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LOC National Audio-Visual Conservation Center @LOC_AV

Official account of @LibraryCongress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, preserving film, video & sound. All Library accounts: loc.gov/connect

Joined July 2019
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1,075 Photos and videos
It's #NatRecRegistry reveal day! 🎙️🎶This year's 25 recordings inducted into the National Recording Registry have been announced: blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2… See the whole list, plus video and audio clips, at the LC's main account!: x.com/librarycongress/status…
'Library of Congress' text in orange, 'National Recording Registry' text in black.

ALT 'Library of Congress' text in orange, 'National Recording Registry' text in black.

Library of Congress
@librarycongress
9 Apr 2025
NEWS: The Librarian of Congress has announced the annual selection of 25 recordings to be inducted into the #NatRecRegistry, chosen for their cultural, historic or aesthetic importance, to preserve the nation’s recorded sound history. 🧵👇
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A tongue-twister for #MusicMonday! Before direct dial, you had to ask the telephone operator to connect you--as in the song recorded #OnThisDay in 1916, "Which Switch is the Switch, Miss, for Ipswich?" Sing along with the #NationalJukebox, if you can!: loc.gov/item/jukebox-17133/?…
The record label for 'Which Switch is the Switch, Miss, for Ipswich?'.

ALT The record label for 'Which Switch is the Switch, Miss, for Ipswich?'.
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Labelle’s 1974 single "Lady Marmalade" was added to the #NatRecRegistry in 2020. The 2001 cover version for the film "Moulin Rouge" featured Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink and Lil’ Kim--read Mýa's thoughts on the song and its place in history on our blog!: blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…

From the National Recording Registry: “Lady Marmalade” (1974) | Now See Hear!

Labelle’s 1974 single “Lady Marmalade” was added to the National Recording Registry in 2020. In this essay, Mýa discusses the original “Lady Marmalade” recording, the 2001 version, and more.

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TONIGHT! (Thurs. 3/13 7pm) In the Pickford Theater in DC, come see our beautiful 35mm film print of the Warner crime drama MARKED WOMAN, starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart!
A dramatic ink rendering of Bette Davis' face on a gold background with a big red X painted over her, under the name BETTE DAVIS and next to the title MARKED WOMAN. Underneath that is a stark black stripe with the name HUMPHREY BOGART.

ALT A dramatic ink rendering of Bette Davis' face on a gold background with a big red X painted over her, under the name BETTE DAVIS and next to the title MARKED WOMAN. Underneath that is a stark black stripe with the name HUMPHREY BOGART.
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Tomorrow (Thurs. 3/13 7pm), in DC's Pickford Theater: come see our 35mm film print of MARKED WOMAN (1937), a Warner Bros. crime drama starring Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, loosely based on the case of mobster Lucky Luciano! blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…
A dramatic ink rendering of Bette Davis' face on a gold background with a big red X painted over her, under the name BETTE DAVIS and next to the title MARKED WOMAN. Underneath that is a stark black stripe with the name HUMPHREY BOGART.

ALT A dramatic ink rendering of Bette Davis' face on a gold background with a big red X painted over her, under the name BETTE DAVIS and next to the title MARKED WOMAN. Underneath that is a stark black stripe with the name HUMPHREY BOGART.

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For #MusicMonday, it's "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", recorded #OnThisDay in 1919! The lyrics were credited to "Jaan Kenbrovin"--actually a pseudonym mashing together 3 writers: KENdis, BROckman, & VINcent. Song: loc.gov/item/jukebox-31552/?… Sheet music: loc.gov/item/2016756543/?loc…
A moderately scratched record label for 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'.

ALT A moderately scratched record label for 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'.

A painting of a rosy-cheeked blond woman holding a bouquet of red roses, with bubbles floating all around her.

ALT A painting of a rosy-cheeked blond woman holding a bouquet of red roses, with bubbles floating all around her.
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#OnThisDay in 1910, tenor Nicola Zerola recorded "Vesti la Giubba" (Put on the Costume), from the opera "Pagliacci"--the famous depiction of someone forced to laugh on the outside while weeping on the inside. Hear it in the #NationalJukebox: loc.gov/item/jukebox-128593/… #MusicMonday
Record label for 'Vesti la giubba!', here translated as 'On with the Play', sung by Nicola Zerola in 1910.

ALT Record label for 'Vesti la giubba!', here translated as 'On with the Play', sung by Nicola Zerola in 1910.

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We recently screened our lovely & rare 35mm print of "Countdown at Kusini" (1976) in the Pickford Theater for #BlackHistoryMonth . Learn more about this film's grassroots origins in our blog post, by Zoran Sinobad of the Moving Image Research Center! blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…
Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'

ALT Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'
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Today's #MusicMonday for #BlackHistoryMonth is "Red, Red Rose", by the groundbreaking Black American composer Will Marion Cook! Hear this 1909 recording in the #NationalJukebox: loc.gov/item/jukebox-127843/… And read more about Will Marion Cook here!: loc.gov/item/n88663576/will-…
Moderately scratched record label for 'Red, Red Rose', with a worn paper sticker reading 'E-8-9''.

ALT Moderately scratched record label for 'Red, Red Rose', with a worn paper sticker reading 'E-8-9''.
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"St. Louis Rag", recorded in March 1904, is a fine and rare example of authentic orchestral ragtime! It was written by Black pianist & composer Tom Turpin, a major presence in St. Louis, ragtime's historical hotbed: loc.gov/item/jukebox-223238/… #BlackHistoryMonth
Record label for 'St. Louis Rag', 1904.

ALT Record label for 'St. Louis Rag', 1904.
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TONIGHT! (Thurs. 2/13, 7pm) in DC's Pickford Theater: we're screening our rare 35mm film print of "COUNTDOWN AT KUSINI" (1976)! blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…
Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'

ALT Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'
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Tomorrow (Thurs. 2/13, 7pm) in DC's Pickford Theater: a 35mm film screening of the rarely-seen "COUNTDOWN AT KUSINI" (1976)--an international action-drama made to challenge stereotypes in the "blaxploitation" genre at the time!
Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'

ALT Against a silhouette of the continent of Africa, topped with blazing orange fire, are paintings of the three stars of 'Countdown at Kusini': Ruby Dee, Greg Morris, and Ossie Davis. Tagline overhead: 'A dynamite story of African revolution!'
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For #MusicMonday, it's "Triflin' Blues", recorded in 1923 by classic blues singer Viola McCoy (recording as Amanda Brown)! It was written by the famous team of Porter Grainger & Bob Ricketts, with Grainger himself on the piano: loc.gov/item/jukebox-670738/… #BlackHistoryMonth
A very worn and scratched record label for "Triflin' Blues"--the letters are hard to read.

ALT A very worn and scratched record label for "Triflin' Blues"--the letters are hard to read.

An ad with the large words "TRIFLIN' BLUES (DADDY DON'T YOU TRIFLE ON ME)" in the center against a spiderweb background. On the left, "A Sensational Hit", and on the right, "Acts--get this number NOW". Underneath: "Our newest number and an instantaneous "knockout". It's a mean slam for the "Triflin' Daddies" and "Agravatin' Papas". Another big number by the famous "blues-writin'" team, PORTER GRAINGER and BOB RICKETTS". The Billboard, Sept. 1, 1923.

ALT An ad with the large words "TRIFLIN' BLUES (DADDY DON'T YOU TRIFLE ON ME)" in the center against a spiderweb background. On the left, "A Sensational Hit", and on the right, "Acts--get this number NOW". Underneath: "Our newest number and an instantaneous "knockout". It's a mean slam for the "Triflin' Daddies" and "Agravatin' Papas". Another big number by the famous "blues-writin'" team, PORTER GRAINGER and BOB RICKETTS". The Billboard, Sept. 1, 1923.
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Recorded #OnThisDay in 1909, "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" was the 1st commercial recording of the Fisk University Jubilee Singers, who brought Black American spirituals to the wider public. It was added to the #NatRecRegistry in 2002! loc.gov/item/jukebox-128141/… #BlackHistoryMonth

Swing low, sweet chariot

Victor 16453. Matrix/Take: B-8420/3.

loc.gov
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In the wake of the passing of the great and incomparable David Lynch, we've been thinking about his spectacular debut film "Eraserhead" (1977), added to the #NatFilmRegistry in 2004: "utterly original, hugely audacious, and fearlessly strange": blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…
Actor Jack Nance in grainy black-and-white, his eyes wide and his hair combed up to stand tall and fluffy above his head. Image from 'Eraserhead', 1977.

ALT Actor Jack Nance in grainy black-and-white, his eyes wide and his hair combed up to stand tall and fluffy above his head. Image from 'Eraserhead', 1977.
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For #MusicMonday, "Everybody Loves a Chicken", recorded #OnThisDay in 1913! Not quite the🐔kind of chicken...this song potentially adds some data to the historical development of the slang term "chick". Hear it in the #NationalJukebox!: loc.gov/item/jukebox-648263/…
Record label for 'Everybody Loves a Chicken", with the number 11540 hand printed twice across the top in red grease pencil.

ALT Record label for 'Everybody Loves a Chicken", with the number 11540 hand printed twice across the top in red grease pencil.
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TONIGHT! (Thursday Jan. 23, 7pm) in the Mary Pickford Theater in DC, come see our 35mm film print of "I WAS MONTY'S DOUBLE" (1958), based on a true WWII story of an actor hired to impersonate General Montgomery--starring that actor himself! blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…

Thursday, (7:00 PM January 23) at the Mary Pickford Theater, Library of Congress (Washington, DC) |...

Screening of

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This Thursday (1/23 7pm) at the Pickford Theater in DC: "I WAS MONTY'S DOUBLE" (1958), a tense, tightly paced espionage drama based on true events during WWII! blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…
The plush purple seats inside the Mary Pickford Theater, with projector light shining through the booth window.

ALT The plush purple seats inside the Mary Pickford Theater, with projector light shining through the booth window.
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Just honored by the Kennedy Center for her contributions to music, the legendary Bonnie Raitt saw her seminal album “Nick of Time” (1989) added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2022. She recently sat down with us to discuss it: blogs.loc.gov/now-see-hear/2…

An Interview with Bonnie Raitt | Now See Hear!

The legendary blueswoman answers some questions from the Recorded Sound Division of the Library of Congress.

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For #MusicMonday, an anti-war song written by Irving Berlin, recorded #OnThisDay in 1915: In "Stay Down Here Where You Belong," the Devil sings that due to the war, "You’ll find more Hell up there than there is down below." It's in the #NationalJukebox: loc.gov/item/jukebox-12064/?…
A slightly scratched record label for 'Stay Down Here Where You Belong' sung by Henry Burr.

ALT A slightly scratched record label for 'Stay Down Here Where You Belong' sung by Henry Burr.
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