Date:         Tue, 23 May 2006 19:30:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Lou Judson <[log in to unmask]>
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Very interesting! Especially of note from the wiki:

"In 1890, a delegation of Hungarian pilgrims in Turin recorded a short 
patriotic speech delivered by the elderly Lajos Kossuth. The original 
recording on two wax cylinders for the Edison phonograph survives to 
this day, although barely audible due to excess playback and 
unsuccessful early restoration attempts. Lajos Kossuth is the earliest 
born person in the world who has his voice preserved."

"unsuccessful easrly restoration attempts" indeed. Cautionary note! 
Cool that there is a direct link to download the audio as realaudio. 
Sadly noisy, though...

Lou Judson • Intuitive Audio
415-883-2689

On May 23, 2006, at 7:05 PM, David Lewis wrote:

> Jerry,
>
> The oldest person to speak on a surviving recording was Hungarian 
> patriot Laszlo Kossuth, who was born in 1802 and recorded in 1890. The 
> cylinder is on the web at:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kossuth
>
> There was some discussion about this on 78-L some years ago. There was 
> another man, Horatio Perry, who recorded for the Ohio Phonograph 
> company in 1890 on his 100th birthday. None of those cylinders have 
> been found. Someone mentioned that a couple of Irish singers who were 
> yet a little older recorded somewhat later, but these haven't been 
> found and I can't remember the details offhand.
>
> If I'm wrong, please come forward.
>
> Uncle Dave
> ---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
> From: Jerry McBride <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion 
> List<[log in to unmask]>
> Date:          Tue, 23 May 2006 17:19:12 -0700
>
>> We recently received this question, and there is probably someone in 
>> ARSC
>> who knows the answer. If you do, I'd be grateful for the help 
>> especially if
>> you can back it up with a reliable source. Thanks
>>
>>
>> What is the earliest birth date of anyone whose voice has been 
>> recorded?
>>
>> Therefore not, necessarily, the birth date of "oldest" person 
>> recorded, nor
>> the birth date of the first person recorded. But rather, the birth 
>> date of
>> a person who was probably around 100yrs of age when voice recording 
>> started
>> in the 1890s - and possibly therefore was born before 1800.
>>
>> If this recording no longer exists or cannot for any reason be 
>> listened to
>> - what is the earliest birth date of anyone whose voice has been 
>> recorded
>> that may still be listened to - and how and where can one listen to 
>> this
>> recording.
>>
>> Jerry McBride, Head Librarian                   (650) 725-1146
>> Music Library & Archive of Recorded Sound       (650) 725-1145 (fax)
>> Braun Music Center                              
>> [log in to unmask]
>> 541 Lasuen Mall
>> Stanford University
>> Stanford, CA  94305-3076
>>
>