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Category: Recorded Sound

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Rarities! Mystery! The Marty Alexander Collection

Posted by: Karen Fishman

Today’s post is by David Sager, Research Assistant in the Recorded Sound Research Center. Marty Alexander, a chemist, collected rare 17th Century French furniture and art and also amassed one of the world’s most comprehensive and exotic collections of pre-WWII 78 rpm jazz recordings. After his death in 2009, the Library of Congress acquired the …

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How to Sell War – and Peace

Posted by: Karen Fishman

This blog post is by David Sager, Research Assistant in the Recorded Sound Research Center. This post celebrates the Centennial of the signing of the Armistice and makes use of recordings in the Library of Congress’s National Jukebox and images found in the Library’s Recorded Sound Research Center. These mementos are a stirring reminder of the …

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Voices of the Great Migration

Posted by: Karen Fishman

This is a guest post by Tenesha Hare and Jasmyne Post, 2018 summer interns with the Junior Fellows Program in the Library’s Recorded Sound Section. Tenesha is a senior at the University of South Carolina, Aiken, studying Political Science with a concentration in Government and Public Relations. Jasmyne is a sophomore at the University of Louisville, majoring …

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Designing an Audio Suite

Posted by: Karen Fishman

The following is a guest post by Cary O’Dell, Boards Assistant to the National Recording Preservation Board. Achieving excellent recorded sound quality is not only a matter of personnel and equipment but also the environment. At the Library of Congress’s Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation there are eight rooms specifically designed for optimal sound recording. …

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Smokey Robinson Receives Gershwin Prize for American Song

Posted by: Karen Fishman

Last night, Wednesday, November 16, Smokey Robinson, a rhythm and blues icon whose career has spanned more than 50 years, received the Library’s Gershwin Prize for American Song. The gala award event, featuring prominent performers and musicians was held at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.  Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden presented the award. …

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Bob Hope and D-Day: an unconventional season finale

Posted by: Karen Fishman

The following is a guest post by David Jackson, Archivist, Bob Hope Collection, Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation. Recently I began the task of processing the papers for the Bob Hope Collection, held in the Recorded Sound Section, at the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia. The papers complement the moving …

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Santa Claus Speaks!

Posted by: Karen Fishman

This blog post was co-written with Bryan Cornell, Reference Librarian, Recorded Sound Section, Library of Congress.   Tis the season for Christmas carols and familiar holiday favorites, but did you know Santa Claus recorded for Victor Records? Well, not really. Gilbert Girard was a talented performer who frequently recorded children’s records with popular recording artist Len Spencer.  He also …