A Year of Milestones

On Oct. 18, 2023, students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, politicians, and celebrities—including Bruce Springsteen himself—gathered in the Great Hall for the announcement of the new 30,000-square-foot building, which will house the Archives, the Center for American Music, related exhibition galleries, and a 244-seat, state-of-the-art theater.

Designed by the acclaimed New York-based architectural firm CookFox, the building will be located on Monmouth’s campus, not far from where Springsteen wrote his landmark song, “Born to Run,” 50 years ago. The anticipated opening date is spring 2026.

The project will be entirely funded by external donors, with a campaign underway to raise the $47 million needed for construction. By the close of the fiscal year, nearly 75% of the funds for the building had been raised—thanks in large part to a multimillion-dollar commitment from the state of New Jersey—which would not have been possible without the support of Gov. Phil Murphy and our state legislators, including Sen. Vin Gopal, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, and Sen. President Nicholas Scutari.

“Monmouth University is excited to establish a new home for one of the country’s premier cultural and educational institutions dedicated to preserving the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and the diverse history of American music,” said President Patrick F. Leahy, chair of the Archives board. “The facility will position Monmouth as a national leader in arts education, along with partners who share our passion for discovery, inclusivity, and cultural enrichment.”

The Center for American Music will feature interactive exhibits on Springsteen and showcase diverse topics and themes in American music, while the Archives will offer visitors the chance to listen to oral histories and interviews, watch rare film footage, and explore major moments in music history. The facility will also host intimate concerts, teacher workshops, symposia, lectures, film series, and other public and educational programs.

“Our institution will offer exciting research opportunities for students, journalists, and historians and give Springsteen fans the chance to explore his music and the role it plays in American history like never before,” said Robert Santelli ’73, ’14HN, executive director of the Archives. “Teachers will also find the Archives and Center for American Music a valuable educational resource with lesson plans, teaching strategies, and online programs available to bring American music into the classroom.”

Monmouth’s Great Hall and Pollak Theatre welcomed a sellout crowd on April 24 for the second annual American Music Honors. This year’s event celebrated four artists—John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, and Dion DiMucci—who have “contributed mightily to the American music canon and have demonstrated how the power of song can act as an agent for positive change in our country,” said Santelli.

Mellencamp was honored for his social activism, which is reflected in both his music and his role in co-founding Farm Aid (with Willie Nelson and Neil Young), an organization that addresses the struggles of American family farmers. Browne was recognized for his long-time advocacy for social justice, environmental causes, and educational initiatives, including his support for anti-nuclear energy resources and political freedom in Central America. Staples was celebrated for her role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and her continued use of music to promote racial equality in America. And DiMucci was honored for his landmark recording of “Abraham, Martin and John,” which became an activist anthem in the late 1960s.

The ceremony was hosted by former “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams and featured remarks from Gov. Murphy and award presentations by Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Darlene Love, and Jon Landau. The evening concluded with audience members on their feet while honorees and presenters shared the stage and jammed to such hits as “Small Town,” “Glory Days,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “Take It Easy,” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”

Together with a silent auction, the second annual American Music Honors raised more than $1 million to support construction of the new building.