Mainspring Press and Record Research Associates subject files, 1950s

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Summary

Title:
Mainspring Press and Record Research Associates subject files
Dates:
1950s
Creators:
Record Research Associates, Sutton, Allan, Bryant, William R., 1950-1995, and Mainspring Press
Abstract:
Record company subject files created and compiled by the Record Research Associates, and later used by Mainspring Press.
Extent:
11 Linear Feet (7 cartons, 34 card file boxes)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Mainspring Press and Record Research Associates subject files, PA Mss 247. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes subject files of record companies and data cards of records, sorted by company, created by the Record Research Associates, and later used by Mainspring Press.

Biographical / historical:

The Record Research Associates (RRA) was a group of individuals, informally founded in the early 1950s, focused on discographic research of pre-war record labels and on documenting the recording sessions of historic jazz and blues recordings. Operating loosely until the early 1990s, it also published a mimeographed journal Record Research, edited by Leonard Richard Kunstadt.

The research files they compiled eventually passed on to member William Bryant, and subsequently to Allan Sutton of Mainspring Press, who used the files as the basis for several publications.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Allan Sutton, June 2022.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged by topic into two series:

  • Series 1: Subject files
  • Series 2: Data cards

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Rebecca Vasquez, January 2025.
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2025-01-31 11:27:09 -0800 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and may be retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.

All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assignees for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item], Mainspring Press and Record Research Associates subject files, PA Mss 247. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Location of this collection:
UC Santa Barbara Library
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9010, US
Contact:
(805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu
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