[Dixielandjazz] Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University

[Robert Ringwald]

Judaica Sound Archives at Florida Atlantic University

Donation of 60,000 Recordings a 'Rich Mother Lode' for Florida Atlantic University's
Judaica Archive
by Lona O'Connor
Palm Beach Post, December 29, 2009
BOCA RATON -- The Judaica Sound Archive is accustomed to receiving large donations
of old recordings. But its latest bequest -- 10,000 records -- arrived in an 18-wheel
trailer truck.
The 7-year-old musical archive, part of Florida Atlantic University's library, has
a lot of cataloging to do in the next few months, because another 18-wheeler will
arrive as soon as the snow melts. It will carry at least twice as many recordings
-- all from the late Jack Saul, a Cleveland furniture store owner whose collection
may have amounted to as many as 300,000 recordings at its peak.
The Saul contribution will add about 60,000 recordings, including a few unique examples,
to the FAU archive, already one of the largest in the world.
The sound archive is run by Nat Tinanoff and Maxine Schackman, who, aided by tech-savvy
volunteers and students, have made 10,000 songs from the archive's collection available
online to the public. The archive contains religious, folk and children's music,
theater and music-hall performances.
A passionate collector, Saul filled his house, store and warehouse with his collection,
said Schackman.
"After his wife read him the riot act, he gave away 200,000 recordings to an organization.
But they ended up selling it and he was infuriated."
A cantor who donated part of his own collection to FAU told Saul about the archive.
Saul visited the FAU sound archive in February and assured himself that his records
would be in a good home.
The Saul collection contained a few surprises, including a recording of comedian
and singer Fanny Brice (the subject of the "Funny Girl" movies) singing to children,
and a fantasy cantata about the Brooklyn Dodgers by renowned opera baritone Robert
Merrill.
"The Jack Saul collection was a really rich mother lode of new and unique recordings,"
said Schackman.
Saul, who died in May at age 86, loved Jewish music, but also specialized in classical
recordings made before 1900. He owned mint copies of every recording made by the
Cleveland Orchestra since 1924. He owned complete sets, autographed copies and albums
never taken out of their wrappers.
Saul gave first pick to Tinanoff, who sorted through the records and helped pack
700 boxes, which were delivered to FAU in September. Other recordings went to the
Library of Congress, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Guy Lombardo Society. Saul's
daughter kept a few sentimental favorites.
Also in the Saul collection were non-Jewish music that will become a big part of
FAU's new collection of 78-rpm recordings, as well as about 500 records that will
be added to FAU's jazz collection. About 4,000 compact discs will be made available
for student use.
Tinanoff estimates it will take five years to inventory the Saul collection and welcomes
volunteers with computer skills.


--Bob Ringwald K6YBV
rsr at ringwald.com
Fulton Street Jazz Band
916/806-9551

Check out our latest recording at www.ringwald.com/recordings.htm

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much
government.  -Thomas Jefferson


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