Jack Linker American Bands Sound Recording Collection, ca. 1895-1939 | The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music

The collection is divided by format into three series. The 78 rpm sound recordings from Series 1 are arranged alphabetically by artist, then alphabetically by composition title. Numbers listed after label name indicate issue number. If a record has both an A and a B side, it has been alphabetized using the artist and title information from Side A. The 7-, 5 1/2-, and 4-inch records, which were stored by Linker in an album, are found at the end of the series and are in the order that was maintained by Linker within the album. The original records album is also included at the end of the series. The cylinder recordings from Series 2 are separated first by length (either 2-minute or 4-minute), then arranged alphabetically by artist, then alphabetically by composition title. Selections of original cylinder casings have been placed at the end of Series 2. Series 3 consists of music and photographs. Series 4 consists of historic audio equipment and is arranged by non-accession number.

Linker first developed an interest in John Philip Sousa while playing clarinet in his high school band.  Briefly educated at Miami University, he left college to join the Navy as a radioman.  During his service he learned the harmonica, kept a small phonograph for his private use in the radio room, and spent his shore leave attending concerts in New York City.  After leaving the Navy in 1955, Linker began collecting sound recordings and associated materials, including early cylinder sound recordings, records, and piano rolls.

Sources:
Telephone interview with Jack Linker conducted 10 July 2008.

Bands
Brass Bands
Military Music

German
French