Holzacker buam ; Sentimental Selma schottische ; Nikolina ; I yust don't give a hoot ; Viggen polka ; Merry town boys ; Cuckoo waltz ; Newberry polka.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Bruce Bollerud plays accordion; Bruce, Ralph, Earl, Mike Dowling Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Home recording of Bruce Bollerud experimenting with accordion sounds over the course of 5 tunes: Homecoming waltz ; Suzie polka ; Once in a while ; Oh Marie ; I'm walking. Side B is a performance by the Good Time Band with Mike Dowling, date and location unknown.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers' Association, 1996-03-02 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Live performance recorded at Stoughton City Hall, March 2, 1996.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers' Association, 1999-02-14 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Recorded at Daleyville, Wisconsin.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers' Association, 1999-03-14 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Recorded at VFW Post 328 in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Southern Wisconsin Old Time Fiddlers' Association, part II 2000-04-09 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Recorded at Daleyville, Wisconsin.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Ralph Noll Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Side B contains a private recording of six tunes performed by Ralph Noll on solo accordion.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Selmer, Bud, Rollie Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of old-time tunes performed by unidentified musicians (fiddle, guitar, bass). Song titles listed on insert.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Spelmanslag, 2 1995 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of 21 old-time tunes performed before an audience. Song titles and performers listed on insert.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Fay Allen, I Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Private recordings of fiddler Fay Allen playing old time tunes. Dubbed from earlier recordings with announcements by unidentified woman.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Fay Allen, II Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General Private recordings of fiddler Fay Allen playing old time tunes. Dubbed from earlier recordings with announcements by unidentified woman.
Audio [89109112458]   6	Ralph Noll stuff Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiocassette Other Descriptive Data: General A portion of Side A contains recordinsg of old-time tunes.
Audio [89109112458]   6	6 miscellaneous tapes
	Subseries: Audiotape ReelsOther Descriptive Data: General Audio content of this subseries is available online as part of the Bruce Bollerud Collection. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Bollerud.	⇧
Reel [89109112441]   5	Goose Island Ramblers I, 1970 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 3 3/4 ips, 1/2 track, 7 inch reel ; 1/4 inch tape  : 125 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Songs listed on tape box.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Goose Island Ramblers II, 1970 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 3 3/4 ips, 1/2 track, 7 inch, 1/4 inch tape  : 58 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General “Last night at Nitty Gritty 1972?”--Tape box. Song titles on tape box.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Ole Gjerald, tape 1 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 5-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 13 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of Ole Gjerald (saxophone) with unidentified musicians performing old time polkas and waltzes. Accompanying instrumentation includes accordion or trumpet, and drums.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Ole Gjerald, tape 2 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiotape reel : analog, 5-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 8 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of Ole Gjerald (saxophone) with unidentified musicians performing old time polkas and waltzes. Accompanying instrumentation includes accordion or piano.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Ole Gjerald, tape 3 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 58 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of Ole Gjerald (saxophone) with unidentified musicians performing old time polkas and waltzes. Accompanying instrumentation includes trumpet, tuba and drums.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Ole Gjerald and Joe Weum, 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 58 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording of Ole Gjerald (saxophone) and Joe Weum (accordion) with unidentified musicians performing old time polkas and waltzes. Accompanying instrumentation variously includes trumpet, banjo, string bass and guitar.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Emil Simpson, Ole Gjerald, Sammy Eggum, et al. 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 audiotape reel : analog, 7-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 55 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording featuring Emil Simpson (fiddle), Joe Weum (accordion), Sammy Eggum (guitar), Ole Gjerald (saxophone), Bruce Bollerud (bandoneon, trombone, vocal), Herbert Swingen (guitar, trumpet), Tina Simpson, piano, Louie Vincent (drums); with unidentified musicians performing old time polkas and waltzes. Other accompanying instrumentation variously includes banjo and tuba. Song list in tape box.
Reel [89109112441]   5	Joe Weum, 1960-1969 Physical Description: 1 audio recording; 1 side of 1 audiotape reel : analog, 3-inch reel, 1/4 inch tape  : 3 minutes  Other Descriptive Data: General Private recording likely of Joe Weum playing solo accordion.
	Subseries: CDs	⇧
Disc [89109112441]   5	Uff da!, final audio CD 2004-04-15 Physical Description: 1 sound recordings; 1 compact disc Other Descriptive Data: General Proof copy of audio disc accompanying the book “Uff da!”
Disc [89109112441]   5	International accordion favorites, final CD audio 2004-04-15 Physical Description: 1 sound recordings; 1 compact disc Other Descriptive Data: General Proof copy of audio disc accompanying the book “International accordion favorites.” “World accordion” written on disc.