The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a
database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with access to the production catalogs of those same companies. DAHR is part of the American Discography Project (ADP), and is funded and operated in partnership by the
University of California, Santa Barbara, the
National Endowment for the Humanities, and the
Packard Humanities Institute
The Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) is a non-profit foundation, established in 1987, and located in Los Altos, California, which funds projects in a wide range of conservation concerns in the fields of archaeology, music, film preservation, an ...
.
Database catalog
The database catalog is essentially based on physically accessible archive material, stored at the companies that still exist and others that succeeded the production companies that were active at the time. Catalog compilations created by specialist authors are also used, supplemented by newly acquired research knowledge.
*
Victor Talking Machine Company releases, including RCA-Victor recordings, were made in the United States and Central and South America prior to 1939. This includes audio recordings that were borrowed from the Gramophone Company's recordings catalog. (Sources: Sony Music Entertainment Archive and the University of California, Santa Barbara).
* Recordings for the
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
label, made between 1901 and 1934. (Source: Columbia Master Book Discography by Tim Brooks and
Brian Rust).
* Pressings of the
Berliner Gramophone Company from 1892 to 1900. (Source: Berliner Gramophone Records: American Issues 1892-1900 by Paul Charosh).
*
Edison Records Imprints Diamond Disc and Needle Type releases between 1918 and 1934. (Primary and secondary sources provided by
Thomas Edison National Historical Park).
* Pressings of the
OKeh Records
Okeh Records () is an American record label founded by the Otto Heinemann Phonograph Corporation, a phonograph supplier established in 1916, which branched out into phonograph records in 1918. The name was spelled "OkeH" from the initials of Ott ...
label, which were made from 1918 to 1934. (Source: Discography of OKeh Records 1918-1934 by Ross Laird and Brian Rust).
* Releases from
Zonophone Records. (Sources: Discographies The American Zonophone Discography: Volume I, Ten- and Twelve-Inch Popular Series (1904–1912) and The American Zonophone Discography: Volume II, Seven-, Nine-, and First Ten-Inch Series (General Catalog, 1900–1905), the latter unpublished, both prepared by William R. Bryant and Allan Sutton).
* Recordings made by
Decca Records
Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934 by Lewis, Jack Kapp, American Decca's first president, and Milton Rackmil, who later became American ...
between 1934 and 1974 (Source: The Decca Labels: A Discography by Michael Ruppli).
* Pressings of the
Brunswick Records label. (Source: Brunswick Records: A Discography of Recordings, 1916-1931 by Ross Laird).
* Releases from Leeds & Catlin Records. (Source: Leeds & Catlin Records by William R. Bryant and Allan Sutton).
Notes
The American Discography Project is partnered with the
National Jukebox Project of the
Library of Congress. As a result, Victor Talking Machine Company publications from 1900 to 1925, including additional recordings digitized by the University of California, Santa Barbara, are available.
References
Online music and lyrics databases
Music websites
Victor Talking Machine Company albums
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