Lorne Bair Rare Books recently faced a challenge when presented with a collection of reel-to-reel tapes: “Not only were the media completely obsolete, but we had no way of knowing whether they were even playable or whether their contents matched the hastily scrawled labels that had been placed on them nearly sixty years ago,” said Lorne Bair, president of Lorne Bair Rare Books.
Enter Will Strickler ’24 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology), a talented musician and audio engineer with a deep passion for historical preservation. His expertise proved to be the key.
“Will Strickler to the rescue!” exclaimed Bair. “With a professionalism and devotion to detail that we seldom encounter in our professional lives, Will was able not only to preserve the integrity of the tapes themselves but also transfer them onto digital media, ensuring their contents – which did indeed turn out to be a highly important record of the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s – will be preserved in perpetuity.”
The tapes contain interviews and news conferences with prominent figures from the Black Panther movement, such as Huey P. Newton, John Froines and Mike Cetewayo Tabor. These recordings provide invaluable insight into a crucial era of American social justice activism.
Strickler, who graduated in May with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory, utilized state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to carefully digitize the vintage reel-to-reel tapes. He meticulously preserved the audio quality of the recordings while ensuring their accessibility for future generations.
“Getting the chance to work with these tapes was a great experience, and really allowed me to utilize a lot of the knowledge I’d gained over the years,” said Strickler. “The historical significance of the speeches and other audio on the tapes was immense, and it was an honor to be able to preserve them for future generations to hear.”
The collection includes:
- Press Conference: Soledad Defense Committee, August 11, 1970 (Not in KPFA Archives catalog)
- “The Movement on Trial: An Interview with John Froines” (Not in KPFA Archives catalog)
- The Trial of the New York 21 (Not in KPFA Archives catalog)
- Interview with Huey P. Newton, August 11, 1970 (Present in KPFA Archives, but not digitized)
Significantly, four of the seven programs are not included in the archives of Pacifica Radio, the original broadcaster. Strickler’s work ensures the preservation of these irreplaceable recordings.
Bair further emphasized the importance of Strickler’s contribution. “As custodians of the historical record, we are always excited to uncover pieces of history that were previously unknown or unrecorded,” he said. “In this case, we could never have accomplished our mission without Will’s expertise and obvious love for his work.”
Director & Professor of Music Production & Recording Technology Golder O’Neill ’92, M.M.E., praised Strickler’s work. “Will’s enthusiasm and zeal for older techniques used in audio recording shines through on this project,” said O’Neill. “He was able to research methods used to safely transfer these precious recordings to a digital format, providing access to a part of history that many folks are unaware of.”
Strickler’s passion for audio preservation aligns perfectly with his upcoming internship at the National Audio-visual Conservation Center (Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation), the Library of Congress’s renowned audio-visual archive. The Packard Campus internship program is a prestigious opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in various aspects of digital preservation. He will work alongside experienced professionals on vital projects that ensure the long-term accessibility of the library’s vast audio-visual collections. This experience will deepen Strickler’s understanding of the latest digital preservation techniques and workflows, preparing him for a successful career in this important field.
About Lorne Bair Rare Books
Lorne Bair Rare Books specializes in American social movements, focusing on history, literature, and art. Their areas of interest include radical politics, civil rights, and labor movements (visit their website for a complete list). Established in 1996, they’re members of prestigious bookseller associations. They sell through catalogs, online, and at fairs. Their showroom is open by appointment only.
