Today in Smithsonian History: April 3, 1987

Moses Asch caricature, 1953. Artist unknown. Courtesy of the Moses and Frances Asch Collection, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

April 3, 1987 Folkways Records, a commercial record publisher of folk and tribal music and spoken-word recordings, becomes part of the Smithsonian Institution. In addition to purchasing the Folkways published catalog, the Smithsonian will receive the Folkways archives, an extensive collection of unreleased material, including books, tapes, original glass disks and correspondence. The transfer agreement between SI and the estate of Moses Asch was signed February 27, after three years of negotiations. Folkways Records was founded in 1948 by Asch.

Related posts:

Moving toward Phase 1 Smithsonian on the go: Listen to our podcasts wherever you are, whenever you want Washington’s Most Powerful Women 2021 My Summer Reading List