UMKC Marr Sound Archives

UMKC Marr Sound Archives The Marr Sound Archives focuses on the American experience as reflected in recorded sound. and Mrs.

The Marr Sound Archives was established in 1986, with a foundation gift of 42,000 sound recording from Gaylord Marr and his wife Olga. An Associate Professor of Communication Studies at UMKC, Marr pioneered the use of historic audio/visual recordings in the classroom. “Why talk about the political climate of Munich in Sept., 1938,” Marr asked, “when students can hear the voices of the participants

and newscasters on the spot, reporting events as they unfold?” The Sound Archives is named in Marr’s honor. The collection quickly outgrew its original location in two rooms on the second floor of the General Library. When the library was renovated in 1992, the Sound Archives moved to the ground floor, adjacent to the Music/Media Library. The archives’ spacious new home and the 2010 construction of the RooBot, an automated storage and retrieval system, allowed for continued growth. Today the collection has grown to number over 350,000 recordings, with a focus on the American experience as reflected in recorded sound. The collection features a wide variety of music genres including jazz, blues, soul, country, popular music, rock and roll, folk, classical and opera. In addition historic voices and authors reading their own works and vintage radio programs make up a large part of the collection. The holdings encompass a wide range of historic formats including LPs, 78s, 45s, cylinders, transcription discs, instantaneous-cut discs and open-reel tapes. The Sound Archives serves the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, as well as local community members and scholarly researchers around the globe. Over the years, the Marr Sound Archives has contributed recording and reference services to a number of projects including Robert Altman’s Kansas City, Merchant-Ivory Films’ Mr. Bridge; Capitol Records 50th Anniversary; a complete reissue of the recordings of Julia Lee on the Bear Family label of Germany; documentaries on the Kansas City Monarchs, Walter Cronkite and Harry Truman; the radio show This I Believe; and the Mississippi Blues Trails.

Our latest LP display celebrates the late great Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. 🩷
08/28/2026

Our latest LP display celebrates the late great Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. 🩷

08/17/2026

Alex Steinweiss: Inventor of the Album Cover

Join us at next week’s Marr Session at Center For Recorded Music The Listyning Room to listening to Dolly Parton’s 1977 ...
08/14/2026

Join us at next week’s Marr Session at Center For Recorded Music The Listyning Room to listening to Dolly Parton’s 1977 “New Harvest…First Gathering.” Her first album as producer, it showcases her voice, proficiency, artistic vision, charm and appeal. Thursday, Aug 20, 7-8 p.m.

Join Marr's former curator Chuck Haddix for these Charlie Parker events.
07/31/2026

Join Marr's former curator Chuck Haddix for these Charlie Parker events.

Beginning this Sunday! SPOTLIGHT: CHARLIE PARKER, Kansas City’s annual month-long celebration of its native son, jazz legend Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Enjoy concerts, panel discussions, walking tours, and more this August. Hosted by KC Jazz ALIVE. Find all the events here: https://www.kcjazzalive.org/events/spotlight-charlie-parker/calendar/

Photo: The Charlie Parker Memorial at E 18th and Vine Streets in Kansas City, Missouri

As we prepare for the country’s ⭐️ 250th anniversary ⭐️ we’re listening to American songs and ballads from The Committee...
07/01/2026

As we prepare for the country’s ⭐️ 250th anniversary ⭐️ we’re listening to American songs and ballads from The Committee of Correspondence, recorded by Folkways Records and released in 1975. These Revolutionary War-era songs were used to “fan the fires of revolutionary passion and create a unity of feeling” to raise “morale and enthusiasm.” 🇺🇸 We have an extensive selection of Folkways Records at Marr Sound Archives. Folkways is now run by the Smithsonian Institution and continues to record and collect folk traditions from all over the world.

In honor of the holiday, Marr will be closed Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4.

It’s game time! New display of chess and checkerboard-inspired album covers in the Marr Sound Archives. Check(mate) it o...
06/26/2026

It’s game time! New display of chess and checkerboard-inspired album covers in the Marr Sound Archives. Check(mate) it out!♟️

Address

5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO
64110

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18162351000

Website

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