Archival audio materials often are not represented in conventional online library catalogs, and the HMRC holdings are typical in this regard. A portion of the Collection's LPs and all of those formerly in the Fine Arts Library's collection can be found in the Library Catalog. The HMRC's CDs are listed there also. For the remaining 90% of the HMRC we have to rely on 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 RLIN, 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 finding aids. In 2004 we began an ambitious project to convert existing paper files into web-accessible databases. We create web-accessible documents for collections that lack a finding aid. Click on the links below to go to the finding aids for particular collections.
Transcription Discs
