Diaz Ayala Cassette Collection Series

In 2021, the FIU Libraries received a Recordings at Risks grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR ). The funds allowed digitize, create metadata, and provide online access to thousands of unique Caribbean and Latin American songs produced from 1900 to 1935 included in The Diaz-Ayala Collection Cassette Series.

The digitized materials comprise more than 3,000 cassettes, with approximately 1000 songs that were recorded originally in 78rpms by Columbia, RCA Records and other historical record companies. The music represents a variety of genres and it is a clear example of the life and conditions of minority groups in the region. Records included in this project were not available at any other institution. The digitization of this collection has been essential to guarantee its preservation and long-term availability. In order to provide a wider access to this records, the FIU Libraries is contributing with the Discography of American Historical Recording (DAHR) of the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) and metadata is contributed to DPLA.