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Please see the e-mail inquiry posted below in the
body of this e-mail that came to me at my government e-mail address. It is
meant for ARSC and the ARSC Listserv. The Excel spreadsheet inventory of
78s that came with the e-mail would not transmit to the Listserv, so
please contact the sender for that inventory if you are
interested. This inquiry could also be posted on 78-L if someone
would do that also since I am not subscribed to 78-L.
Thanks
Les Waffen
Special Media Archives Services
Division
"Dear Mr. Waffen:
The music librarian at the University of Oregon,
Leslie Bennet, suggested I contact you.
I looked over the ARSC webpage and I do understand
that your organization does not buy and sell recordings, but I thought you might
have some insight to share with me--about a collection of 78's for which I am
presently acting as "curator."
My reason for thinking that these 78's are not just
your run-of-the-mill old records, is not so much because they're rare (I'm told
that only a couple are moderately interesting in terms of rarity), but because
so many of them are in such good condition. It occured to me that you
might know someone who's work might benefit from their good
condition.
These recordings were in the collection of Lawrence
Maves, who was violin professor at the U of O music school for 40 years, and
conductor of the local symphony. A Juilliard graduate, he was the Eugene
area's musician extraordinaire for several decades. He passed away in
April, and is sorely missed. I became the de facto curator of
memorabilia and among his possessions were thousands of LP's, probably 1500
CD's, and these 150 or so 78's, some of which date from early in the
century. He took very good care of them. Many look to be in mint
condition.
The LP's and CD's have been donated to
universities. I'm torn about what to do with the 78's. I'm told that
their value as collectibles is rather meager, and as recordings, per
se, many of the performances have now been remastered and are available on
CD. But I can't help but think that their good condition might make them
valuable in some way. On the other hand, I'd like to keep them for
sentimental reasons. But then it seems like a most fitting memorial to
Larry if they were to be put to some good use that Larry would have thought
worthwhile.
Anyway, that's my situation.
I've attached a spreadsheet detailing what's in the
collection, along with descriptions of their condition. As you can tell
from the list, Larry was really into opera and violin performance. One of
the most curious is one by Henry Ford's orchestra. Henry Ford?
Anyway, it has been a learning experience for me, seeing all these old
recordings.
Another item that probably is of no interest to
anyone but me, but I'll mention it anyway--several LP's that are recordings of
Larry Maves himself, from the 40's and 50's--when he was a student in university
and at Juilliard. Intriguing to hear the early Maves. It also makes
me think about all the tapes of recitals and string quartet concerts he
gave over the 40 years, and symphony concerts that he conducted--they exist
somewhere--I might have a few (not sure yet--so much stuff to go through)
and it makes me wonder, what, if anything, will ever be done with them.
And it all is a testimonial to the excellent work that is being done--has been
done--by many local people out here in the hinterlands.
I'll stop here, and await any thoughts and
reactions you might have.
Oh yes. I also have about 100 Edison
cylinders but the background and condition of those is different.
Inventory attached.
thanks in advance for your attention.
Warren Chism
Violin Maker
Albany, OR "
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