Catalog Record:
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
This collection was donated to the Library of Congress in 1963 by John B. and Florence Secrist in memory of their son, John Secrist.
No further additions to the papers are expected.
The papers were processed by Jennifer Lewis in 2004. Information about the papers was updated by Karen Fishman in 2006.
Restrictions may exist on copying, quoting, or publishing materials included in the papers. For additional information, contact a reference librarian in the Recorded Sound Reference Center, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress, Washington, DC, 20540-4690; (202) 707-7833.
The Papers from the John Secrist Jr. Collection are open for research.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [Container number, e.g., Box 3], Papers from the John Secrist Jr. Collection, Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division, Library of Congress.
Record collector and mathematician John Bert Secrist, Jr., was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on August 14, 1918, to Florence and John B. Secrist. Secrist received a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Richmond in 1939 and a master of arts in mathematics from the University of Virginia in 1941. He taught math for several years at the United States Naval Academy, Emory University, and Columbia University, where he continued his graduate course work. In 1953 he joined the staff of IBM in New York, working as a mathematician. His projects included computer technology, satellite communications, and missile defense.
Secrist began acquiring records as a high school student and continued to have an interest in collecting vocal recordings throughout his college career. After moving to New York in 1945 and meeting others who shared his interests, he became a more avid collector and was a founder and member of the Vocal Record Collectors' Society, a non-profit organization for those interested in collecting classical vocal recordings of all eras.
Secrist collected early record catalogs and began compiling more detailed discographies for his favorite artists. The first, of Rosa Ponselle, was published in the 1950 issue of
As a prominent record collector, Secrist was known for his exacting standards. Although he kept much of his collection in his parents' home in Atlanta, a large portion was held in New York as well, especially items he kept for trade. Secrist was meticulous in his efforts to find not just copies of particular recordings, but those as close to perfect as possible. Discographer Aida Favia-Artsay referred to his methods in the following way: "His was the selective, purposeful way: only classical vocal recordings, related material, and mainly quality above quantity!"
Secrist died in New York City at the age of 40 on October 11, 1958. In January of 1963, his parents transferred the majority of his collection (1,700 opera recordings) to the Library of Congress.
These papers comprise a small part of the major collection of nearly 1,700 operatic recordings acquired by John Secrist. Strengths of the recorded sound collection include large runs of Enrico Caruso and Rosa Ponselle recordings; the collection is further distinguished by being in near-mint condition due to Secrist's exacting standards. The papers explain and index the Secrist recordings, while discographic and photographic materials provide information on the artists whose work he collected.
The papers are arranged in 5 series:
Series 1 consists of correspondence to John Secrist from collectors and performers. An index to correspondence with dates and summaries is available in Folder 1. The most frequent subjects addressed include Secrist's discographies, requests for information on recordings and artists, and recordings or catalogs offered for sale or trade. Prominent or frequent correspondents include Rosa Ponselle, Harold John Drummond, Geraldine Farrar, Lloyd Garrison, and George Keating.
Materials are arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent.
The index is ordered by name; entries include date and summary.
Series 2 consists of notes on Secrist's record and catalog collections as well as discographies and other biographical information regarding opera singers such as Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle, John McCormack, and John Charles Thomas. A notebook containing an inventory of Secrist's collection arranged by artist is included here as are a variety of lists of recordings and catalogs. Also available in this series are various publications, many of which have been annotated by Secrist, including Julian Morton Moses's
Materials in this series are arranged alphabetically by description.
Typescript and photocopy.
Printers proofs with introductory page to
With one set of photocopies of the notebook.
From the Connoisseurs Record Club.
Includes Secrist's handwritten collection notes.
Signed by the author. Includes Secrist's handwritten collection notes.
Photographs of Rosa Ponselle are primarily publicity portraits for operas in which she performed. Secrist has labeled the verso of the majority of these photographs with the title of each opera as well as where and when the photograph was published, if known. Two folders of group photographs are filed at the end of the series. Most of the photographs are later copy prints (probably dating from the 1950s), but some originals are included.
The individual publicity portraits of Rosa Ponselle in costume are arranged alphabetically by opera name.
Three of the photos are copies of 1922-1923 originals.
Most are copies of 1928-1930 originals.
Copies of 1923-1925 originals.
Copies of 1935-1936 originals.
Copies of 1934,1937 originals.
Copies of 1921-1924 originals.
Copies of 1921-circa 1929 originals.
Most are copies of circa 1927 originals.
Copies from 1929-1930 originals.
Three of the photographs are copies of 1919-1920 originals.
Copies from 1930-1931 and 1934 originals.
Copies from circa 1933 originals.
Some are copies from 1925-1926 and 1933.
Some are copies of 1923 originals.
Most are copies from 1917-1927 originals.
Most are copies of 1925-1952 originals.
This series consists of three leather-bound scrapbooks compiled by John Secrist's parents, Florence and John B. Secrist, Sr., after his death. The scrapbooks include clippings, correspondence, photographs, and other miscellaneous items relating to John Secrist, Jr., and his collection. Many of the letters and clippings concern the donation of the John Secrist Jr. Collection to the Library of Congress and the resulting publicity.
This series consists of over 3,000 black-and-white, 4 x 6-inch photographs of record labels displaying the title, composer, performers, record company, and catalog number of each record in Secrist's collection. Matrix numbers for each recording are indicated also. Record labels include Victor, Victrola, Columbia, Gramophone, Pathé, Brunswick, Odeon, and HMV, among others.
The label photographs are arranged in alphabetical order by the performer's last name.