The LeRoy Larson Collection is housed in three archival boxes and are arranged in two
series. Series have been designated for manuscript materials and for sound recordings. The
collection includes tape notes, correspondence and sound recordings in various formats. The
majority of the sound recordings and corresponding tape notes formed the basis of Larson's
dissertation on Scandinavian American folk dance music in Minnesota.
Series one contains paper materials, primarily notes and tape indexes that describe the
contents the sound recordings, and correspondence from Bob Andresen, and publicity materials
for Larson and the Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble.
Series two contains eight seven-inch audiotape reels; 33 five-inch audiotape reels; 18
audiocassettes; and two compact discs. The bulk of the tapes are field recordings made by
Larson between 1969 and 1973; others are interviews or dubs of older recordings submitted to
Larson by the informant or performer. Leonard Finseth and Otto Rindlisbacher, old-time
fiddlers from Wisconsin feature prominently.
The sound recordings are principally arranged by Larson's original numbering series. Tapes
numbered L.L.1-11 are a mix of field recordings by Larson and tapes submitted to him from
musicians and informants. Tapes numbered 1-45 (variously labelled "Norwegian folk music in
Minnesota," "Norwegian folk dance music in Minnesota," or "Scandinavian-American folk dance
music") are Larson's original field recordings. Tapes 1 through 33 were used as source
material for Larson's dissertation on Norwegian-American music in Minnesota. Tapes A-E and
the Leonard Finseth CDs were unnumbered by Larson.
