The collection is arranged in four series: Manuscript Materials, Sound Recordings, Graphic Materials, and Artifacts.
Manuscript Materials consist of Administrative Files and Research Files that document the process of mounting a museum exhibition, from grant writing and subsequent reports to funders, field research with artists, negotiations with other cultural institutions such as granting agencies, other museums, and schools; technical aspects of exhibit installation and publication production, event planning, publicity for the exhibit and related special events, and the logistics of coordinating a traveling exhibition of fragile musical instruments.
Sound Recordings consist of audio cassette recordings of interviews James P. Leary conducted with thirteen musical instrument makers (recorded October-December 1989) and one tape of musical performances at the Cedarburg Cultural Center using instruments similar to those in the exhibition.
Graphic Materials consist mainly of 35 mm color slides, as well as color (3x3 to 3x4, 3 1/2x5) and black-and-white (5x7 and 4x5) prints, black-and-white negatives, 4x5 internegatives, and contact sheets, a 4x5 color copy negative, and a 4x5 color copy transparency. Several images from 35 mm color slides and black-and-white photographs taken by Lewis Koch appear in the exhibit catalog of the same name which the Cedarburg Cultural Center published in 1990. Also included are black-and-white prints and negatives by James P. Leary.
The Artifact is an [Ojibwa] embroidered patch that reads, "WA SWA Goning T.R.A.I.L.S." from a youth drum group led by Joseph Ackley of Lac du Flambeau. Ackley also made the drum for the group.
