George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
Special Collections & ArchivesFenwick Library (2FL)
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-4444
USA
Phone: (703) 993-2220
Fax: (703) 993-2669
Email: speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: http://www.gmu.edu/library/specialcollections
May 4, 2012
Finding aid prepared by Kristen Korfitzen
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Japanese phonograph record collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Japanese phonograph record collection, C0141, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Donor unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff.
Historical Information
The records in this collection are early examples of "electrical" recordings. Prior to 1925 recordings were made acoustically with singers and musicians playing into a horn. Electrical recording introduced the microphone which could pick up a larger range of sound and tone. Record companies developed specific names for this new recording process. The Victor Talking Machine company dubbed the new electric records as Othrophonic Records; Columbia produced "viva-tonal" records. The records in this collection are labeled as such.
A product of Nipponophone, Orient was acquired by Columbia in 1925
Scope and Contents
The Japanese phonograph record collection contains 15 78 rpm phonograph records produced for sale in Japan. The collection also includes original record sleeves and printed material packaged with the record. The records in this collection were released by: Columbia, Regal, Victor, Ploydor and Orient Records. The records could have been released by the American division of these labels for export, or by there Japanese branches. The design of the labels present on the discs indicated that these records were released in the late 1920s through early 1930s. The records have been recorded with the new "electric" recording process, which was introduced to the music industry in 1925.
The song title and artist name are printed in Japanese with only the record company name printed in English. As of now the records remain unidentified.
Arrangement
Organized into five series.
Series 1: Columbia, circa 1928 (Box 1) Series 2: Victor, circa 1927-1932 (Box 1) Series 3: Orient, circa 1928 (Box 1) Series 4: Ploydor, circa 1925-1932 (Box 1) Series 5: Columbia Regal, circa 1925-1932 (Box 1)Related Material
Special Collections and Archives also holds the Music, Theatre, and Spoken Word sound recording collection.
Index Terms
- Music--20th century.
- Music--Japan
- Music--Japan--20th century
- Music.
- Sound recordings.
Subjects:
Document Types:
Contents List
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 1
Columbia 26507,circa 1928
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 2
Columbia 26508,circa 1928
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 3
Victor 50833,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 4
Victor 50834,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 5
Victor 50834,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 6
Victor 50604,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 7
Victor 50605,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 8
Victor 50833,circa 1927-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 9
Orient 60433,circa 1928
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 10
Orient 60432,circa 1928
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 11
Polydor 3832,circa 1925-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 12
Polydor 3833,circa 1925-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 13
Columbia Regal 65882,circa 1925-1932
- Mixed materials Box: 1 Folder: 14
Columbia Regal 65883,circa 1925-1932