This collection, which dates from 1926-1986, documents the output of Moses Asch through the various record labels he founded and co-founded, and includes some of his personal papers. The Asch collection includes published recordings, master tapes, outtakes, business records, correspondence, photographs, and film.
Scope and Contents:
The Moses and Frances Asch Collection measures 841 cubic feet and dates from 1926-1987, with some contemporary, relevant correspondence, clippings, and ephemera added after 1987.
Most of the collection consists of audio recordings (commercial 78 rpm and long-playing records, open reel tapes, acetate discs, and test pressings), correspondence with recording artists and producers, artwork, photographs, ephemera, clippings, record production materials, writings, and business papers relating to Folkways Records. Materials relating to Folkways Records can be found primarily in the Correspondence, Folkways Production, Business Records, Photographs, Artwork, Sound Recordings, and Film series.
The collection also contains some biographical materials and personal correspondence, including materials related to Asch's first business, Radio Laboratories, located in the Biographical Materials series. Correspondence, ephemera, photographs, record production materials, business papers, and recordings relating to Asch's record labels before Folkways Records (Asch Recordings, Disc Company of America, Cub Records) are located in the Early Label Materials series as well as the Audio Recordings and Photographs series.
Arrangement note:
The collection is arranged in 10 series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1942-1987
Series 2: Folkways Production, 1946-1987
Series 3: Business Records, 1940-1987
Series 4: Woody Guthrie papers, 1927-1985
Series 5: Early Label Materials, 1940-1949
Series 6: Biographical Materials, 1926-1987
Series 7: Photographs
Series 8: Artwork
Series 9: Audio Recordings
Series 10: Film
At this time, the collection is partially processed. Please contact rinzlerarchives@si.edu for more information.
Biographical/Historical note:
The son of Yiddish writer Sholem Asch, Moses Asch was born in Poland in 1905. His childhood was spent in Poland, France, Germany, and New York. While young, Asch developed an interest in radio electronics, which ultimately lead him to his life's work, recording the music and sounds of the world. He established several record labels in succession, sometimes partnering with other record companies. Two of his fist record companies, Asch Recordings and DISC Co. of America, went bankrupt. They were followed by his best-known label, Folkways Records, which was founded in 1948 with Marian Distler (1919-1964). He was still working on Folkways recordings when he died in 1986.
Folkways Records sought to document the entire world of sound. The 2,168 titles Asch released on Folkways include traditional and contemporary music from around the world, spoken word in many languages, and documentary recordings of individuals, communities, and current events. Asch's business practices revolved around the commitment to keep every recording issued by Folkways in print, despite low sales. Asch stayed afloat by cutting costs where he could (such as color printing) and offering a high-quality product, meticulously recorded and accompanied by extensive liner notes. In doing this, he could charge a slightly higher price than other commercial outfits. Despite a tenuous relationship with financial solvency, Folkways grew to be not only one of the most important independent record companies in the United States in the 20th century, but also one of the largest and most influential record companies in the world.
Moses Asch's record labels featured famous and lesser known American writers, poets, documentarians, ethnographers, and grass roots musicians on commercial recordings. American folk icon Woody Guthrie recorded on the Asch, Disc, and Folkways labels, and the Asch Collection includes some of his correspondence, lyrics, drawings, and writings. The collection also includes correspondence with other notable musicians and artists such as John Cage, Langston Hughes, Margaret Walker, Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter, Pete Seeger, Peggy Seeger, Ewan MacColl, Alan Lomax, Henry Cowell, and Kenneth Patchen. Also in the collection are ethnographic field notes and photographs by as well as correspondence with Béla Barók, Sidney Robertson Cowell, Harold Courlander, Helen Creighton, Laura Boulton, and Samuel Charters. Asch hired various prominent artists and graphic designers including David Stone Martin, Ben Shahn, John Carlis, and Ronald Clyne to create album cover art for his recordings. Much of the original art and designs for these covers can be found in the Asch Collection.
Asch's output of recordings on various labels, including published recordings, open reel master tapes, outtakes, and acetate disks, in addition to his business papers, correspondence, photographs, and other files were acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987. The collection came to the Smithsonian with the understanding that all 2168 titles under the Folkways label would be kept available in perpetuity.
Shared Stewardship of Collections:
The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage acknowledges and respects the right of artists, performers, Folklife Festival participants, community-based scholars, and knowledge-keepers to collaboratively steward representations of themselves and their intangible cultural heritage in media produced, curated, and distributed by the Center. Making this collection accessible to the public is an ongoing process grounded in the Center's commitment to connecting living people and cultures to the materials this collection represents. To view the Center's full shared stewardship policy, which defines our protocols for addressing collections-related inquiries and concerns, please visit https://folklife.si.edu/archives#shared-stewardship.
Provenance:
Ralph Rinzler arranged the Smithsonian's acquisition of the Moses and Frances Asch Collection in 1987, beginning with Asch before his death in 1986 and continuing with extensive discussions between Rinzler and the Asch family. Since its acquisition, archivist Jeff Place and others have added contemporary, relevant correspondence with Folkways artists and related individuals.
Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Search this
Extent:
2 Cubic feet (5 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Charts
Correspondence
Graphs
Memorandums
Proceedings
Reports
Date:
1959-1980
Summary:
The collection consists of the papers of scientist Andrew Chi, documenting his work on the Cesium 133 atomic clock, and its relevance to the Global Positioning System.
Scope and Contents:
The collections contains correspondence, memorandum, and journal articles related to the Cesium 133 atomic clock. Many of the documents relate to the U.S. Study Group 7, International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) which was formed to prepare documents to dtermine the United States position in relating to worldwide service of standard frequency and time-signal emmssions. The CCIR is an advisory arm on technical matters to the International Telecommunicaytions Union (ITU).
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into two series.
Series 1: U.S. Study Group 7, International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) Materials, 1964-1980
Series 2: Other Materials, 1959-1977
Biographical / Historical:
Andrew R. Chi was head of the Timing Systems Section, Space Data Control Branch, at the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Provenance:
Immediate source of acquisition unknown.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Haultcoeur, Phillip (Hippolyte Arthur), 1908-1967 (Chef) Search this
Extent:
1 Cubic foot (3 boxes)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Color slides
Correspondence
Menus
Newsclippings
Date:
1932-1967
Summary:
Collection documents the NBC television show "Home" (1954-1957) particularly, the activities of on-air chef Phillip Haultcoeur.
Content Description:
The collection consists of correspondence, recipes, menus, photographs, news clippings, and program notes relating to the NBC television show "Home" (1954-1957) and, particularly, to the activities of on-air chef Phillip Haultcoeur.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Personal Materials, 1932-1967
Series 2: "Home" (NBC TV) Program, 1954-1957
Seroies 3: Photographs and Slides, 1950s-1960s
Biographical / Historical:
Hippolyte Arthur Phillip Haultcouer, was born on May 3, 1908 in London, England. He came to the United States in 1929 aboard the SS President Roosevelt and opened the kitchen at New York City's Savoy-Plaza Hotel, which operated from 1927-1965. He was familiarly known as "Chef Phillip." He became a United States citizen on July 24, 1940. From March 1942 to November 1945, Haultcouer served as a Tec-5 in the United States Army. In October 1948 he married Margaret M. Mulcahy (1926-1981) in Manhattan and the couple had two children, Phillip (b. 1949) and Douglas (b. 1951).
In 1953 Haultcouer founded the culinary arts program at the State University of New York at the New York City Community College to train chefs. Haultcouer also appeared on the "Home" television program of the National Broadcasting Company with Arlene Francis and Hugh Downs from 1954 to 1957.
Sources
"Chef Phillip of the Voisin Dead; Set Up State Culinary Program," New York Times, February 15, 1967, page 40.
Gould, Jack. "Television in Review: 'Home' Daytime Show for Women on N.B.C., Starts Ambitiously," New York Times March 5, 1954, page 26
The National Archives at Philadelphia; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; NAI Title: Declarations of Intention for Citizenship, 1/19/1842 - 10/29/1959; NAI Number: 4713410; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: 21
National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-circa 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 04882; Reel: 152
New York City Municipal-Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 46
Provenance:
Collection donated by Phillip A. Haultcoeur (son of chef Phillip Haultcoeur) in 2020.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
![view Interview: John Dale [Part 1] digital asset number 1](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZOVCpWSFZwM/default.jpg)
