Rossi said part of the institute's challenge is the race to preserve art forms before they disappear. Some field recordings already are included in the center's collection, but organizers hope to add more.
He said the music department hopes to work with other departments within the university researching Southern folklore and culture to create a center that is interdisciplinary and not solely focused on the music.
The preservation and research center also aims to take the sometimes under-appreciated music forms public rather than waiting for visitors to come to the college.
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