Historic Stokowski Discs Presented to Library of Congress - Also In This Issue - Article Highlights

Sep 21, 2026

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Weekly Library of Congress Information Bulletin, dated February 15, 1980, reporting a ceremony in which Bell Laboratories representatives presented historic high-fidelity stereophonic recordings of Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra. The article describes the recordings’ 1931–1932 origin, their technical innovations at Bell Labs, and their preservation value for the Library’s earliest stereophonic holdings. It also notes discussion, demonstrations, and related program information for the same issue.

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Historic Stokowski Discs Presented to Library of Congress

AFI Will Screen Early Silent Films

LIBRARYISSN 0041-7904OF CONGRESS INFORMATIONBULLETIN February 15,1980 Vol.39,No.7 | Also In This Issue...
Intern Discovers Rare Russian
Pamphlet in Collections ..51-52
World Premiere of Work by
Ralph Shapey Will Be Heard in
February 29 Concert ...52-53
LC,Three University Libraries
Agree on Name
Authority Cooperation .....53
Librarians Visit LC for
Cooperative Authorities
Project Training ........53-55
Secretary General Jaakko
Numminen of Finnish
Ministry of Education Is
Visitor ..................52
Library Will Participate in
U.S.P.S.Letter-Writing
Week Program ............52
AFI Will Screen Early
Silent Films... .50-51
Library of Congress Publications
Include Revised Catalog of
Copyright Entries .........55-56 | | --- | # Historic Stokowski DiscsPresented to Library of Congress In a ceremony at the Library on January29,a representative of BellLaboratories presented to_Assistant Librarian of Congress forResearch Services John C.Broderick a collection of historic high-fidelity and stereophonic recordings of Leopold Stokowski conduct-ing the Philadelphia Orchestra. The unique recordings,made in 1931 and 1932 by Bell Labs,areconsidered to be the best quality recordings made of the PhiladelphiaOrchestra during the period when it was considered to be at the peakof its musical powers.The first known stereophonic recordings oforchestral music,they were made on electrical sound recording andplayback systems invented by Bell Labengineers. The recordings were part of a Bell Labs project aimed at improvingthe quality of recorded and amplified sound transmitted over thetelephone network.In 1925,when they introduced the first electricalrecording system,their contributions to the technology includedvacuum tube amplification,the condenser microphone,electricalloudspeakers,electrical recording and reproduction techniques,the33/r.p.m.standard for disc recording,Vinylite record discs,goldsputtering techniques to make record masters,a lightweight pickupfor early hi-fi records,and the “air advance ball”method of position-ing the recording head precisely above the wax master.They alsoinvented an acoustical sound reproduction system which RCAmanufactured and sold as the Orthophonic phonograph. In accepting the Stokowski recordings from Bruce E.Strasser,director of public relations for the Bell Laboratories,Mr.Broderickmentioned how important to the Library is the work of AlexanderGraham Bell and the pioneering research and development of thepeople working in and for the laboratories that bear his name.TheLibrary has the notebooks and papers of Alexander Graham Bell,including the first drawing in which he sought to conceptualize thetelephone.The Library also has sound recordings cut,molded,and ArthurC.Keller stamped using the various techniques and materialsdeveloped by Bell Laboratories.The Stokowskirecordings,he said,are a welcome addition to theLibrary's collections of the first stereophonicrecordings. Arthur C.Keller,an engineer now retired fromthe laboratories,described the developments inrecording technology that resulted from the BellLaboratories'efforts to improve telephone commun-ications.Some 6,000 recordings were made duringthese engineering studies,of which about 700 con-tain music of historic value.There are 128 discs ofStokowskimade at the Academy of Musicin Philadel-phia,others done at the Roxy Theater in New York,others of the Princeton organ and musicians such asGeraldine Ferrar,Mischa Elman,and Yasha Heifitz. The Library of Congress Information Bulletin is issued weeklyby the Library of Congress and distributed free of chargeto publicly supported libraries and research institutions,academic libraries,learned societies,and allied organizationsin the United States. Comparable institutions and organizations in other coun-tries may arrange to receive the Bulletin on the exchangebasis by a

FAQs

What recordings were presented to the Library of Congress?

Bell Laboratories presented historic high-fidelity and stereophonic recordings of Leopold Stokowski conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Why are the Stokowski recordings considered especially valuable?

The recordings, made in 1931 and 1932, are described as among the best quality Philadelphia Orchestra recordings of that period and as early stereophonic orchestral recordings.

How did AFI plan to screen the early silent films mentioned in the issue?

The films were rescued and preserved after being buried for nearly 50 years under a hockey rink in Dawson City, and AFI scheduled them for screening at its theater on March 3 and March 12.

Sep 21, 2026

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