Jascha Heifetz Collection

The Jascha Heifetz Collection was donated by Jack Pfeiffer, Heifetz's longtime friend and record producer at RCA Victor. It includes not only Heifetz’s own performances, but also his personal collection of recordings by other artists. One such rarity is a private 1920 recording of Heifetz’s teacher, Leopold Auer. The record (pictured) is signed and dated by Auer, who was venerated as an instructor but never commercially recorded.

Containing over 1,000 discs and reels produced from 1911-1972, the collection is also a testament to the technological changes in the recording industry during that period.  It includes standard long-playing records, 78 rpm commercially-released records, test pressings (“artist approval” records preceding commercial releases), and instantaneous discs (“temporary” homemade records).

The collection was processed under the auspices of the Council on Library and Information Resources and is generously supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.