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Belfer Cylinders Collection
A description of the collection at Syracuse University
Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 20 May 2011
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| Return to finding aids search |
Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 20 May 2011
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Overview of the Collection |
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| Title: | Belfer Cylinders Collection |
| Dates: | 1890-1929 |
| Quantity: | 19,750 items. |
| Abstract: | Collection of early recorded music on commercially released 2-, 3- and 4-minute wax cylinders of standard diameter. The collection also includes small diameter to large diameter concert series cylinders as well as home recordings. Recordings cover a broad spectrum: classical, musical theatre, operetta, ballads, patriotic, dance band music, jazz and blues, ethnic and foreign language, religious, military marches, comedy, opera, children’s music songs and spoken word, country, vaudeville skits, speeches, instructional systems, foreign languages, office skills and test recordings. Also, more than 600 cylinder inserts. |
| Language: | Majority is in English; other languages represented include Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Croatian, Russian, Ukrainian, Welsh, Yiddish and Navajo. |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. Initial efforts to record to foil cylinders proved unworkable, and shortly thereafter he developed and licensed wax cylinders which became the earliest commercial medium for recording and reproducing sound. Wax cylinders were mass marketed beginning in approximately 1880 and reached their heyday circa 1888-1915. Early cylinder machines could record as well as play, so the cylinders were also a medium for amateur or personal recording. Companies manufacturing the cylinders included American Gramophone Company, Edison Records, and Columbia Phonograph. In 1906 a more long-lasting medium was developed: phenolic resin, an early relative of Bakelite, marketed as "indestructible." This new format rapidly superseded wax cylinders due to its resistance to damage, and cylinders were no longer commercially manufactured after about 1929.
The Belfer Cylinders Collection is one of the largest outside the Library of
Congress, with more than 19,000 cylinders representing 11,971 unique songs (in
some cases, the collection contains different
takes of the same song). The collection currently houses 16,500 Edison cylinders
which represents one half of the total
output of Edison Cylinders beginning with the brown wax series of 1896-1901 through
Edison Blue Amberol, Edison Royal Purple
Amberol to Gold Moulded Amberols. The Cylinder collection is rich in 19th and
early 20th Century American popular songs,
foreign language songs and Yiddish songs, spoken word drama, vaudeville, humorous
monologues and speeches. Numerous
presidential speeches given between 1908 and 1912 are represented as well as early
children’s’ stories and books-on-cylinder.
The collection also includes 626 cylinder inserts, under call number Belfer ML156.2.
Recently, thanks in part to a grant from the Delmas Foundation, the University began digitizing their cylinder collection. As of 2010, more than 1400 recordings are available online through the Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection.
Cylinders are arranged by company name then by cylinder number. All of the cylinders have been cataloged; please refer to Libraries Search to search for cataloged items.
Access Restrictions:
The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
Access to non-digitized cylinders requires advance notice to create a working copy.
Use Restrictions:
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Many of the cylinders have been digitized and are available online through the Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection.
Persons
Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931.
Subjects
Band music.
Big band music.
Cakewalk (Dance)
Carols.
Christmas music.
Christmas stories.
Country music.
Dance orchestras.
English language -- Study and teaching.
Fiddle tunes.
French language -- Study and teaching.
German language -- Study and teaching.
German wit and humor.
Humorous recitations.
Hymns.
Irish wit and humor.
Italian language -- Study and teaching.
Italian wit and humor.
Jazz.
Jewish wit and humor.
Marches.
Minstrel music.
Minstrel shows.
National songs.
Old-time music.
Operas.
Orchestral music.
Patriotic music.
Personal recordings.
Polkas.
Popular music -- United States -- 19th century.
Popular music -- United States -- 20th century.
Prohibition -- Songs and music.
Ragtime music.
Sacred music.
Scottish wit and humor.
Sermons.
Songs, Hawaiian.
Spanish language -- Study and teaching.
Spanish-American War, 1898 -- Songs and music.
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Spirituals (Songs)
String quartets.
Transportation -- Songs and music.
Vaudeville -- United States.
Vaudeville songs.
Vocal duets.
Vocal quartets.
Waltzes.
Whistling music.
Whistling.
World War, 1914-1918 -- Songs and music.
Places
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Songs and music.
Genres and Forms
Cylinders (sound recordings)
Sound recordings.
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Belfer Cylinder Collection,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Purchase and gift, various sources, various dates.
Note on alternate formats:
Many of the cylinders have been digitized and are available online through the Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection.
The entire cylinder collection has been cataloged. Please refer to Libraries Search to locate items, or to the Belfer Cylinders Digital Connection for digitized versions.