It is my pleasure to report that the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress has accepted O. Winston Link's audio recordings of N&W steam (and the 1962 run of the 4-4-0 "General") as part of its 50 additions to the National Recording Registry for 2003.

The website at http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2004/04-061.html tells more:
"Librarian of Congress James H. Billington has announced the second annual selection of 50 sound recordings to the National Recording Registry. Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian is responsible for annually selecting recordings that are 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.' Registry recordings must be at least 10 years old. Nominations for the registry were gathered from members of the public, who submitted suggestions online (www.loc.gov/nrpb), and from the National Recording Preservation Board, which comprises leaders in the fields of music, recorded sound and preservation. The board also assisted the Librarian with the review of nominations.
In announcing the registry, the Librarian called the selection of the National Recording Registry 'a difficult, but absorbing task. The number and range of recordings to consider is great - and a tribute to our extraordinarily rich and varied sonic history. This year's list attests to the diversity of significant recorded sound in our lives - not only music of many types, but political addresses, comedy, sports, poetry, sermons, and machinery.' "

Other recordings accepted this year include the 1922 Okeh Laughing Record, the 1938 Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall Jazz concert (recorded by an engineer personally hired by Goodman for Goodman's own collection, and not released commercially until 1960 or so), Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" original cast recording, Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven", Johnny Cash's "At Folsom Prison", and Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run."




Complete 2003 Nat'l Recording Registry list

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