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Series 12. Photographs, 1871-1965, undated
2 linear feet
RPA 00845-00847 (boxes 15-17); RPC 00082 (box OS 2)
Selected items available online.
This series includes copies of formal portraits, Berliner working in his laboratory, family scenes with Cora Berliner and other family members, the staff of U.S. Gramophone Co., and others. There are also photographs of gramophones; Berliner’s factory in Hanover, Germany; microphones; acoustic tiles; the Technical Institute (Technische Hochschule in Hanover); the auditorium in the Oyster School, Washington, D.C.; the Berliner House at 1458 Columbia Road; and many others. Included is a photograph album, circa 1918-1923, of 56 photographs. Photographs are black and white; sizes are 10 x 13 inches and smaller.
BOX-FOLDER 15/1 1872-1926
BOX-FOLDER 15/2 1872-1926
BOX-FOLDER 15/3 1881-1926
BOX-FOLDER 15/4 undated
BOX-FOLDER 15/5 1875, 1895, undated
BOX-FOLDER 15/6 1875-1907, undated
BOX-FOLDER 15/7 1927, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/1 Photograph album, circa 1918-1923
BOX-FOLDER 16/2 1912-1932, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/3 1912, 1915, 1924, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/4 1910-1927, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/5 1900-1950, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/6 1920, 1932, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/7 1915–1924, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/8 1910-1965, undated
BOX-FOLDER 16/9 1910-1932, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/1 1876, 1894, 1920, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/2 1888, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/3 1914, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/4 1914, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/5 1877, 1926, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/6 undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/7 undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/8 1890-1900, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/9 1898, 1924-1929, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/10 1927, undated
BOX-FOLDER 17/11 1920, 1926, undated
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/1 Emile Berliner on porch
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/1 Milton King on horseback
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/1 Portrait of Louise Berliner
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/2 Portraits of Robert Berliner Frank
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/2 Portrait of Cora Berliner
BOX-FOLDER OS 2/3 Matrix plant of the Berliner Gramophone Co.
Series 13. Recordings, circa 1890-1950s
Extent: Over 400 sound discs, including zinc, copper, celluloid, rubber, shellac, and vinyl pressings and masters, in various speeds, and in sizes ranging from 5 to 12 inches in diameter
The recorded sound component of the Berliner Collection consists of over four hundred discs. These include records produced by the Berliner Gramophone Company from the mid-1890s to 1900, unpublished and experimental records, some metal discs that may be stampers or mothers, a number of recordings made for private use, a selection of electronically recorded Victor 78 rpm records, and a number of other commercially released 78s and LPs. The published Berliner records represent one of the first successful attempts to mass-market and commercially distribute popular sound recordings.

The online Library of Congress presentation of Emile Berliner materials, entitled "Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry," features approximately 100 sound recordings that have been converted to Broadcast WAVE and Real Audio streaming digital files. Most of the digitized discs date from the 1870s to the early 1930s, although there are a few items from as late as 1956. Each of those discs is briefly described in this series and links are provided to the online digital files for listening.

More detailed information about the Berliner Collection sound discs, along with other Berliner recordings acquired separately from the collection, can be found in the Library of Congress Online Catalog.
DISC Berliner 0559 Adeste fideles
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1899.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 0559
Online digital audio.
Unidentified chimes performer.
Recorded at an unknown location, Sept. 29, 1899.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00582441
DISC Berliner 1216 Adios a Mexico
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, [189-]
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 1216
Online digital audio.
Arthur B. Adamini, tenor; with piano acc.
Autograph of Adamini inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00579679
DISC Berliner 0504 Admiral Dewey march
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1899.
Composer: Santelmann, William H. (William Henry), 1863-1932.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 0504
Online digital audio.
Performed by the United States Marine Band; William H. Santelmann, conductor.
Recorded at an unknown location, Sept. 20, 1899.
Autograph of Santelmann (conductor) inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/99391883
DISC Berliner 1113 Africana.
Published: New York : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1898.
Composer: Meyerbeer, Giacomo, 1791-1864.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 1113
Online digital audio.
Alberto del Campo, baritone; piano acc.
Recorded in New York, N.Y., June 6, 1898.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00579596
DISC Berliner 051 America
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1899.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 051
Online digital audio.
George J. Gaskin, tenor; piano acc.
Recorded at an unknown location, Apr. 5, 1899.
Autograph of Gaskin inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/99471447
DISC Berliner 097 Auction sale, household goods
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1899.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 097
Online digital audio.
Len Spencer, speaker.
Recorded at an unknown location, Apr. 29, 1899.
Autograph of Spencer inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/99470280
DISC Berliner 1220 Z Ay chiquita
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, [189-]
Composer: Yradier, Sebastián, 1809-1865.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 1220 Z
Online digital audio.
Arthur B. Adamini, tenor; with piano acc.
Autograph of Adamini inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00579680
DISC Berliner 3662 Z Bobolink
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone. 1898.
Composer: Bischoff, J. W. (John W.), 1850-1909.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 3662 Z
Online digital audio.
Virginia Powell Goodwin, soprano; piano acc.
Recorded at an unknown location, Mar. 1898.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/99391880
DISC Berliner 4159 Can you then love another
Published: New York : E. Berliner's Gramophone, 1898.
Composer: Rieger, William H.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 4159
Online digital audio.
S. Mantia, euphonium; piano acc.
Recorded in New York, N.Y., July 25, 1898.
Autograph of Mantia inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00580015
DISC Berliner 1243 Z Caramba
Published: [United States] : E. Berliner's Gramophone, [189-]
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 1243 Z
Online digital audio.
Arthur B. Adamini, tenor; with piano acc.
Autograph of Adamini inscribed in zinc master.
LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/00579681
DISC Berliner 3257 The carnival of Venice
Published: New York : E. Berliner's Gramophone, [189-]
Composer: Benedict, Julius, 1804-1885.
1 sound disc :
Original issue number: E. Berliner's Gramophone 3257
Online digital audio.
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