FAQ: Where can I find historic or archival sound recordings in the Shapiro Library to include in my presentation?

You can find historic sound recordings in library databases and digital collections:

Library Databases

• U.S. History in Context – Gale contains over 200,000 audio recording links. Click on the Advanced Search link to limit to just the audio content type.
• Biography in Context – Gale contains over 229,000 audio recording links. Click on the Advanced Search link to limit to just the audio content type.
• College in Context – Gale contains over 261,000 audio recording links. Click on the Advanced Search link to limit to just the audio content type.

Digital Collections

• Digital Public Library of America This link opens in a new window - DPLA includes digitized material from many libraries and archives in the US. To find recordings, search by keyword and then choose "Type: sound” on the left side of your search results.
• Free Audio Resources for instruction This link opens in a new window – Famous recordings in science & technology.
• G. Robert Vincent Voice Library digital repository This link opens in a new window - The G. Robert Vincent Voice Library files found in the digital repository represent only a small part of the entire Voice Library collection, which includes over 100,000 hours of audio recordings dating back to 1888. The repository features Voice Library items held in the public domain or which include permission from the rights-holder for online distribution. 
• Library of Congress Digital Collections Audio Recordings This link opens in a new window - Online recordings at the Library of Congress include music along with interviews, oral histories, and more.

Further Assistance

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please open a chat with us 24/7 from the library homepage.