MECHANICS OF THE HUMAN VOICE 257 



collected. Still more important is the consideration that a decade 

 or more hence entirely different and unforeseen problems will be 

 considered of the most importance, and, although the data can be 

 found in the curves, the personal data will be lacking. 



{b) The metal matrices for all records should be preserved, in 

 duplicate or triplicate, in fireproof buildings, and copies of the 

 record should be obtainable by any one at reasonable cost. One of 

 my most important studies has been of a private record by Joseph 

 Jefferson. I possess only two copies of the record, one of them 

 already much worn. No more copies can be obtained, and the 

 matrix cannot be found. No other record of Jefferson's voice 

 exists. Of another record all my copies but one have been worn 

 out, and the matrix is known to have been destroyed. 



These considerations suggest the following plans : For all future 

 records specially made for me the American and German gramo- 

 phone companies have offered to furnish — in strictest privacy and 

 free of charge — duplicate or triplicate metal copies (one in inde- 

 structible material) of the matrix, provided the records shall be of 

 such historical and scientific value as to justify the cost (a minimum 

 of $ I CO for each record) and provided proper places of deposit shall 

 be found. The company will consider these records as the property 

 of the person speaking, of the place of deposit, or of myself, ac- 

 cording as I may adjust the matter, and binds itself to make no use 

 whatever of these records for its own purposes. I have already 

 arranged with the National Museum, with the Library of Congress, 

 and with Harvard University for depositing such matrices and records. 

 In compiling a list of persons whose voices would, for one reason 

 or another, presumably be of historical importance in the future, 

 and thus worthy of the expense of registration and preservation, I 

 have had the advice of President Oilman, President Eliot, Mr. John 

 Hay, Professor Asaph Hall, Mr. Henry C. Lea, Mr. Joseph Jeffer- 

 son, Mr. John La Farge, and others. These records will form the 

 nucleus of a phonetic archive of the voices of distinguished or inter- 

 esting persons. A similar archive is to be founded in Berlin, and I 

 am now arranging for an interview with his Majesty the German 

 Emperor. Copies of such European matrices and records as may 

 be of interest to Americans will be delivered to me for deposit and 

 study. In America I propose to collect the voices of prominent 

 statesmen, business men, scientists, writers, divines, orators, sing- 

 ers, actors, and others. In Europe I shall begin with the voices of 

 rulers. In the collection and investigation of such specially made 



