Series A - 78 rpm recordings

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

78 rpm recordings

General material designation

  • Sound recording

Parallel title

Other title information

Title statements of responsibility

Title notes

Level of description

Series

Reference code

OTUFM 57-2-A

Edition area

Edition statement

Edition statement of responsibility

Class of material specific details area

Statement of scale (cartographic)

Statement of projection (cartographic)

Statement of coordinates (cartographic)

Statement of scale (architectural)

Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)

Dates of creation area

Date(s)

  • 1899-1997, predominant 1899-1957 (Creation)

Physical description area

Physical description

208 boxes of audio recordings (ca. 6,500 audio discs)

Publisher's series area

Title proper of publisher's series

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Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series

Numbering within publisher's series

Note on publisher's series

Archival description area

Name of creator

(1931-2001)

Name of creator

(1946-)

Custodial history

Scope and content

Series consists of the 78 rpm recordings from the Stratton-Clarke collection. The collection spans the entire history of 78 record production, including acoustic and electronic recordings, ranging from 7 to 14 inches in diameter. It consists predominantly of vocal recordings, representing the work of more than 1,000 different performers. Stratton and Clarke's collecting mandate focused on the Golden age of singing (pre-World War One), releases of the Mapleson cylinder recordings, Canadian performers, and early Russian recordings (pre-Revolution). Stratton also collected recordings by performers that he knew personally.

Notes area

Physical condition

Immediate source of acquisition

Arrangement

Items are arranged in accession order, as received from the donor. Each identifier indicates the box number (SC001, SC002, etc.). The Scope and content note for each item summarizes details of the recording in the following format: [Artist(s)]. [Title]. [Composer(s)]. [Record label]: [Catalogue number]. [Matrix number]. [Recording location].

Boxes 1 to 23 were selected by Stephen Clarke to remain onsite at the Music Library:

  • Box 1 contains Historic Masters test pressings for the Neue Gesangschule recordings, which were issued in 1909 in conjunction with a course of singing lessons by Eugen Fischer and Friedrich Neufeld entitled Neue Gesangschule mit praktischen Beispielen auf dem Grammophon (Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1910).
  • Box 2 contains small 78 rpm discs up to 10-inches.
  • Boxes 2 to 12 contain 10-inch discs, arranged in alphabetical order by last name of the vocalist. 10-inch box sets are stored in Box 12.
  • Boxes 13 to 21 contain 11- 12-inch discs, arranged in alphabetical order by last name of the vocalist.
  • Box 22 contains Historic Masters boxed sets.
  • Box 23 contains 14-inch discs issued by Pathé and Fonotipia.

Boxes 24 to 108 contain 12-inch discs, arranged in shelf number order, as stored prior to their arrival at the Music Library. Boxes 109 to 112 contain 12-inch discs without Stratton-Clarke shelf numbers. Most of the latter are vinyl test pressings of Historic Masters material, which are mostly duplicates of recordings issued by Historic Masters, with the exception of those that were never issued.

Boxes 113 to 116 contain 11 ½-inch Pathé discs, arranged in shelf number order. Boxes 116 to 120 contain 10 ¾-inch discs released by Fonotipia and Odéon, arranged in shelf number order.

Boxes 121 to 196 contain 10-inch discs, arranged in shelf number order. Boxes 196 to 197 contain 10-inch discs without Stratton-Clarke shelf numbers. Most of the latter are Historic Masters releases.

Boxes 198 to 202 and 205 to 209 contain boxed sets of 78 rpm discs (both 10-inch and 12-inch discs), arranged in shelf number order.

Boxes 203 and 204 mostly consist of special pressings of 78 rpm discs issued by The Hugo Wolf Society, created from the collection of Richard Bebb (former chair of Historic Masters). Box 204 also contains select duplicate 78 rpm records to play on the Victor VI.

Language of material

    Script of material

      Location of originals

      Availability of other formats

      Restrictions on access

      Boxes 1 to 23 and 203 to 204 are stored onsite at the Music Library, and were selected by Stephen Clarke prior to their donation as the most valuable items in the collection. All other 78 RPM records are stored offsite at the Downsview location. To access these records, please contact the Music Library at least two weeks in advance of your visit.

      Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication

      Finding aids

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      Accruals

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      Standard number

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      Control area

      Description record identifier

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      Rules or conventions

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      Boxes 1-107 added May 5-6, 2021.
      There is no Box 76 due to the removal of duplicate copies.
      Boxes 108-204 added August 11, 2021.
      Boxes 205-209 added September 14, 2021.

      Language of description

        Script of description

          Sources

          Accession area