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Thomas Edison National Historical ParkHistoric Photo of Laboratory
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Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Requesting an Audio Recording
Cylinder phonograph record storage.

NPS Photo

Cylinder phonograph record storage.

Requesting an Audio Recording:

 

Before requesting a recording from Thomas Edison National Historical Park, we strongly encourage you to search for a copy that is already available via other outlets. Click here for links to Edison-era recordings available on-line from non-profit and governmental organizations. An on-line discography of Edison records is available here http://www.truesoundtransfers.de/disco.htm.

 

An individual or group may request one cylinder of standard-length disc recording per year at no charge. A service fee of $54.00 per hour is charged for requests of more then one recording. The hourly fee will take into account the technical work of reformatting and/or duplicating the audio recording, as well as the additional time needed to fully process the request. 

 

Thomas Edison National Historical Park does not supply audio media (CDRs, DVD-Rs, cassettes, etc.). Audio media must be supplied in advance by the requestor. Use of professional-quality media and cover-protection is strongly encouraged.

 

To begin a request for recordings, please download and print these two forms: "Audio Recording Duplication Request” and “Copyright and Privacy Restrictions”. Complete the forms on paper and mail them to:

 

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Recorded Sound Archives

211 Main Street

West Orange, New Jersey  07052

 

Upon approval of the request forms and receipt of the necessary audio media and fee (if applicable), requestors should allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery. Rush orders are not accepted. Questions can be addressed to the Museum Curator at the above mailing address, via email, or telephone at (973) 736-0550, ext. 48.

1888s photo of the Black Maria - the world's first motion picture studio.  

Did You Know?
West Orange, NJ, was the birthplace of motion pictures. In 1893, Thomas Edison built the first building for the recording of motion pictures. It was dubbed THE BLACK MARIA. It got its name because it was large and black and looked like the police wagons of the day, which were called black marias.

Last Updated: August 07, 2009 at 13:50 EST