Collection Guide
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Guide to the William R. Moran Sound Recording Collection
ARS.0075
ARS.0075
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Table of contents
Title: William R. Moran Sound Recording Collection
Dates: 1902-1984
Collection number: ARS.0075
Creator:
Moran, William R.
Collection size:
18 boxes:
approx. 700 discs (about 280 10" discs and 410 12" discs) ; six open reel tapes ; ten metal parts ; approx. twelve folders
of papers
Repository:
Archive of Recorded Sound
Abstract: Rare recordings on custom vinyl pressings of opera and Western art music, donated by collector and researcher William Moran.
Open for research; material must be requested at least two business days in advance of intended use. Contact the Archive for
assistance.
Property rights reside with repository. Publication and reproduction rights reside with the creators or their heirs. To obtain
permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Head Librarian of the Archive of Recorded Sound.
William R. Moran Sound Recording Collection, ARS-0075, Courtesy of the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound, Stanford University
Libraries, Stanford, Calif.
The William R. Moran Sound Recording Collection was donated to the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound by William Moran from
1987 to 1993.
This finding aid was produced with generous financial support from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
William Rodes Moran (1919-2004) was a collector, researcher, writer, and discographer, particularly in the field of early
sound recordings and vocal art music. His monumental Victor discography with Ted Fagan formed the basis for the on-line Encyclopedic
Discography of Victor Recordings (http://victor.library.ucsb.edu/), but he authored or contributed to countless books. Moran
was a singular presence at the Archive of Recorded Sound, and this collection reflects only a fraction of the material he
donated.
The William R. Moran Sound Recording Collection consists largely of custom vinyl pressings of rare or unreleased early 20th
century vocal art music, donated to the Archive by collector William Moran. There are also some shellac pressings and metal
parts (mothers and stampers). The collection numbers approximately 700 discs, many of which are cancelled releases, alternate
takes, or otherwise commercially unavailable records. Most recording sessions originally produced by the Victor company, although
there are some H.M.V. and Columbia recordings. Many are releases from the International Record Collectors' Club series of
limited reissues. A detailed contents list is available.
Stanford University Archives holds the William R. Moran Collection, BRN-003, which chronicles Moran's occupation as an oil
field surveyor. Moran graduated from Stanford with a degree in geology. University of California, Santa Barbara Libraries
holds a William R. Moran Collection, PA Mss 57, which contains his writing, music research, and sound recordings.
Operas
Vocal music.