Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8g84mm25r
Historical Audiovisual Collection, 1912-2008 (bulk 1945-1996): Finding Aid
AC047
RKO cameramen film students in Chancellor Green for This is America movie short. Spring 1948.
65 Olden Street
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA
Phone: 609-258-6345
Fax: 609-258-3385
mudd@princeton.edu
http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd
Published in 2003
©2006 Princeton University Library
Summary Information
- Collector:
- Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
- Title and dates:
- Historical Audiovisual Collection, 1912-2008 (bulk 1945-1996)
- Abstract:
- This collection contains more than 2,000 items, including film, videotapes, compact discs, audio cassette tapes, reel-to-reel tape, and record albums and covers a broad range of topics including classical music, alumni reunions, lectures, and interviews.
- Size:
- There over 2,000 items in the collection, which continues to expand.
- Call number:
- AC047
- Location:
- Princeton University Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections.
Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.
Princeton University Archives.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540 USA - Language(s) of material:
- English.
- Storage note:
- This collection is stored onsite at the Mudd Manuscript Library.
History of the Historical Audiovisual Collection
The oldest item is a silent film from 1912 of John Grier Hibben's inauguration as president of Princeton University. The bulk of the items were produced from 1945 to 1996. Items from the 1920s through 1930s are generally alumni reunions, alumni trips, the Triangle Club Jazz Band, and football, through these topics can be found throughout the collection. Additional items from the 1940s include the Nassoons, the Ivy Quartet, the Princeton University Band and Princeton University Orchestra, the Class of 1945 Oral History project, and the Princeton Preceptorial of the Air. During the 1950s, the collection becomes more varied, adding the Princeton 54 through 56 series produced by NBC, the Tigertones, and Chapel Choir, the Glee Club, field trips with Professor Glenn Jepson (Department of Geology), and material featuring Adlai Stevenson, Herbert Hoover, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Audiovisual material from the 1960s includes the Chamber Chorus, Gauss Seminars, a 1960 Princeton newsreel, Governor Rockefeller, Bill Bradley, and the Woodrow Wilson School dedication.
Items from the 1970s reflect the turbulent era with the 1970 Princeton strike, and Anti-ROTC demonstration, and a contemporary music concert. The Gauss Seminars continue during the decade. Other items are faculty meetings, public lectures, the Special Committee on Sponsored Research, a Judicial Committee hearing, and the Symphonic Band. There are many taped series in the 1980s, including such diverse topics as: Dennis Sullivan interviews with Princeton University Alumni, “The Photograph & the American Indian,” molecular biology, Near Eastern studies, a US-Japanese trade conference, a Medicare conference, a Raphael symposium, Latin American studies, a global logistic symposium, the Woodrow Wilson School's Leadership in the Modern Presidency and Women Executives in State Government series, and regional and conservation symposium. Items from the 1990s include Martin Luther King Day celebrations, Toni Morrison, Nobel laureate in literature, “Defining Moments: Princeton at 250, Andrew Wiles, a student interview of members of Two Dickinson Road Vegetarian co-op, Princeton 250th anniversary Charter Weekend concert (“A Tribute to the Performing Arts”), and Princeton Conference of Higher Education.
Description
This collection has been divided into 21 broad topics, however, two comprise over half of the collection, having 500 items each: Music and Lectures/Addresses/Forums/Debates. The musical material is composed of record albums and magnetic tapes of performances by the Nassoons, the Princeton Tigertones, Tigertown Five, The Triangle Club Jazz Band, undergraduate and graduate composers, the Princeton University Orchestra, Glee Club, Chapel Choir, and the Smith-Princeton Chamber Chorus, among others. The subject of Lectures/Addresses/Forums/Debates category consists of health, politics, art, and archaeology, to name but some. The Gauss Seminars and Colloquiums focus on literary critique.
Among the other categories are Athletics (mostly football), Social Life, War/Military, Interviews, Government, Field Studies, Judicial Hearings, Theater, Alumni Group Tours/Trips, Campus, Entertainment/Documentary, Awards, and Conferences/Meetings. Some notable items are an audio recording of Jimmy Stewart singing in a Triangle Club production Spanish Blades, “Year of the Tiger” 1965 basketball highlights, PBS's MacNeil-Lehrer New Hour feature on the Hubble Telescope and Dr. Lyman Spitzer, “Looking Back: A Reflection of Black Alumni at Princeton” on the 150th Anniversary of the University, and Toni Morrison speaking about Paradise and appearing on various television and news shows. Other items of potential interest are the Celebrating Jewish-American Writer series, James Baker III '52, Secretary of State, at Princeton in various news clips, and the Class of 1945's World War II Oral History Project. There are also several dedication ceremonies of campus buildings; most are in audio format.
Arrangement
Each item in the collection has been entered into the Princeton University Historical Audiovisual Collection database The database can be searched by keywords, and narrowed by topic, media type, and year. A few of the items have indexes, programs, letters, or notes that are located in Box 191 and are indicated on the database by a check mark.
Access and Use
Access
Collection is open for research use.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the University Archivist. Copyright is held by the Trustees of Princeton University.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Mudd library does not have the facilities to view of listen to this material, and obsolete formats will need to be converted to a current format at the patron's expense before a reproduction can be made. Patrons should allow approximately four to six weeks for reproductions, especially if outdated formats are involved.
Other Finding Aid(s)
Searchable database located at: http://www.princeton.edu/~mudd/databases/audio-visual.html
Acquisition and Appraisal
Provenance and Acquisition
The collection is the result of many contributions from individuals and departments within the University. Many items are from the University Chapel and Communications Department. Several of the items have accession numbers with donor information.
Processing and Other Information
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Carol Burke and Carmen Breslin '01, Katie Grzencyzk '02. Finding aid written by Carol Burke and Carmen Breslin '01, Katie Grzencyzk '02.
Descriptive Rules Used
Finding aid content adheres to that prescribed by Describing Archives: A Content Standard.
Encoding
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Techbooks and Cristela García-Spitz on October 20, 2006.
Finding aid written in English.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Historical Audiovisual Collection, Box and Folder Number; University Archives, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Subject Headings
These materials have been indexed in the Princeton University Library online catalog using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
- Princeton University -- Alumni and alumnae.
- Princeton University -- Basketball.
- Princeton University -- Bands.
- Princeton University -- Choral organizations.
- Princeton University -- Congresses.
- Princeton University -- Football -- 20th century.
- Princeton University -- History.
- Princeton University -- Orchestras.
- Princeton University -- Songs and music.
- Princeton University -- Sports.
- Princeton University -- Students -- Social conditions -- 20th century.
- Princeton University. Triangle Club.
- Debates and Debating -- New Jersey -- Princeton -- 20th century.
- Audiovisual materials.
- Compact discs.
- Documentaries.
- Lectures.
- Newsreels.
- Magnetic tapes.
- Silent films.
- Videotapes.
- Videocassettes.
Browse other finding aids related to the following terms:
Permanent URL: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/8g84mm25r