Contents

Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Collection Arrangement

Selected Search Terms

Series 1. Correspondence/Research Files, 1913-1987, and undated

Series 2. Writings, circa 1942-circa 1975, and undated

Series 3. Radio Scripts, 1943-1954, and undated

Series 4. Ephemera, 1915-1972, and undated

Series 5. Photographs, 1867-circa 1985, and undated

Series 6. Oversized Materials, 1914-1953, and undated

Series 7. Scrapbooks, 1892-1939, and undated

Series 8. Bound Publications, 1901-1977, and undated

Papers from the Jim Walsh Collection

Authors: Jennifer Lewis with contributions from George Kipper

2004

Biographical Note

Journalist and collector Ulysses "Jim" Walsh (1903-1990) was born in Richmond, Virginia, on July 20, 1903. Best known for his "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists" column that appeared in Hobbies magazine for over forty years, Walsh was recognized as one of the greatest collectors and authorities on popular acoustical-era recording artists and their recordings.

Walsh took an early interest in records, amassing a sizable collection and encyclopedic knowledge by the time he was a teenager. He began writing for newspapers in the late 1920s and had articles published in specialty magazines about recording artists. In 1934 Walsh moved to Johnson City, Tennessee, to become a reporter for the Johnson City Press, a job he would hold for nine years. Ulysses Walsh acquired the nickname "Jim," which he went by for the rest of his life, while working for the Press. While living in Tennessee in 1939, Walsh began hosting a radio program on local station WJHL. His program Walsh's Wax Works showcased old recordings from his collection and gave him a forum to discuss the lives and accomplishments of the artists whose music he played.

In 1942 Walsh began writing his column on early recording artists for Hobbies magazine. The column, originally called "The Coney Island Crowd," was soon renamed "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists," the name under which it continued to be published through 1985. The column focused particularly on popular and vernacular recordings made before 1909, including jazz, humor, minstrel, and vaudeville; the focus was later broadened to include those artists who recorded before the dawn of electric recording techniques in 1925. In the following years, Walsh became well known among collectors as the authority on these early popular recordings. Although best known for his Hobbies columns, Walsh reached an even wider audience through his contributions to Variety and The New Yorker, among other publications.

In 1943 Walsh moved to the town of Vinton, Virginia, adjacent to Roanoke, and joined the staff of the Roanoke World News. At the same time, he made connections with radio station WDBJ in Roanoke and resurrected his show Walsh’s Wax Works. After a short run, he moved the show to radio station WSLS, where it was broadcast through 1960.

Walsh continued to collect recordings, playback equipment, and reference resources such as record catalogs, magazines, and advertisements. For many of his favorite artists, such as Billy Murray, Al Jolson, Harry Lauder, and Vernon Dalhart, he collected nearly every recording they had ever made. Walsh became a great correspondent, fostering relationships with recording artists, collectors, dealers, and his readers and listeners. In later years, he traveled to gatherings of early recording artists and collectors, meeting many of the artists he had idolized as a child.

Walsh was a lifetime bachelor and had a deep devotion to his many cats. He gave updates on his "family of cats" in much of his correspondence and occasionally in his columns; he even arranged to have poems published under the name of his favorite cat: Professor Plum Duff Walsh, Ph.D.

During the late 1970s and 1980s Walsh’s health declined, and he complained of memory loss. In May 1985 his last column was published in Hobbies. He died in 1990 after several years of residence in nursing homes. Walsh was posthumously awarded the first Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) in 1991.

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Scope and Content Note

Jim Walsh devoted his life to collecting, researching, and writing about early popular recordings and recording artists. These papers make up part of the much larger Jim Walsh Collection of early recordings, audio equipment, and related items donated by Walsh to the Library of Congress between 1965 and 1987. The complete collection consists of approximately 40,000 discs, 500 cylinders, and 23 early phonographs. Recordings in the collection are primarily of popular and vernacular music recorded during the acoustical era (pre-1926). It includes a nearly complete run of 5,000 to 6,000 Edison "Diamond Disc" recordings as well as many early Edison cylinders.

This portion of the collection consists of documents and other paper records that relate to Walsh's career and collecting efforts. Included are letters with prominent artists and collectors, research notes, photographs of performers, scripts for Walsh’s radio shows, drafts of his columns and articles, clippings, bound journals, advertisements, and ephemera. The papers also hold a wealth of biographical information about Jim Walsh, including a diary, scrapbooks, photographs, and writings.

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Selected Search Terms

People

• Deakins, Duane D.--Correspondence.
• Debus, Allen G.--Correspondence.
• Fargo, Milford H.--Correspondence.
• Martindale, Jim (James V.), 1894-1981--Correspondence.
• Riggs, Quentin--Correspondence.
• Walsh, Jim, 1903-1990--Archives.
• Walsh, Jim, 1903-1990--Photographs.
• Walsh, Jim, 1903-1990.

Organizations

• Jim Walsh Collection (Library of Congress)

Subjects

• Collectors and collecting--Periodicals.
• Collectors and collecting--United States--Archives.
• Radio broadcasters--United States--Archives.
• Sound recording industry.
• Sound recordings--Collectors and collecting--United States--Archives.
• Sound recordings--Collectors and collecting--United States.

Titles

• Hobbies.
• Walsh's wax works (Radio program)

Form/Genre

• Advertisements.
• Letters (Correspondence)
• Photographs.
• Radio scripts.
• Research notes.
• Scrapbooks.
• Writings.

Occupations

• Entertainers--Photographs.
• Entertainers.
• Journalists--United States--Archives.
• Musicians--Photographs.
• Musicians.

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Collection Arrangement

The papers are arranged in eight series:

• Series 1: Correspondence/Research Files, 1913-1987, and undated
• Series 2: Writings, circa 1942-circa 1975
• Series 3: Radio Scripts, 1943-1954, and undated
• Series 4: Ephemera, 1915-1972, and undated
• Series 5: Photographs, 1867-circa 1985
• Series 6: Oversized Materials, 1914-1953, and undated
• Series 7: Scrapbooks, 1892-1939, and undated
• Series 8: Bound Publications, 1901-1977, and undated

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Container List

Series 1. Correspondence/Research Files, 1913-1987, and undated 2.94 linear feet

Consists of correspondence, notes, copies of birth and death records, obituaries, and other materials collected by Walsh as he researched performers and recordings. The Correspondence subseries consists of Jim Walsh’s written communications with collectors, dealers, experts, record companies, readers, and listeners. Many of the letters consist of requests for information, responses to requests for information, discussions concerning equipment, inquiries about particular recordings or companies, and potential purchases or trades. Frequent correspondents include Duane Deakins, Allen Debus, Milford Fargo, Jim Martindale, and Quentin Riggs.

Research files consist of information about individuals, recordings, and subjects. Many of the files concerning recording artists or personalities include correspondence with or about the performers, and this is complemented by a wealth of other biographical information. Resources include copies of birth and death records, newspaper and magazine clippings, record lists, obituaries, research notes, brief biographies written by Walsh, and other miscellaneous items. Researchers can find photographs of many of the individuals represented here in Series 5.

The series is divided into two subseries: Correspondence and Research Files. Correspondence is filed alphabetically by correspondent’s name; a few miscellaneous and unidentified folders are placed at the end of the subseries. Research files are arranged alphabetically by artist or subject.

Correspondence

Brooks, Tim, 1968, 1975

Burt, Leah Brodbeck Stenzel, 1972-1979

Columbia Phonograph Co., 1929-1957

Crossett, Glenn "Curly," 1948-1958

Deakins, Duane D., 1953-1961

Debus, Allen, 1942-1985

Dethlefson, Ronald, 1981

Dorian, Frank, 1930-1934

Edison, Thomas A. Co., 1923-1975

Includes copies of correspondence from 1921 to 1922.

Fargo, Milford, 1957-1961

Fasset, Stephen, 1940-1948, and undated

Favia-Artsay, Aida, 1953-1962

Forman, Ed, 1954-1957

Gennet Records, 1929

Hansen, Barry (1941-) ("Dr. Demento"), 1976

Harrington, Fred, 1971

Hearne, Will Roy, 1951-1952

John Beiling Day Party, 1948

Johnston, Stanley, 1952, 1958

Kattenberg, Burns M., 1933

Library of Congress, 1963-1987

Lincoln, Thomas R., 1942-1952

MacNamara, Daniel I., 1953

Marks, Herbert, 1953

Martindale, Jim (James V.) (1894-1981), 1938-1980

Miller, Phillip, 1953-1954

Moran, Bill, 1944, 1955

Odell, L. Brevoort, 1948-1969, and undated

Operaphone Records, 1918

Riggs, Quentin, 1945-1985

Rust, Brian A. L., 1957-1959, 1969

Stevens, Lou, 1947-1949

Victor Talking Machine Co./RCA Victor Co., 1925-1931

Welch, Walter L. (Walter Leslie), 1942, 1973

Woodymay Record Co., 1941-1949, and undated

Miscellaneous collectors, 1935-1974, and undated

Miscellaneous publishers and editors, 1931-1957, and undated

Miscellaneous readers and listeners, 1929-1979

Miscellaneous requests for information, 1933-1978, and undated

Unidentified correspondents, 1948-1970

Research files

Alexander, George (Clifford A. Wiley), 1954-1956

Austin, Gene, 1956

Baker, Elsie (1886-1958), 1948-1975

Ball, Rae Eleanor, undated

Banta, Frank E. (1897-1969), 1956-1978

Barbour, Inez (Mrs. Henry Hadley), 1955

Belmont, Joseph (1876-1949), 1949

Benzler, Albert, 1953

Berlin, Irving (1888-1989), 1948-1958

Bieling, John H. (1869-1948), 1948

Brown, Albert Edmund, 1929-1955

Busch, Lou (Joe “Fingers" Carr), 1955

Byrd, Harry Flood (1887-1966) (Senator), 1975

Caesar, Irving (1895-1996), 1957, and undated

Cali, John, circa 1969-1970

Cameron, Grace, 1957

Campbell, Albert, 1942

Chalmers, Thomas, 1973-1974

Clarence, Edward, undated

Clark, Helen, 1957-1958

Collins, Arthur, 1942-1948

Cowles, Eugene (1860-1948), undated

Crumit, Frank (and Julia Sanderson), 1943-1975

Dadmun, Royal, 1975, and undated

Dalhart, Vernon (1883-1948), 1970-1977, and undated

D’Almaine, Charles (1871-1943), 1951-1957

Dann Trio, The, 1973-1977

Davis, Joe (1896-1978), 1977, and undated

Diero, Guido and Pietro, 1954

De Leath, Vaughn, 1934, 1943, and undated

Dickens, Charles (1812-1870), 1954-1957

Dudley, George, 1950-1956

Duncan Sisters, The, 1952-1955

Duprez, Fred, 1938-1952, and undated

Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva) (1847-1931), 1916-1924

Copies.

Elman, Mischa (1891-1967), 1958-1959

Fagan, Sibyl Sanderson, 1919-1927

Photocopies.

Farley, James, 1944

Fields, Arthur, 1949-1953

Freemantel, Frederic, 1923, 1940-1951

Gilbert, L. Wolfe (Louis Wolfe) (1886-1970), 1953-1963

Gillham, Art (1895-1961), 1957

Girard, Armand (Rounders Quintet), 1970

Photocopy.

Glenn, Wilfred, 1970-1972

Green, Lew (Green Brothers), 1959-1961

Greene, Gene, 1956-1957

Gruppe, Paulo M., 1977-1978

Hall, Arthur, 1948-1950, and undated

Hall, Wendell, 1952-1964

Handy, W. C. (William Christopher) (1873-1958), 1951-1956

Hare, Ernest See Jones, Billy

Harlan, Byron G., 1948-1951

Harrison, Charles, 1940-1957

Hart, Chas. (Charles), 1953-1964

Harvey, Morton, 1949-1955

Hatlo, Jimmy, 1941, 1959

Helena, Edith (1876-1956), 1948-1956

Hindermyer, Harvey W., 1947-1957

Hooley, William (1861-1918), 1949

Photocopies.

Howard, Joseph E. (Joseph Edgar) (1878-1961), 1944, and undated

Hunting, Russell, 1944-1950

Irwin, May (1862-1938), 1939

James, Lewis, undated

Jaudas, Eugene, 1928

Copies.

Jones, Ada, 1954

Jones, Billy (1889-1940) and Ernest Hare, 1931-1959

Jones, Spike (1911-1965), 1948-1951

Jordan, Mary, 1923-1958

José, Richard (1862-1941), 1915-1950

Kaiser, Marie, 1915

Photocopies.

Kaufman, Irving (1890-1976), 1940-1967, and undated

Keefe, Andrew, 1976

Kelso, Mayme (Mary L. Bent), 1979

Kimmel, John, 1952-1953

Kline, Olive, 1959-1976

Kronold, Harris, 1922

Photocopies.

Laska, Edward (1894-1959), 1951-1955, and undated

Lauder, Harry, Sir (1870-1950), 1924

Laurie, Joe (1893-1954), 1943-1954, and undated

Leachman, Silas, 1954-1955, and undated

Lloyd, Alice (1873-1949) (Alice Wood), 1949

Lucey, Leola, 1919-1921

Photocopies.

Lulu Belle & Scotty, 1942

Luther, Frank, 1946-1953

MacDonough, Harry (1871-1931), 1931-1932, 1948

Madeira, Addison, 1975-1976

Manhattan Ladies Quartet of New York City, 1913

Photocopies.

Mann, Estella Louise (1871-1947), 1951

Marimba/xylophone, 1970-1972

Marshall, Henry, 1952-1959

Meeker, Edward (1874-1937), 1933, 1944, and undated

Meyer, John A., 1971

Miller, Bob (1895-1955), 1931, 1950-1951

Morse, Dolly, 1952

Morse, Theodore F. (1873-1924), 1952

Morton, Ed, 1951-1952, and undated

Murray, Billy, 1932-1975, and undated

Nealy, Arthur, 1967, and undated

Norworth, Jack, 1942-1959

Oakland, Will (1883-1956), 1940-1956, and undated

O’Connor, George (1874-1946), 1943-1946

O’Hara, Geoffrey, 1960-1965

Ossman, Vess L., 1948-1949

Parvis, Taurino (born 1879), 1955-1956

Person, Alice, undated

Preston, Walter (baritone), 1970

Quinn, Dan W., 1932-1937, and undated

Raymond, Maud, undated

Reser, Harry, 1947-1948

Rice, Gladys, 1973-1977

Robinson, Bill (1878-1949) (Bojangles), 1949

Robison, Carson, 1929-1955

Robyn, Alfred G. (Alfred George) (1860-1935), 1949

Romain, Manuel, 1946-1951

Rose, Eugene, 1947-1952, and undated

Sadler, Josie, undated

Sanderson, Julia See Crumit, Frank

Scanlan, Walter (Van Brunt, Walter), 1935-1954, and undated

Seltsam, William H., circa 1930-1935

Shaw, Elliott, 1954, 1973

Shilkret, Nathaniel (1895-), 1952, 1961

Silver, Monroe, 1940

Smalle, Ed, 1953-1955, and undated

Smeck, Roy, 1977

Smith, Whistling Jack, 1950, 1958

Spaeth, Sigmund Gottfried (1885-1965), 1949-1955, and undated

Spalding, Albert (1888-1953), 1953

Spencer, Elizabeth, 1951, and undated

Spencer, Grace (1872-1952), 1947-1957

Spencer, Len (1867-1914), 1937-1979, and undated

Stanley, Aileen (1893-1982), 1959, 1963

Stanley, Frank C. (1868-1910), 1945, and undated

Sterling, Louis, 1948

Stevenson, Elsie, 1978, and undated

Stewart, Cal, 1975

Sundelius, Marie, 1956

Talley, Harry L., 1952-1956, and undated

Tollefson Trio, 1912, 1963

Photocopies of 1912 and 1963 materials.

Thomas, John Charles (1891-1960), 1971

Trix, Helen, 1950-1951, and undated

Tucker, Sophie (1884-1966), 1953-1966

Van, Gus (1887-1968), 1951

Van Eps, Fred (1878-1960), 1950-1958, and undated

Vance, Clarice, undated

Walker, Ray, 1944-1960, and undated

Walsh, Jim (1903-1990), 1940-1985

Biographical information.

Watawaso, Princess, 1969

Photocopies of 1969 materials.

Wheeler, Dan, 1957

Wheeler, Fred, 1948, 1950

White, Edna (born 1892), 1957-1980, and undated

White, Joseph M. ("The Silvermasked Tenor"), 1953-1954

Whitehouse, Fred, 1951-1953, and undated

Whitlock, Billy, 1949-1950, and undated

Whitney, Edwin M., 1951-1960

Wiedoeft, Rudy, 1964-1977

Wilder, Marshall, undated

Wills, Nat M., 1916, and undated

Mostly photocopies of 1916 material.

Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville) (1881-1975), 1975

Wood, De, 1952-1953

“Wreck of the Old 97," 1951

Young, Victor (1889-1968) and Young, Helen (Davis), 1952, and undated

Miscellaneous collection documentation, undated

Miscellaneous notes on recording artists, undated

Series 2. Writings, circa 1942-circa 1975, and undated .42 linear feet

This collection of Jim Walsh’s writings dates from approximately 1942 through 1975, but the majority are undated. Most of the items found in this series are drafts of articles or columns Walsh wrote for Hobbies, Variety, or The New Yorker, but several bear no indication of their intended publisher. The articles relate primarily to the history of recording and more specifically address subjects such as Edison’s inventions, songs on particular themes, recording artist biographies, and record collecting in general. One folder of writings on miscellaneous topics is included. Copies of indexes to Walsh’s Hobbies column "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists" can also be found here.

Writings are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva) (1847-1931), undated

History of recording, undated

Holiday songs, undated

Indexes to "Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists" in Hobbies, undated

Political songs, undated

Record collecting and collectors, undated

Recording artists (biographical), undated

Miscellaneous, undated

Series 3. Radio Scripts, 1943-1954, and undated .63 linear feet

Series 3 includes scripts for Walsh’s regular broadcasts on radio stations WDBJ and WSLS in Roanoke, Virginia. The majority of the scripts found here date from 1943 through 1949 and are for Walsh’s Wax Works; many of the scripts include separate playlists. Walsh’s shows usually focused on particular themes (for example, songs about girls named Sue), early comedians, early Edison cylinders, or holiday songs. Many of the shows showcased a particular recording artist or composer; an index to these shows is available in the Recorded Sound Reference Center at the Library of Congress. The few scripts available for Walsh’s Sunlight and Shadows show date from 1947 and 1948. A folder of unidentified and partial scripts is included at the end of the series.

Radio scripts are arranged alphabetically and thereunder by date.

Sunlight and Shadows radio scripts, 1947-1948

Walsh’s Wax Works radio scripts, 1943 May-1946 December

Walsh’s Wax Works radio scripts, 1947 January-1949 August

Miscellaneous and unidentified broadcasts, 1948, 1954, and undated

Series 4. Ephemera, 1915-1972, and undated .21 linear feet

Included in this series are advertisements for equipment and recordings, newspaper and magazine clippings, newsletters, record catalogs and price lists, and a few miscellaneous items. Researchers are advised to see Series 6 for oversized ephemera.

Ephemera is arranged alphabetically by genre.

Advertisements, 1915-1972

Clippings, 1936, 1952, and undated

Newsletters, 1951, 1972

Programs, 1920, 1923

Photocopies of 1920 and 1923 programs.

Record catalogs and lists, 1900-1901

Photocopies of 1900-1901 catalogs.

Miscellaneous, 1958, and undated

Series 5. Photographs, 1867-circa 1985, and undated 1.68 linear feet

Series 5 consists of approximately 610 photographs of artists and personalities from the early days of recording. Most of the photographs are black and white, but some modern color photographs are included. Many of the photographs are copies (mostly of poor quality) made from earlier prints, books, albums, or posters. Many of the photographs here were used by Walsh to illustrate his columns in Hobbies. Oversized photographs are filed in Series 6.

Photographs are arranged alphabetically by the name of the person, group or subject. Group, miscellaneous, and unidentified photographs are filed at the end.

Alexander, George (Clifford A. Wiley), 1907

Copy from 1907 poster.

American Quartet, 1910

Copy of 1910 photograph.

American Singers, 1929-1930

Annand, H. H., 1964

Arden, Cecil, undated

"Arkie" - The Arkansas Woodchopper, undated

ASCAP, 1939

Atwood, George, undated

Atwood, Harriet, circa 1965-1967

Baer, Frederic, undated

Copy.

Baker, Elsie (1886-1958), 1948

Banta, Frank E. (1897-1969), undated

Barbour, Inez, undated

Copy.

Bard, Wilkie, undated

Copy.

Barrere Trio, undated

Bayes, Nora (1880-1928), undated

Copy.

Bell, Digby, undated

Copy.

Belmont, Joseph (1876-1949), 1948

Benoist, André (1879-1953), undated

Benzler, Albert, undated

Copy.

Bergy, Ray, undated

Copy.

Berlin, Irving (1888-1989), undated

Bieling, John H. (1869-1948), undated

Copy.

Bowman, Charlie, circa 1920-1929

Branscombe, Maud, undated

Brown, Albert Edmund, undated

Brown, Harry C., undated

Bubbles (in blackface), 1930

Bubbles and Ramona, 1950

Bueno, Vincent, undated

Copy.

Burleigh, Harry T., 1939

Burr, Henry (Irving Gillette, Harry McClasky), circa 1930-1940

Burt, Leah Brodbeck Stenzel, undated

Busch, Lou (Joe “Fingers” Carr), undated

Caesar, Irving (1895-1996), undated

Cameron, Grace, undated

Copy.

Campbell, Albert and Jack Kaufman, 1926, and undated

Caruso, Enrico, 1909

Copy from 1909 photograph.

Case, Anna (1888-1984), undated

Chalmers, Thomas, 1915, 1958

Ciccolini, Guido, 1920

Clarke, Herbert L. (Herbert Lincoln) (1867-1945), undated

Copy.

Clough, Arthur, undated

Copy.

Collins and Harlan, 1922, and undated

Most are copies.

Columbia Stellar Quartette, undated

Connolly, Dolly (Mrs. Percy Wenrich), 1911-1921

Cox, Ray, undated

Copy.

Crazy-Elmer, undated

Crecent Trio, 1921

Copy from 1921 photograph.

Cross, Hugh, undated

Crumit, Frank with Julia Sanderson, undated

Dadum, Royal, undated

Dalhart, Vernon (1883-1948), 1921, 1923

Copies of 1921 and 1923 photographs.

D'Almaine, Charles (1871-1943), 1900

Copy of 1900 photograph.

Davenport, Edgar L. (1862-1918), undated

Copy.

Davis, Helen, undated

Dawson, Peter (1882-1961), undated

Copy.

Dean, Julia (circa 1878-1952), undated Postcard.

De Cisneros, Eleonora, 1912

Copy.

De Leath, Vaughn, 1939

Denny, Will F. (1860-1908), undated

Copy.

Doherty, James (Jay Clay), undated

Copy.

Doreen, Lilian, undated

Copy.

Dudley, Audley F. and George N., 1913, undated

Dudley, S. H., undated

Copies.

Dupree, William, undated

Duprez, Fred, undated

Eames, Emma (1865-1952), undated

Edison Co. staff, equipment, etc., 1890-1919

Copies of 1890-1919 photographs.

Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva) (1847-1931), undated

Copies.

Edison Group artists, undated

Copies.

Edwards, Gus, 1939

Elliott, G. H.(1882-1962), undated

Halftone copy.

Elman, Mischa (1891-1967), 1958, undated

One image is a copy.

Emerson, Walter, undated

Copy.

Eveready Male Chorus, circa 1927

Eveready Mixed Quartet, circa 1927

Fargo, Milford, undated

Farley, James A., undated

Farrar, Geraldine (1882-1967), undated

Favor, Edward M. (1856-1936), undated

Fields, Arthur, circa 1917, 1952

One image is a copy of a 1917 photograph.

Fields, Gracie, undated

Forman, E. C., undated

Formby, George and Luisa Tetrazzini, undated

Copy.

Forsyth, Henry, undated

Gambarelli, Maria, undated

Gialdini, Guido, undated

Girard, Gilbert, 1913

Copy of a 1913 photograph.

Glenn, Ella Wrenn, undated

Glenn, Wilfred, 1927

Copy of a 1927 photograph.

Greaves, John, 1950

Greaves, John, undated

Green, Abel (1900-1973), undated

Greene, Gene, 1912, and undated

Gruppe, Paulo M., 1976, undated

Hadley, Henry, undated

Copy.

Haydn Quartet (Edison Quartet), undated

Copies.

Hager, Frederick W. (1874-1958), undated

Copy.

Hall, Arthur, undated

Hall, Wendell, 1962, undated

Handy, W.C. (William Christopher) (1873-1958), undated

Hare, Ernest See Jones, Billy

Harrington, Fred, 1974

Hart, Chas. (Charles), 1917-1921, 1953, and undated

Harvey, Morton, undated

Hatfield, Lansing, 1941

Hauk, Minnie (as Carmen), undated

Hayes, Bill, undated

Helf, Sadie, undated

Hemus, Percy, 1918

Copy of a 1918 photograph.

Henry, Thomas W., undated

Copy.

Hess, Troy, undated

Hindermyer, Harvey, 1957

Homer, Louise (1871-1947), undated

Hooley, William F. (1861-1918), undated

Copy.

Howard, Joe F., undated

Copy.

Hurtado Brothers Marimba Band, 1940-1941, 1950

James, Lewis, circa 1930

Janis, Elsie (1889-1956), 1938

Jaudas, Eugene, undated

Copy.

John Bieling Days, 1947, 1950

Johnson, Eldridge R., undated

Photograph of a painting.

Johnson, George Washington, undated

Copy.

Jolson, Al (d. 1950), circa 1928, and undated

Jones, Ada, undated

Copies.

Jones, Ada and the Shannon Four, 1918 April

Jones, Billy (1889-1940) and Ernest Hare, 1925, 1936, and undated

Jones, Isham, 1953

Jones, Spike (1911-1965), undated

Jordan, Mary (as Aida), undated

Copy.

José, Richard (1862-1941), undated

Copies.

Kaiser, Marie, undated

Karle, Theo, undated

Kaufman, Irving (1890-1976), 1958, and undated

Kaufman, Jack See Campbell, Albert

Kelso, Maym (Mary L. Bent), undated

Copy.

Kimmel, John J., 1917

Copy of a 1917 photograph.

King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, undated

Copy.

Kirkby, Stanley, undated

Copy.

Kirkwood, Jack, 1945

Kline, Olive, 1948, and undated

Kronold, Hans, undated Clipping.

Lange, Henry, undated

Copies.

Lashanska, Hulda, undated

Copy.

Laska, Edward (1894-1959), 1954

Laurie, Joe, Jr., 1952

Lazzari, Carolina (1891-1946), undated

Leavitt, Donald L., undated

Lennox, Elizabeth,

Copy.

Lennox, Ethel, 1942, 1951

Levy, Jules (1838-1903), undated

Copy.

Lewis, Ted (1892-1971), undated

Libbey, J. Aldrich, undated

Copy.

Little Tich (1867-1928), undated

Lloyd, Edward (1845-1927), undated

Copy.

Lulu Belle and Scotty, undated

Luther, Frank, 1953

Macdonough, Harry (1871-1931), undated

Madeira, Addison, undated

Mann, Estella Louise (1871-1947), undated

Marks, Herb, undated

Martin, Frederic, undated

Copy.

Martin, Riccardo, undated

Copy.

Martindale, Jim (James V.) (1894-1981), undated

Martinelli, Giovanni (1885-1969), 1954

Mayo, Harry, undated

Copy.

Meader, George Farnham, undated

Copy.

Meeker, Edward (1874-1937), circa 1906

Copies from circa 1906 photographs.

Melton, James (1904-1961), undated

Menefee, Bob, undated

Merson, Billy, undated

Copy.

Miller, Christine, undated

Photocopy.

Miller, Reed (1880-1923) and Frederick Wheeler, 1917

Morgan, Corinne, undated

Copy.

Morphy, Bert, undated

Copy.

Morris, Elida, 1960, and undated

Morrisey, Marie, undated

Copy.

Morse, Theodore F. (1873-1924), circa 1910-1924

Morton, Ed, undated

Munn, Frank, undated

Copy.

Murray, Billy, undated

Copies.

Murray, Pete, undated

Copies.

Myers, J. W., 1894

Photocopy of an 1894 photograph.

National Barn Dance (NBC), circa 1939

National Male Quartet, undated

Norton, John L., Sr. and Jr. (Woodymay Record Co.), undated

Norworth, Jack, undated

Oakland, Will (1883-1956), 1931, and undated

One image is a copy of a 1931 photograph.

O’Connor, George (1874-1946), 1943

O’Hara, Geoffrey (1882-1967), 1939, and undated

One copy of a halftone.

Ossman, Vess L., 1923, and undated

One image is a copy.

Parker, Frank, undated

Copy.

Parvis, Taurino (b. 1879), 1907, circa 1910-1919

Copies from 1907 and circa 1910-1919 photographs.

Peerless Quartet, 1919, 1923

Copies of 1919 and 1923 photographs.

Phillips, Joseph, undated

Copy.

Phonographs and phonograph dealers, 1910-1912, 1950, and undated

Three copies of 1910-1912 photographs and two vintage photographs.

Piastro, Mishel (1891-1970), undated

Polk Miller’s Old South Quartet, undated

Copy.

Pons, Lily (1898-1976), undated

Porter, Gene Stratton, circa 1924

Powell, John, 1930

Power, Stella, undated

Copies.

Rea, Virginia, undated

Copies.

Revelers, The, 1928

Copy of a 1928 photograph.

Rice, Gladys, 1931, and undated

One image is a copy of a 1931 photograph.

Riggs, Quentin, 1966, undated

Ring, Blanche, undated

Copies.

Roberts, Bob (1879-1930), undated

Copies.

Robey, George (1869-1954), undated

Copy.

Robinson, Carson, undated

Robyn, Willie, undated

Copy.

Rodgers, Richard, undated

Rogers, Walter, undated

Photograph of advertisement.

Rollickers, The, circa 1929

Copy of a circa 1929 photograph.

Romain, Manuel, circa 1915

Copies of circa 1915 photographs.

Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919), 1912

Copy of a 1912 photograph.

Rose, Eugene, 1949

Rowell, Glenn, undated

Sadler, Josie, undated

Copy.

Sanderson, Julia See Crumit, Frank

Santley, Charles, Sir (1834-1922), undated

Photocopy of a magazine page.

Scanlan, Walter (Walter Van Brunt), undated

Scribner, Jimmy, undated

Seltzer, Frank R., undated

Clipping from booklet.

Shannon Four, The, circa 1919

Shaw, Elliott, circa 1915-1920, and undated

Some items are copies.

Shilkret, Nathaniel (1889-1982), 1952

Short, Thomas V. (Thomas Vowler) (1856-1931), undated

Simon, Robert, 1945

Smalle, Ed, 1955

Smeck, Roy, undated

Spalding, Albert (1888-1953), 1916, 1952

Spencer, Harry, undated

Spencer, Len (1867-1914), 1867, 1958, and undated

Includes a silhouette.

Stanley, Aileen (1893-1982) and Bill Murray, undated

Photograph of a 1926 program.

Steele, Dora (Dowdy), undated

Sterling, Louis, 1948

Copy negative from a 1948 photograph.

Stevens, Ernest L., undated

Photograph of an advertisement.

Sundelius, Marie, undated

One image is a copy.

Superba Musical Comedy Co., undated

Talking Machine Jobbers, National Association, 1914, 1922, and undated

One image is a copy of a 1914 photograph.

Taylor, Deems (1885-1966), undated

"Thanks to the Yanks" program (WABC-CBS), undated

Thompson, William H., undated

Copy.

Tierney, Harry (1890-1965), 1939

Tilley, Vesta, 1906

Tiny Tim with Jim Walsh, 1969

Tollefsen Trio, 1916

Copies of 1916 photographs.

Trix, Helen, 1907

Copies of 1907 photographs.

Turner, Eva, Dame (1892-1990), undated

Ukranian National Chorus, undated Postcard.

Urlus, Jacques, 1912

Copy of a 1912 photograph.

Van, Gus (1887-1968), undated

Van Eps, Fred (1878-1960), 1955, and undated

Van Eps Quartet, 1920

Copy of a 1920 photograph.

Van Eps Trio, circa 1919

Victor Orchestra, circa 1907

Copy of a circa 1907 photograph.

Victor Talking Machine Co., 1901, 1919, and undated

Some images are copies of 1901 and 1919 photographs.

Victor recording artists dinner, New York, 1917

Copy of a 1917 photograph.

Voorhees, Donald, 1964, and undated

Walker, Ray, 1950

Walsh, Arthur, 1944

Walsh, Jim (1903-1990), circa 1939-circa 1985

Walsh's Wax Works, (WDBJ, Roanoke, Virginia), circa 1944-circa 1949

Watahwaso, Princess, 1921

Wenrich, Percy (1887-1952), 1939

Wheeler, Elizabeth and William, circa 1913, 1966

Wheeler, Fred (James F. Harrison), undated

Copy.

White, Edna (b. 1892), 1912, 1922, 1949, 1974, 1978, and undated

Three images are copies of 1912 and 1922 photographs.

Whitehouse, Fred, undated

Copy.

Whiteman, Paul (1890-1967), undated

Whiting, Richard A. (1891-1938), undated

Whitney, Edwin M., undated

Wiedoeft, Rudy, 1918-1932

Copies.

Wilder, Marshall, undated

Williams, Bert (1874-1922), undated

Copy.

Williams, Billy, undated

Copies.

Williams, Emlyn (1905-1987), 1952

Wills, Nat M., undated

Copy.

WJHL staff, 1940

Woodymay Record Co., 1945, and undated

Wreck of the Old 97, 1952, and undated

Landscape, survivor, etc.

WSLS-FM community sing, undated

Youmans, Vincent (1898-1946), 1939

Young, John (Harry Anthony), undated

Young, Victor (1889-1968), undated

Miscellaneous recording artists: groups and composites, circa 1940-circa 1960, and undated

Unidentified individuals, undated

Series 6. Oversized Materials, 1914-1953, and undated 1.2 linear feet

Oversized materials consist of advertisements, newspaper and magazine clippings, scrapbook photocopies, a record sleeve, miscellaneous artwork, photographs, and a poster. A series of stand-up cardboard advertising figures is included; personalities depicted are Victor Herbert, Irene Bordoni, Georgie Price, Fannie Brice, Will Rogers, Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Tito Schipa, Luisa Tetrazzini, and Titta Ruffo. Artwork consists of a cartoon panel signed by Jimmy Hatlo, a (poor) reproduction of the painting The Firstborn by Fagan, and a drawing of Mostar, Bosnia, by Josh Newman. A record sleeve from a Theodore Roosevelt address recorded in 1913 can also be found in this series. Oversized photocopies of a scrapbook with clippings on Charley Case are in the final folder. One oversized poster entitled Some Columbia Talent, features photographs of various recording artists.

Oversized materials are arranged alphabetically by type.

Advertisements, 1914, 1925, and undated

Advertising figures, undated

Artwork, miscellaneous, 1953, and undated

Clippings, 1890, 1914-1916, 1961

Includes photocopies.

Photographs of individuals

Baker, Elsie (1886-1958), undated

Caruso and Ruffo, undated

Farley, James A., undated

Farrar, Geraldine (1882-1967), undated

Dewey, Thomas E. (Thomas Edmund) (1902-1971), 1948

Merman, Ethel, undated

Magazine portrait.

Oakland, Will, undated

Billboard advertisement for Hunter Island Inn.

Unidentified woman, undated

Photographs: Victor Talking Machine Printed Artist

Photographs (with album lists).

Bori, Lucrezia, 1924-1925

Chemet, Renée, 1925

Flonzaley Quartet, 1925

Gogorza, Emilio de, 1925

Marsh, Lucy Isabelle, 1925

McCormack, John, 1924

Photographs: groups and composites

The Victor Male Chorus, 1926

Edison dealers' banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria, undated

The Friar’s Frolic, 1916

Red Cross benefit concert, 1948

Songwriters, artists, and composers. Copy.

Miscellaneous, unidentified, undated

Seltzer, Frank R., undated

Clipping from booklet.

Record sleeve: "A Message by Theodore Roosevelt in His Own Voice," circa 1937

Reeves Sound Studio; original dictated in 1913.

Scrapbook pages: copies of clippings related to Charley Case, 1906-1916

Poster: Some Columbia talent, circa 1900-circa 1910

Series 7. Scrapbooks, 1892-1939, and undated 2.5 linear feet

Scrapbooks are arranged according to size and preservation needs.

Recording index, undated

Arranged by artist name.

Scrapbook: Newspaper and magazine clippings on artists and recordings, circa 1920-circa 1939

Scrapbook: Newspaper and magazine clippings on artists and recordings, circa 1915-circa 1939

Scrapbook: Newspaper and magazine clippings and advertisements, 1892-1925

Scrapbooks: Correspondence between Charles W. Carson and Columbia Phonograph Co. concerning his recordings in Mexico, China, and Japan, 1904-1907 2 volumes.

Photocopies.

Scrapbook: "Descriptive Catalogue ... Wonder Double Bell Talking Machine" and several Talk-o-Phone advertisements, undated

Photocopies.

Series 8. Bound Publications, 1901-1977, and undated 14 linear feet

This series consists of bound journals, columns, pamphlets, and a diary. Many of the publications in the series include Walsh’s notes and handwritten indices.

Arranged alphabetically by description or title.

The Columbia Record, 1904-1907 1 volume.

Includes Walsh’s notes.

"Dave Garraway’s Today Program, Thursday, May 15, 1958," 1958

Bound scrapbook of photographs, clippings, and correspondence documenting Walsh’s appearance on the television show.

Jim Walsh diary, 1977

Handwritten. Consists mostly of personal notes and includes a few clippings and photographs.

"Edison and Pathé Pamphlets," undated

Miscellaneous pamphlets bound together.

Edison Diamond Points (1915-1917) bound with Phonographianna (1956) and Along Broadway (1917-1922), 1915-1922, 1956

Edison Phonograph Monthly and Edison Amberola Monthly, 1903-1921 13 volumes.

Includes Walsh’s notes.

"Edison Tone Test Clippings / Victor Cut-Out Lists," 1915-1917, and undated

Clippings and theater illustrations mounted on heavy cardstock and housed in a large pamphlet box.

"Elide Morris: Her Life and Letters," 1961-1971

Bound scrapbook of correspondence, photographs, articles, and copies of clippings, dated 1910-1914.

"Favorite Pioneer Recording Artists," 1942-1975 15 volumes.

Walsh’s Hobbies columns, some with additional notes and miscellaneous items.

"Jim Walsh in Hobbies," 1935-1974 3 volumes.

Photocopies of Jim Walsh’s Hobbies columns.

"Magazine Articles by and about Jim Walsh," 1929-1969

Bound scrapbook of newspaper and magazine clippings.

Numerical List of Victor Records, 1912, 1914-1915

Includes Walsh’s notes.

"Phonograph Advertising: Literary Digest and Other Magazines," 1902-1931, and undated

Scrapbook of advertisements from magazines and newspapers.

"Pioneer Phonograph Advertising," 1901-1932, and undated

Bound scrapbook of advertisements from magazines and newspapers.

Sound Wave and Talking Machine Record, 1909-1910

Bound periodical.

Talking Machine News, 1903-1936 20 volumes, bound.

Includes Walsh’s notes.

Voice of the Victor, 1907-1926 3 volumes.

Includes notes.

"Woodymay Recording Company: Compendium," circa 1940-1948, and undated

Bound scrapbook with Edison signature, collector signatures, letterhead, photographs, clippings, cards, and other illustrations.