Archival audio materials often are not fully represented in library catalogs, and the HMRC holdings are typical in this regard. The Collection's LPs, CDs, and videodiscs can be found in the Library Catalog. For the remaining 40% of the HMRC we must use other methods of bibliographical control.
For the 78s (both single discs and sets) we rely on shelf order and the Rigler and Deutsch Record Index. The Index was created by five of the largest U.S. recorded-sound collections in the late 1970s and early 80s and lists over 600,000 recordings. Available on microfiche and via the bibliographic database OCLC Worldcat, the Index allows one to search for authors/composers, titles, performers and labels (manufacturer names) and ties that information to issue and matrix numbers. Once the issue number has been identified, HMRC staff can check the shelves for a particular item, as the 78s are arranged by label name and issue number.
For discrete collections, we provide bibliographical access via web-accessible databases. In 2004 we began an ambitious project to convert existing paper files. Click on the links below to go to the finding aids for particular collections.
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