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Richard D. Hershcopf disk recordings

 Collection
Identifier: CoU-GMA-27

Scope and Contents

The Richard D. Hershcopf disk recordings comprise of 209 78rpm disk recordings featuring Benny Goodman and other big band musicians. They are organized alphabetically by the band name or artist's first name.

Dates

  • Creation: 1926-1944

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research. Records containing sensitive personal information have been restricted.

Publication Rights

The American Music Research Center does not control rights to any material in this collection. Requests to publish any material in the collection should be directed to the copyright holders.

Biography of Richard D. Hershcopf

Richard Herschopf was brought into the world of jazz music at an early age. Born and raised in Brooklyn, his mother took him to see Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall when he was about twelve years old. Through the years he developed an excellent ear and vast knowledge of jazz music, and was known for his ability to identify the tune, instrument, and musician within the first few notes. He excelled at in the public school system in Brooklyn, graduating at the age of sixteen from high school. He went on to Brooklyn College, majoring in history with plans of becoming a teacher. One semester shy of graduation, he was drafted on November, 1942. Because of his service, Brooklyn College granted him his missing credits and he received his Bachelor’s degree in June, 1943. He was honorably discharged in 1946, at which point he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning his Master’s in History in 1949. He later received a second Master’s in Library Science, in 1959. While earning his Master’s, he met his wife, Marian, who was also a graduate student and was a Holocaust escapee from Vienna. She was a fellow jazz lover and they were happily married for 66 years. He became a librarian at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and later became Head Librarian at Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado in 1961. His unbelievable memory went on to serve him well as the Associate Director of Libraries at Colorado State University. He continued his work there for seventeen-years, retiring in 1985. Throughout his life he collected an impressive music library, which he left to his family. Hershcopf passed away on February 1, 2015.

Extent

6 boxes (3.5 linear feet)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement of Richard D. Hershcopf Disk Recordings

Collection is arranged alphabetically by band name or artist's first name.

Physical Location

Housed in the American Music Research Center

Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection was donated by Richard D. Hershcopf and Marian Hershcopf, in 2009.

General

Processed and Encoded by:
Nicoli Bowley
Date completed:
May, 2017
Title
The Richard Hershcopf disk recordings 1926-1944
Subtitle
An inventory of holdings at the American Music Research Center
Status
Conversion Draft
Author
Nicoli Bowley
Date
2017
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries, Rare and Distinctive Collections Repository

Contact:
1720 Pleasant Street
184 UCB
Boulder Colorado 80503 United States