Audio Cassette Tapes and Digital Files

This series includes audio cassette tapes created by Robert "Mack" McCormick primarily in support of his research for his writings. Most of the research tapes are interviews, largely conducted on the telephone, with a few exceptions done in the home of the interviewee. These interviews were conducted by McCormick as an employee of the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, or as an independent researcher. Audio cassette tapes, recorded as dictation of notes for unfinished manuscripts, include thoughts on additional research to pursue and typing instructions. A small number of tapes are related to McCormick as an individual and provide biographical information or insight into his private thoughts, professional work, and concern about his writings and collection. Many of these tapes have been digitized by the Archives Center. Some tapes were sent out to professional audio labs due to the condition of the items. Many of the tapes were digitized as one program without an indication as to whether it was side one or side two of the tape. Other tapes were digitized using the division of side one and side two. Numbers were assigned to each tape and the material was later arranged in chronological order. Abstracts were created by Archives Center staff for all digitized audio cassette tapes. These abstracts were made from the digital files and not the original audio cassette tapes. Sound and content quality of the tapes differ depending on how, where, and when they were created. Content of the audio cassettes primarily relate to music, research on Robert Johnson (interviews with his family and acquaintances), and McCormick himself. Much of the content covered in the audio cassette tapes can be found in documents in the collection. McCormick often makes references to files in the collection that include more information on a particular subject. Researchers are advised to consult the documents in the collection for more detailed notes as the original audio cassette tapes are not available for research use. Some of the interviews are restricted from use pending investigation under the Smithsonian Institution's Ethical Returns and Shared Stewardship Policy.