Records of the Great River Festival of Arts from 1960-1986 were compiled by Frank and Lenore Italiano. Organized by concert season, they include materials from the musical life of the festival when it was under Frank’s direction. There are festival programs; concert series and programs; advertising posters; newspaper clippings; photographs that were in the newspaper; student application forms for the Symphony School; board reports; and four scrapbooks created by Lenore Italiano, administrator of the festival. The festival and concert series programs provide information about members of the symphony, committee members, instructors and other performers. These materials give an idea of the administrative and logistical components of the Coulee Region Symphony, performances and other events.

The scrapbooks describe other events as well as musical reviews that took place during the festival showing the wide range of the activities of the festival. Articles, administrative records and season brochures describe the Symphonies performances and administration as well as art, drama, dance, film and other events during the festival.

Photographs from the festival show annual events and show the practices, teaching and performances of the symphony as well as other aspects of the festival such as art, dance, drama, dinners and fundraisers.

The collection can be used to learn about the scope of the music played during those years, the visiting artists that came as mentors for the students in the Symphony School, information about the concerts given by the symphony in other communities, members of the symphony and community leaders who supported the efforts over the years. There are some materials in this collection from the other aspects of the Great River Festival of Arts such as newspaper articles and photos of dance recitals, movie festivals, drama class, art displays and fundraisers, but the collection mainly relates to musical endeavors.