Administrative Information
Provenance
Gift, Les Paul Foundation, 2010.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
The Les Paul Papers were processed by Stephanie Akau and Jane Cross in 2019. Stephanie Akau and Jane Cross coded the finding aid for EAD format in 2019. Jane Cross added materials in 2022 that were transferred from NAVCC.
Transfers
Audio recordings that arrived at the Library of Congres with the Les Paul Papers are maintained at the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division where they are identified as the Les Paul Collection (MAVIS collection no. 14906). An inventory of this material is available at MBRS.
Materials Cataloged Separately
Approximately 17,160 index cards from the Les Paul Papers provide information on the sound recordings. They are cataloged in RPU 00127-00130 and RPU 00140 and can be requested in the Recorded Sound Research Center, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress, (202) 707-7833. Advance notice is required.
Other Repositories
The archives at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, contain the Les Paul Papers. Their museum features a permanent exhibit on Les Paul. The Waukesha County Historical Society in Wisconsin contains and displays many artifacts illustrating Les Paul's life and career.
Related Material
The Joe Smith Collection contains recordings of interviews with Les Paul. One interview is available here.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [item, date, container number], Les Paul Papers, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.