Joseph Schillinger Phonograph Record Collection
name: label: Creator
content: Schillinger, Joseph, 1895-1943
label: Collector
content: National Museum of American History (U.S.). Division of Musical History
label: Names
content: Cowell, Henry, 1897-1965
label: Names
content: Theremin, Leon
topic: label: Topic
content: Musical instruments
label: Topic
content: Rhythmicon
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated to the National Museum of American History by Mrs. Joseph Schillinger (Frances) and transferred to the Archives Center from the Division of Musical Instruments (Division of Culture and the Arts) in June 1985.
creator: label: Creator
content: Schillinger, Joseph, 1895-1943
setName: label: See more items in
content: Joseph Schillinger Phonograph Record Collection
abstract: label: Summary
content: Joseph Schillinger (1895-1943), composer and musical theorist, worked extensively with the Rhythmicon. The Rhythmicon, constructed in 1931, is the earliest electronic rhythm machine. The collection consists of recordings of the Rhythmicon.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Joseph Schillinger (1895-1943), composer and musical theorist, worked extensively with the Rhythmicon. The Rhythmicon, developed in 1931 by Leon Theremin at the request of composer Henry Cowell, is the earliest electronic rhythm machine.

Schillinger was born on August 31, 1895, in Kharkov, Ukraine. After beginning a successful musical career in the Soviet Union, he immigrated to the United States in 1928 and settled in New York City. He taught at New York University, the Teachers College of Columbia University and the New School for Social Research. A trained mathematician, Schillinger developed his own system of composition based on mathematics.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.6 Cubic feet (2 boxes)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1940-1941, 1985
label: Date
content: bulk 1940-1941
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives Center, National Museum of American History
identifier: label: Identifier
content: NMAH.AC.0162
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Phonograph records
label: Type
content: 78 rpm records
label: Type
content: Audiotapes
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is organized into two series. 

Series 1: Original Discs, 1940-1941

Series 2: Miscellaneous, 1940-1941, 1985
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: Collection processed by Wendy Shay, 2016.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Phonograph records
label: Genre/Form
content: 78 rpm records
label: Genre/Form
content: Audiotapes
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: This collection consists of nine transcription recordings of the Rhythmicon on 78 rpm phonographic records made by Joseph Schillinger in 1940 and 1941; two 1/4 inch master reel to reel tapes of disc recordings created by Radio Smithsonian in fall, 1985; and one research cassette tape of disc recordings created by Radio Smithsonian in fall, 1985.

A digital reference copy is available in the Smithsonian Institutions Digital Asset Management System (DAMS).
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Materials at Other Organizations

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts New York, New York

Joseph Schillinger Papers, 1918-2000

The Joseph Schillinger Papers contain the composer/theorist's writings, composition lesson texts, student notebooks, scores, charts, personal papers, clippings and promotional material. 

New York Public Library, Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives of Recorded Sound

Joseph Schillinger Collection of Sound Recordings, *L(Special) 89-16

Berkley School of Music Archives, Boston, Massachusetts