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Electronic musical instruments

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: Includes: Drum machine; Electric cello; Electric guitar; Electric violin; Electronic harpsichord; Electronic organ; Electronic piano; Electronium; Encephalophone; Heliphon Mellotron; MIDI controllers; Mouseketier; Ondes Martenot; Piano-harp; Pianocorder; Sampler; Sequencer; Synthesizer; Telharmonium; Theremin; Trautonium.

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

Hammond Organ Company promotional materials

 Collection
Accession: 2024-207
Abstract:

Hammond Organ Company was a manufacturer of electronic organs based in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by inventor and engineer Laurens Hammond (1895-1973). This small collection consists of promotional materials designed to engage Hammond organ owners and prospective purchasers.

Dates: 1961-1962

Herbert Belar papers, 1943-1967

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-2.-II.
Scope and Content:

The Herbert Belar papers are composed of schematics, notes, and compositions from Belar’s work on acoustical electronics, including a music composing machine, a phonetic typewriter, and the music synthesizer, at RCA Laboratories, from 1943 to 1967. They also include schematics and reports on several projects Belar did for the military during World War II as part of a secret RCA working group called “MAD Lab.” Of special note is a 1955 letter from Robert Moog, then a student at Queens College, requesting information on RCA’s electronic music synthesizer.

Thirty-seven of Belar's lab notebooks (1948-1966) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1943-1967

Herbert Belar papers

 Collection
Accession: 2767
Abstract:

Herbert Belar (1901-1997) was an inventor and research scientist in the field of acoustical engineering at the RCA David Sarnoff Research Center in Princeton, New Jersey for thirty-eight years. He developed "hi-fi" recording, the phonetic typewriter, and the electronic music synthesizer. This small collection of Herbert Belar papers reflects the professional daily work of an acoustical engineer from the 1930s through the 1960s. There is significant documentation on the phonetic typewriter, the 200 speech communication system, the music composing machine, and the electronic music synthesizer. Notable inclusions are information related to the development of "hi-fi," film motion pictures sound recording, and phonographic records recording. There is only one file that discusses Belar's work at the MAD Laboratory.

Dates: 1928-2020; Majority of material found within 1938-1966

Roland A. Lynn papers, 1955-1959

 Series
Accession: 2464-09Identifier: 2464-09-2.-IV.
Scope and Content:

The Roland A. Lynn papers are composed of schematics and electronic instrumental scores related to Lynn’s contributions in developing the Mark II musical synthesizer at RCA Laboratories from 1955 to 1959.

Sixteen of Lynn's lab notebooks (1951-1958) can be found in Record group 26.

Dates: 1955-1959