ID: The header photo is from December 16, 1980. It is the Trombone Choir performing on the balcony of DOMA’s galleries. A group of people are listening to the musicians as they watch in chairs from Sculpture Court below.

Written by Tori Smith, Public Relations and Social Media Assistant 

You’ve read about the history of DOMA. But have you seen the history of DOMA? If not, here are five videos provided by Ball State University Libraries that show you what DOMA was like over 50 years ago! 

Furniture exhibit at Ball State University art gallery 

This video is from April 19, 1968. The 28-second clip is a portion of a broadcast on WLBC-TV, and possibly part of its segment called “Week in Review.” It showcases a main speaker presenting contemporary designer chairs and tables from DOMA’s furniture exhibit. Several pieces of modern furniture are still on view in DOMA’s Decorative Arts gallery across from the offices. The segment was filmed on 16 mm film. 

15th Drawing and Small Sculpture Show 

This clip is from Mar. 2, 1969. This one minute and six second clip is a portion of a broadcast on WLBC-TV, and possibly part of its segment called “Week in Review.” It shows handfuls of museum visitors walking around and looking at the museum’s most important annual exhibition, which drew entries from across the nation. It even shows a patron touching a piece of artwork, which is against DOMA’s museum policies. The segment was filmed on 16 mm film.  

Ball State University Madrigal Feast 

Although this film is not DOMA-centric, it showcases the Ball State Madrigal Singers, and their choice to host the Madrigal Feast in the Frank C. and Elizabeth B. Ball Recital Hall on DOMA’s second floor. This film is from the seventies, presumably between 1972 and 1976. According to Paul Brandvik in an article from The Choral Journal, a Madrigal Feast is structured around a formal meal, and served in several courses with singing interspersed throughout the meal or afterward. It follows a central theme: Ball State’s theme being Christmas, as the Madrigal Singers are recorded sing “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” in the film. It was filmed on 16 mm film. 

Vincent Price visits Ball State Art Gallery and other campus scenes 

This clip starts with various shots around the Ball State campus, but the viewer is quickly met with museum clips at :44. These shots from about 1963-1967 showcase Vincent Price’s visit to the museum. Vincent Price was an actor best known for his performances in horror films. His connection with art started when he almost pursued a master’s degree in fine art but decided to launch his acting career instead. He eventually cut back on acting to focus on one of his other passions: collecting fine art. He donated to museums and established the Vincent Price Gallery and Art Foundation, now the Vincent Price Art Museum at East Los Angeles College in California. This film was shot on 16 mm film. 

Ball State University Museum of Art scenes 

This nine minute and fifteen second clip is from about 1991 to 1996. It has footage of DOMA and its galleries, with an introduction by then Director Alain Joyaux.  The most shocking visuals are the repeated takes of a patron using a computer to browse the Museum of Art (DOMA’s former name) Information Access System. She enters the artwork’s accession number to find out the important details about the piece in the galleries. Fortunately, DOMA’s system has been updated, and you can search our collection here, where you can also view student-curated collection highlights. 

As always, thank you for reading the DOMA insider and make sure to visit the museum soon! DOMA is free and open to the public; we are open Tuesday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Check out our website at bsu.edu/doma.